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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Each year, Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, is a day of remembrance for those who have fallen in battle
According to usmemorialday.org, Memorial Day was formerly called Decoration Day, a day when people would visit graves and adorn them with flowers and ribbons. The site went on to state that Decoration Day was founded May 5, 1868, when Gen. John Logan, commanding officer of the Grand Army of the Republic, made a proclamation that May 30 would be a day to honor those who have died in defense of the country.
On May 22, 1967, former-president Lyndon Johnson changed the name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day.
“In this observance, no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.,” Logan said in his Decoration Day order. “Let us then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us, in this solemn presence, renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude — the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”
But the question that begs to be answered is what about those that have not died in war? As of April 27, 2015, President Barack Obama made April 28 Workers Memorial Day.
“On Memorial Day, I don’t want to only remember the combatants,” said Eric Burdon, a musician, songwriter and actor. “There (are) also those who came out of the trenches as writers and poets; (those) who started preaching peace; men and women who have made this world a kinder place to live.”
Johnson urged everyone in 1967 to make Memorial Day a day to pray for permanent peace. There are many events that join the community to promote good relations during Memorial Day weekend such as:
• The Mayors Memorial Day ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Pacific May 25 at 8:30 a.m.
• The lantern floating ceremony at Magic Island at 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
• Free admission to any Blue Star Museum from Memorial Day to Labor Day for Military personnel and their families; more information is at http://arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2015 00:30 |
| Story ID: | 164218 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A day to remember, by Sgt Khalil Ross, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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