Memorial Day (USA only)

[Sazerac]

This weekend marks the Memorial Day weekend festival, which most Americans consider to be the official start of the Summer season.

Memorial Day, also known as the Day of the Fallen Warriors, was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress in 1968 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).

Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

But most Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.

To help Americans re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." In an added development, this year on Memorial Day, the "Calling America s Heroes" Memorial Day campaign will provide free AT&T phone cards to the first 100 armed forces members or veterans who request them at participating 7-Eleven stores to "remind Americans of the real purpose of Memorial Day and thank veterans and members of the armed forces for their service to our great country."

I would like to personally take the opportunity to send a heartfelt thanks to all veterans who have placed their lives in jeopardy to help keep our country safe, and to those who have died, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of their homeland. For them, I reproduce here Theodore O'Hara's classic epic poem that is engraved upon the arch at the Arlington National Cemetary, "The Bivouac of the Dead."

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping-ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe's advance
Now swells upon the wind;
No troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow's strife
The warrior's dream alarms;
No braying horn nor screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.

Their shivered swords are red with rust;
Their plumed heads are bowed
Their haughty banner, trailed with dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed,
Are free from anguish now.

Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That sweeps the great plateau,
Flushed with triumph, yet to gain,
Come down the serried foe;
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break o'er the field beneath,
Knew the watchword of the day
Was "Victory or death!"

For many a mother's breath has swept
O'er Angostura's plain,
And long the pitying sky has wept
Above its moldered slain.
The raven's scream, or eagle's flight,
Or shepherd's pensive lay,
Alone awakes each sullen height
That frowned o'er that dread fray.

Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground
Ye must not slumber there,
Where stranger steps and tongues resound
Along the heedless air.
Your own proud land's heroic soil
Shall be your fitter grave;
She claims from war his richest spoil,
The ashes of her brave.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout are past;
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal,
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that nevermore may feel
The rapture of the fight....

Thus 'neath their parent turf they rest,
Far from the gory field,
Borne to a Spartan mother's breast
On many a bloody shield;
The sunshine of their native sky
Smiles sadly on them here,
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The heroes sepulcher.

Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave,
No impious footstep here shall tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your story be forgot,
While Fame her record keeps,
Or Honor points the hallowed spot
Where Valor proudly sleeps.[/list]
Peace and blessings,
-Sazerac

[ 05-24-2002, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Sazerac ]

[Earthdog]

Excellent Saz. Though I am no longer in the states I still honor the veterans who died for me and mine so that we might not have to. Ive relatives die in service in every war since the Revolutionary War. My mom could tell you better than I how many. My family cam to america on the first boat after the Mayflower.

Excellent. Puts things in perspective. Thank you.

[Cloudbringer]

Thank you Saz, that's a wonderful post. I always felt that most people forget what the Holiday is all about and it's nice to see it still has meaning for some. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[johnny]

i'm not an american, but i say amen to that.

Thank you Saz, thats very nice of you to post the reminder for Americans and as an explanation for non-americans.

[Redblueflare]

That was a beautiful poem Saz, i'd never read it before. Guess most people don't realize Memorial Day is more than a day off from school...

[ 05-24-2002, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Redblueflare ]

[RudeDawg]

[img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]
As always, Saz, a beautiful post.
Too often, we forget what this holiday really stands for.

To all veterans, "Thank you."
To all those who sacrificed for us, and those who lost thier loved ones, my heartfelt prayers...

[Charean]

On Memorial Day I think of my dad.

He fought in WWII and died 18 years ago. I remember why he volunteered to fight and that he was proud of his contribution.

I enjoyed that poem. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Attalus]

Thank you, Saz, for a beautiful poem. I spend Memorial Day thinking about those who gave their lives so that we can be free. Perhaps you have made others realize it, too.

[Sazerac]

I am fortunate that I have never lost a loved one to war. However, I have many friends who have, and I respect and honor their loss and their relatives' valor.

I know we have veterans here on the board, too, and I like to salute them as well for putting their lives on the line as they do. [img]smile.gif[/img]

On a lighter note as well; what are you doing to celebrate Memorial Day? Staying in or traveling? Anyone barbecuing? I'm trying out a new brisket recipe on the grill this weekend.

Whatever you do, have fun, and stay safe! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Cheers,
-Sazerac