Memorial Day

Originally known as “Decoration Day”, May 30th was established in 1868 by the leader of a Union Army veterans’ organization as a day to honor “comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” After World War I, Americans began including those who had died in all of America's wars in the May 30th observances and in 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated annually on the last Monday in May.

'Memorial Day' is now officially over, that is, over for the money-changers, merchants and those who's only reason for observing Memorial Day is the 3 day off weekend, the backyard bar-b-que and the drink fest that results in more death of innocents on our hi-ways.

As for me, my Sons and Daughters, it's still Decoration Day, a day of reverence, a solemn day of remembrance of our Fallen War dead....a day to go to any cemetery where our relatives, friends or just acquaintances are laid to rest and 'put the flowers of Spring' on their graves to symbolize a 'new beginning'. We take time to pay respects to those who paid the ultimate price so we may enjoy the freedoms we have, the civilization of the World and the peace that is all so elusive. The backyard bar-b-que was only started that I can remember, because it took most of the day for our Parents to make the rounds of graves after stopping at a nursery to get fresh potted flowers, to cut fresh flowers from our yards to be put in containers of water and for us kids to watch the parade of Veterans still living paying homage to their fallen Brothers. After dark, there would be a giant fireworks display at the amusement park or wherever they were available. It was good to be a young kid growing up in the fifties, Patriotism abounded, respect was always shown and morality was at a high level; no, it wasn't all peaches and cream but for the most part, the bums and immorals were not openly displayed...not like in today's World

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisable with Liberty and Justice for all.

In Memory of: James Allan Branson...Samuel L. Reed...David Duane Case...Tilly Touart...Daniel W. Stutler...Ward LeRoy Anthony...Victor Ford...Tex Rowley...Robbie Borger...Louie Petrelli...and the rest of the over 58,000 on the Wall, all the WWI KIA's buried in France, all the WWII KIA's buried around the Globe, all the Korean KIA's...every Warrior who paid the ultimate price who fought under 'Old Glory', the World's greatest symbol of freedom and democracy.