Memorial Day Remembered

For many of us, a senior moment occurs when we forget an anniversary, birthday, or any other memorable occasion. Sometimes it is merely overlooked and forgiven. But then, there are times when it is not easily forgotten or forgiven.

Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) has an interesting history (which I really didn't fully fathom until I researched it). Ironically, those whom we should remember on Memorial Day are not around to remind us if we overlook the occasion.

Memorial Day as we now know it as a national holiday is not easily identified as to its origin. We can guess, and even take a vote, but it does elude us. Presumably over a couple dozen Southern cities and towns laid claim to being the birthplace of Decoration Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. General Logan made an official proclamation on May 30, 1868. No doubt this practice of honoring Civil War deceased veterans, both Union and Confederate, continued to some degree on various dates for many generations and veterans of subsequent wars were also memorialized.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place . . . Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" inspired Moina Michael to encourage the wearing of red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Waterloo, NY was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966 inspired in memory of General Logan and because Decoration Day (changed later to Memorial Day) had been celebrated annually in Waterloo since 1886. Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th until 1971 when the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill. This changed three holidays (Presidents Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day) to Monday enabling its citizens to celebrate three-day weekends.

Over the years, the initial idea of decorating graves of veterans has somewhat diminished while the practice of commemorating more of the dead has increased. While the Day of the Dead is movingly practiced in other countries, it is not as dramatic in the US. Although graves are decorated, parades held along with various ceremonies plus the National Moment of Remembrance resolution passed in AD 2000, advocates are desirous of a full return to the original day of observance, a return to the solemn, and even sacred, spirit of the traditional Memorial Day.

On January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the US Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced a bill to the House (H.R. 1474). Action is still pending.

Some feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend, it became easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. The VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

Memorial Day is a National Holiday rightfully honoring not only war veterans but all those who have gone on ahead. How we do this is our privilege, even our duty. It is unfortunate that we at times need special urging to memorialize those who ought never be forgotten. Or neglected.