Not just on Memorial Day, but every day, we all should reflect on the incredible sacrifices of our military heroes who came before us, and those who are now serving today. The first national Decoration Day was held on May 30, 1868.
Advertisement
Numerous first claims were one-time events.
Trying to identify Memorial Day’s origins is a little tricky; dozens of cities have claimed to be the holiday’s birthplace. Veterans Day honors and celebrates veterans for their love of America, patriotism and wiliness to sacrifice and serve for continued freedom and the common good of the country.
Monday will mark 150 years of the holiday.
John Scocos is the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary.
A cemetery spokesperson said the bells will be a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who died and ones who serve.
To honor what was then called Decoration Day in the wake of the Civil War, children gathered flowers to lay in burial fields.
Why the 30th? Proponents observed that flowers would be in bloom everywhere, and no specific major battle was recorded for that day.
We’ve written about the fact that our nation’s two most-recent wars – in Iraq and Afghanistan – were and are fought by volunteers, as opposed to our most-deadly conflicts, the Civil War and World War II, both of which touched almost all Americans at the time. Randy Jackson, one of the troop leaders, wore the uniform of a Civil War Union officer and rode a horse in the procession. The United States Supreme Court ruled in their favor and ordered the government pay $150,000 for the property.
The dedication of a first-of-its-kind memorial in the Gem State.
But while Logan gets credit for his order, Yale University history professor David W. Blight, says this may be because not all early Memorial Day celebrants – particularly recently freed slaves in 1865 – are remembered equally. She sold poppies to her friends and co-workers giving the profits to servicemen in need.
In 1921, poppies were sold by the Franco-American Children’s League for war orphans of France and Belgium.
The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
“Such service should be universal and unavoidable”, Blankin said. This new name stuck and become official by Congress in 1967. The last Monday in May, for many people, signals the start of summer.
President Bill Clinton signed the National Moment of Remembrance Act on December 28, 2000.
Advertisement
HECKER: Speakers, patriotic music and a flyover will highlight Memorial Day Ceremonies at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Augustine’s Cemetery in Hecker. Since his passing Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (Hawaii) continues the push tradition.
