Memorial Day

"In Memory of..." We inscribe this on plaques affixed to donated benches, sculptures, walls, buildings, and more. We inscibe this so that the one we remember will be remembered after we are forgotten. We want the memory to have meaning, as the life itself had meaning. In 1868, May 30 was designated as a "memorial day" and celebrated at Arlington Cemetery. It was to be "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." (Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the grand Army of the Republic) Southern women by that time had already honored fallen soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies by decorating the graves with flowers. (Inspired this poem.) In 1971, federal law changed the observance of the holiday to the last Monday in May and extended it to honor all those who died in American wars. While the day honors the dead, and we have Veteran's Day where the living are also remembered, it is still an opportunity to recognize the willingness to sacrifice shown by our servicemembers. In fact, I think I will make a point to kiss a soldier today. :)