Memorial Day

What is Memorial Day? For some in this country, it is the day that marks the beginning of the commercial days of summer; for others it is just another three day weekend to partake in holiday travel, picnics, water sports, a round of golf, or the beginning of the summer shopping season. But for the Civil War Confederate widows of May 1866, this day meant something a little more solemn. So moving was their tribute to their fallen husbands, fathers, and sons that a hymn was written by Nella Sweet in 1867 entitled, "Kneel where our Loved Ones are Sleeping" dedicated "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead." This observance (also known as "Decoration Day") soon spread until it was made official by General John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, who ordered flowers to be placed on both the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington Cemetery May 30, 1868. Despite the almost sacred origin of this day, we had a group so full of hate and ignorance (60 professors among them, William Ayers) that they petitioned President Obama to refuse to recognize the Confederate Soldiers Memorial in Arlington Cemetery, claiming to do so would, "imply that the humanity of Africans and African-Americans is of no significance" (see story today at MSNBC). This group complained that confederates and neo-confederates, through the monument, deny that slavery was the cause of war (which it was NOT) and that it upholds Confederates as heroes (which if fighting for one's own country makes you a hero than they were heroes). To his credit, Obama sent wreaths to the Confederate and African-American memorials. Why are there always those who want to rewrite our history? It really frightens me as to what the children of the next generation will be taught concerning the history of this nation if these revisionists are allowed to have their way.

It was not until WWI that Memorial Day became unified into a single day recognizing those who died in all wars. It was during this war that one of the most memoriable wartime poems was written by the Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae:

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

In response to this poem, Moina Michaels wrote a poem of her own:

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She started the tradition of wearing a poppy on Memorial Day and sold poppies to friends and family using the money to benefit servicemen in need. So we all need to pause today and reflect, appreciate, and honor those who paid the ultimate price for this country whether we agreed with the reasons for the wars they fought in or not, these men and women did their duty and gave their lives for us. Let us not forget their sacrifice.