Today, May 30, 1868, was the first wide observation of Memorial Day but why? So summer could start? So we could have a barbeque and go on vacation?

My grandmother used to call it by its original name – Decoration Day, because that’s the day you decorate the graves of family members who have passed. As a kid, I used to think it was called that because we decorated our house by flying the flag.

Memorial Day started to observe the fallen from the Civil War. It began in several places, both in the North and South, including New York, Mississippi, Virginia, Illinois and Pennsylvania, before it became widespread.

Major General John A. Logan issued a proclamation that this day would honor the dead and eventually, became the day to remember anyone fallen in any American war.

In a tradition called “Flags-In” the 3^rd U.S. Infantry (the soldiers who guard Arlington 24/7) puts small flags on each one of the 250,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery on the Thursday before Memorial Day. They then patrol the entire cemetery for the whole weekend to make sure all the flags stay put.

Here Rests In

Honored Glory

An American

Soldier

Known But To God

Watching the changing of the guard at the tomb is a sobering sight and one of the most memorable from when I visited there as a goofy 8^th grader, years ago.

“The sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them,” President Ronald Reagan said during his speech there in 1982.

Interestingly, there are tombs for the unidentified soldiers of World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. However, according to page 190 of The American Patriot’s Almanac by William Bennett and John T.E. Cribb, all the remains of the soldiers from Vietnam have been identified from DNA testing done in 1998 and is now empty.

Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff from morning until noon today and at 3:00 local time, everyone is asked to pause and take a moment for remembrance.

“Many of (our) soldiers will spend this Memorial Day in the mountains of Afghanistan or in the deserts of Iraq and Libya far from their families and friends. Their sacrifice and courage should remind us of our commitment to support them not just today.

The freedoms we enjoy are paid for by those we honor, both the fallen and those still fighting. Our nation is truly thankful,” Edwin J. Feulner, president of The Heritage Foundation wrote in the Morning Bell update this morning. Here is the link to The Heritage Foundation’s podcast about the history of Memorial Day.

The site is Arlington National Cemetery, located near Washington, D.C. Here is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, and marines. There are also two presidents buried here, as well as several astronauts. While we think of war heroes being buried here, there are also everyday citizens who served our country, and then made their living in other occupations. But they are buried here, side by side with their fellow sevicemen. Among the noted buried here are PFC Lee Marvin, USMC (and Academy Award winning actor) and T. Sgt. Joe Louis, USA (and former Heavyweight Champion of the World) are just two of those everyday citizens.
This site is a very complete look at the history surrounding this time honored place, with descriptions of how it was at one time the family home of Robert E. Lee’s wife, and how it came to be a cemetery. There is information about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as other ceremonies that are held there.
Our country has long remembered the men and women who defended, and are now defending our country. Their sacrifices they make so that we enjoy the freedoms we have are something that we should all remember.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

The site is Arlington National Cemetery, located near Washington, D.C. Here is the final resting place of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, and marines. There are also two presidents buried here, as well as several astronauts. This site is a very complete look at the history surrounding this time honored place, with descriptions of how it was at one time the family home of Robert E. Lee’s wife, and how it came to be a cemetery. There is information about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as other ceremonies that are held there.

Our country has long remembered the men and women who defended, and are now defending our country. Their sacrifices they make so that we enjoy the freedoms we have are something that we should all remember. Enjoy your visit to this site today.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

The Family Site today is called Memorial Day, and is a site composed of links that try to help a visitor learn about the true meaning of this day. There is special prayer, the President’s Memorial Day message, and areas divided into specific topics, such as POW-MIA and Memorials and Casualty lists. From here you can visit the Lost Boats Memorial for submariners, the 20th Massachusetts memorial at Gettysburg, or Arlington National Cemetery, just to name a few sites.

Remembering the past deeds of our nation’s heroes is one of the best ways to honor them. Take a few minutes today to visit this site, you will be amazed at what you will see.

http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~dmdragon/memorial.html