Arlington National Cemetery
As I read through the paper last evening, I saw the Memorial Day Sale Ads everywhere . . . and it made me think. . . “How Did Memorial Day even begin?†Here’s a quick history lesson and several great ways to observe Memorial Day.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day – a day of remembrance for those who died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fieldâ€, Moina Michael wrote her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
She conceived an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who have died serving our nation during war. Moina was the first American to wear a poppy and sold poppies to people in her community donating the money to benefit servicemen in need. The popularity of her idea continued to spread and in 1922, the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell artificial poppies made by disable veterans.
As the traditional meaning and observances of Memorial Day have changed, I would like to encourage everyone to observe this holiday this year by:
ï‚« Attend the local Forest Lake Memorial Day Ceremony at Lakeside Park.
ï‚« Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
ï‚« Visit Veterans Memorials in Minnesota.
ï‚« Fly our U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day
ï‚« Participate in a “National Moment Of Remembrance†— at 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, pause and think upon the true meaning of the day.
Enjoy this holiday weekend. Commit to observing Memorial Day in several of the ways I have suggested.
Tim Tarmann,
Roberts Family Funeral Home
