Memorial Day 2022 isn’t the day to thank a soldier for his service, and while you can thank a soldier anytime, it isn’t THE day for it. That’s November 11, Veterans Day.
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day honors all soldiers who died during service to the nation. It started as a local observance for Confederate soldiers who died in battle. One of the first Decoration Days was held in Columbus, Mississippi, on April 25, 1866 by local women who put flowers on the graves of Confederate soldiers who perished in the battle at Shiloh.
Columbus is about a two-hour drive from my hometown. By 1868, the tradition had spread to a group of Union veterans, and now it’s a National Holliday.
May we never forget the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
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Comments 20
Thanks, Pat. I’m glad we chose a day to make time to think about relatives, friends, and even strangers to us who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I can even remember when as a child it was called Decoration Day, We made the circuit of the cemeteries in town to put flowers on the graves, and trim the grass around them.
I forgot to mention, my hometown of 50,000 always had a parade to honor the fallen. My buddies and I would ride our bikes the half mile to the main street on the west side of the river (where we lived), and enjoyed the half hour or so of rousing music. Do towns even do that anymore? Public displays of patriotism are disappearing.
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Thanks, Tim. Did you watch the PBS special with Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna? It was awesome! Our town of about 15,000 usually has a Veterans’ Day parade, but I don’t remember anything about a Memorial Day parade being in the paper. Collierville, where my cousins lived, had a big gazebo where a small band played patriotic music on hollidays.
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Tim, we used to have dinner on the grounds, then everyone would help clean up the cemetery and put flowers on the graves. I wish that hadn’t stopped. Now we pay someone to keep the grass mowed, etc.
Nicely done. Thank you.
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Thanks, Delores!
Thanks, Pat. This was helpful information and a good reminder.
I grew up during a time when Memorial Day was still Decoration Day and it was always May 30.. In my family it was also sacred. I remember going with my grandparents to decorate my aunt’s grave. They traveled about 16 miles and they stayed most of the day! We associate Memorial Day today with cookouts & pool openings but my Mamaw packed a picnic basket and we ate there at the cemetery. I remember fried chicken and cake, and she prepared enough for anyone who stopped to vusit. So many precious memories of a simpler time! Patricia, thanks for sharing with us.
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Connie, how well I relate to your family’s version of Memorial Day!
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Memorial Day is what I remember as Decoration Day. I miss the dinner on the grounds we used to have.
The quote shared by our minister yesterday hasn’t left my thoughts: The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Douglas MacArthur
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I so agree, Debra! I’ve been thinking about that off and on ever since Church yesterday!
I have tremendous respect for those who gave all so that I can be free! May we always, as a nation and individually, remember the sacrifices that were made for us. Perfect photo and scripture, Pat! Thank you!
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Thank you, Terri! Memorial Day is ver special!
I love your picture and the explanation. May we Always Honor those who died keeping our Country safe and free. Have a Great week and stay safe.
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Amen, Alicia! Thanks for dropping by.
I think I have lived longer than Tim, but I don’t remember Decoration Day. But he did mention a hometown of 50,000. When I was growing up, that was a city. My hometown may have had 5,000 on a workday when all the factory workers were on the job. 🙂 On a serious note, I am so glad for the many people who are now reminding everyone that Memorial Day is intended to remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I remember an elderly veteran at our church about twenty years ago who got upset because the pastor failed to recognize the veterans on Memorial Day. The real problem was that previous pastors had goofed up and started the practice of having the veterans to stand and be recognized on that day and again on Veterans Day. I tried to politely explain the difference to him but he had determined to be offended and slighted regardless. Meanwhile, I was standing there thinking about my own dad who fought in WWII and came home but died much too young due in part to the horrors of war. I would have loved to have had him with us for many more years to celebrate Veterans Day together.
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I’m surprised you don’t remember Decoration Day, Edward, but maybe it was a regional thing? I grew up in Memphis and in 1950, had a population of around 400,000. It didn’t seem to be that big at the time. I can remember getting running water and sewers and the fun the neighborhood kids had playing in the ditches after the workers went home. That wouldn’t happen today!
Pat, it could be that Memorial or Decoration Day was celebrated locally but we missed it, either due to the horrible memories Daddy had of the war or the hours my parents spent working back then. They ran a business and worked from early till late six days a week. Their only day off was Sundays and two weeks each summer for our family vacation.
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That makes it easy to understand that you might not have heard about it and I don’t think Decoration Day was a huge deal then. 🙂