Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day


Memorial Day, I feel has lost its original tradition, most of what Americans know of this day is, a day off from work, big sales, and celebrating the summer. Which is okay, but we have to take time to remember men and women that have died for our freedom. Freedom is not free.

Here is a little history about this day

Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday in May in most of the U.S., in honor of the nation’s armed services personal killed in wartime. The holiday, originally called Decoration Day, is traditionally marked by parades, memorial speeches and ceremonies, decoration of graves with flowers and flags, hence the original name. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of Gen. John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when most states changed to the newly established federal schedule of holiday observance.

An article from Funk & Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia 2006 world Almanac Education Group

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