Remembering the Meaning of Memorial Day

Wearing poppies, waving flags, parades, placing flags and wreaths at soldiers' graves, twenty-one gun salutes followed by hot dogs and ice cream at the local American Legion were all part of the Memorial Day pre-boomers remember as kids. It was a solemn yet celebratory day because we remembered those who died serving our country and rejoiced in the freedom we enjoyed as a result of their sacrifices.

There are many versions of how this day of remembrance came to be. Dozens of cities in the United States lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. In fact, it was originally called Decoration Day - a time to place flowers and flags on the graves of America's fallen heroes and honor their service.

Some say the day got its start before the end of the Civil War, when ladies in the South organized to decorate the graves of the Confederate dead. Others believe a group of former slaves exhumed the bodies from a mass grave in South Carolina filled with the bodies of Union soldiers, buried the remains in individual plots and planted flowers to decorate the cemetery. But Waterloo New York is considered to official home of the day's first observance in 1866.

The tradition of honoring the military dead was renewed during WWI. It started in the United States with the wearing of poppies, inspired by the poem, "in Flanders Fields." The poppies were sold and the proceeds used to benefit servicemen in need. This idea later caught on in Europe to benefit orphaned children and widows of servicemen who lost their lives. A few years later, the European effort petered out and the founder approached a US organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), to support the effort. In 1922 the VFW began selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

Although the term "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, it did not become more popular than "Decoration Day" until after WWII. Memorial Day was declared a Federal Holiday in 1967. Over the years, the meaning and observance of the day has diminished. Poppies are still sold by veterans groups. Flags are displayed, but fewer than in the past. And the parades have all but vanished; however, there is a national parade each year in Washington, DC.

Now, Memorial Day, which has turned into a long weekend, marks the beginning of the summer season with cookouts and family activities taking the place of community events. Many have tried to return to the traditional roots of this day. To accomplish this, Americans must be re-educated about the history of Memorial Day and set it aside as a day of remembrance rather that just a day off from school or work.

Legislation has been introduced to Congress in an effort to return the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th instead of the last Monday in May. If you believe this is a tradition you would like to see restored, contact your elected representative and let them know you don't want the meaning of Memorial Day forgotten.