Memorial Day: A Holiday of Remembrance!

Monday is a day when we honor the great patriot-warriors of our nation!

by Staff Reporter.

God send us men with hearts ablaze,
All truth to love, all wrong to hate;
These are the patriots nations need,
These are the bulwarks of the State.
                                        – F.J. Gillman

Too often, we think of Memorial Day as a good time to go camping, take a road trip, have a picnic, or do some last-minute yard and garden tasks before summer is officially welcomed.

In days past, people celebrated this holiday in a much more significant, patriotic way. Older citizens still often mark this day as a special time to visit cemeteries and decorate the graves of deceased loved ones and service members. 

Going back to the first 1868 celebration of “Decoration Day” (which eventually was named “Memorial Day”), we learn that General John A. Logan called for a nationwide remembrance of the countless soldiers who died in the Civil War. He led an organization of Northern Civil War veterans; he proclaimed: “The 30th of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

On that first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 citizens decorated the graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there. By 1890, many states had officially made Decoration Day a state holiday. (The holiday focused on the Civil War military dead for many decades, eventually coming to also include all who lost their lives in other wars.)

Let us take time to appreciate the valiant soldier-patriots who sacrificed their lives so we can live a comfortable life in America. We must teach our children and grandchildren about the true meaning of this day! 

WE CAN SHOW APPRECIATION TO OUR VETERANS BY:

• Watching a great Memorial Day movie or visiting a battlefield.
• Tune in to a Memorial Day Concert (NPR and PBS will broadcast these).
• Attend a Memorial Day parade! (Put a smile on a veteran’s face by being there and cheering for them.)
• Attend a memorial service in a park or public square, etc. Spend time praying for our military service members!
• Raise the American Flag at your house, or decorate your yard with flags.
• Support local businesses that are owned by veterans.
• Send a thank you card, bake a pie, or give a gift card to a veteran in your family or neighborhood (even small gestures will be appreciated.)
• Go to a Veteran’s cemetery and honor the veterans by decorating some graves there with flags or flowers.

JOIN IN THE MOMENT OF SILENCE:

3 p.m. on Veteran’s Day.

In 2000, Congress passed an act, “The National Moment of Remembrance.” At 3 p.m., people all over the nation will stop, pause, and give thanks for the brave soldiers who fought for our country.

DONATE TO SUPPORT VETERANS:

Donate to organizations that support our veterans.

Here’s one I recommend:

Wounded Warrior Project
(It helps over 1 million veterans and families) https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

MEANINGFUL WAYS TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY IN WASHINGTON STATE:

2024 Joint Services Memorial Day Ceremony, Garden of Honor Section
May 27, 2:00 p.m.
4100 Steilacoom Blvd. Lakewood, WA.

The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma XIII
Celebration of Life Ceremony
Saturday, May 25, 2024, 10 a.m.
614 Division Street, Port Orchard, Wa.

Memorial Day Ceremony
May 27, 10 a.m.
 McCleary Cemetery Flag Pole
108 N. 10th St. McCleary, Wa.

Whatcom Memorial Day Parade
Saturday, May 25, 12–3 p.m.
Bellingham, Wa. (Begins at the corner of Alabama and Cornwall St.)

Garden of Remembrance Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 27, 2024, 10 a.m.
Outdoor Garden at Benaroya Hall
200 University Street, Seattle, WA.

Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony
Tuesday, May 28, 2–3 p.m.
8701 30 Ave. SW, Seattle, Washington

Memorial Day Weekend Concert
Saturday, May 25, 11:30 a.m.
The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA.

We hope you have a great Memorial Day
and a MEANINGFUL ONE, as well!
To all our wonderful veterans, we say
THANK YOU !!! God bless you!

God of our fathers, known of old—-
Lord of our far-flung battle line —
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine;
Lord, God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.
                                 – Rudyard Kipling

Feel free to add additional Memorial Day Celebrations you wish to Share!