Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first observed on May 30, 1968 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.
During that first national celebration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressmen James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20o,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there.
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
-James Garfield A. Garfield May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
This event was inspired by local observances of that day that had taken place in several towns throughout America the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.
Memorial Day now suffers the same secular fate as Christmas — its commercial value has far outstripped its original meaning.
Although there is nothing terribly wrong with that, and we couldn’t change it anyway, we hope readers will give a few moments thought to the real meaning of Memorial Day this weekend.
The trouble with evoking memories from past military conflicts is that it is like looking at a grainy black-and-white photograph or newsreel (an outdated term in itself).
For many Americans who can barely remember life without color photography, looking at these black-and-white images has little impact. They represent another time, one that is hard to connect with today.
But for those who lived through the past few wars, there is color in the memories, and for many of those who served in the military, the color is blood red.
For them Memorial Day is not a history lesson, quickly forgotten like other lessons from our school days. For them it is the father, the brother, the son, the husband, the pal who never came home.
And for those of us living today, the war dead are our vivid connection to Memorial Day — because it is an eerie fact that many of us would not be here today were it not for a quirk of fate that allowed our fathers to survive a war.
How many of the more than 400,000 World War II dead would have fathered the geniuses, the creators, the liberators of today’s generations?
How many of the 116,000 World War I dead, the 54,000 Korean War dead, or the 58,000 Vietnam War dead? How many of the 500,000 Civil War dead would have fathered children whose impact would still be felt in our lives today?
Actually, many of these dead patriots were themselves only 18 or 19 years old, so they were robbed of the chance to leave us any legacy other than the memory of their sacrifice.
A wounded seaman who was taken aboard a rescue vessel during the D-Day invasion was quoted in Life magazine about the fundamental mystery of war:
“(The ship) was loaded with the bodies of sailors, soldiers, airmen; the wounded and survivors. And on board was the body of my friend Pete Petersen. He was going to be 21 on June 22. One thing you always wonder is, who makes that decision: Who dies and who doesn’t?”
On this holiday weekend, let’s not forget the meaning, the mystery and the tragedy behind Memorial Day. This day should be and always be that your sacrifice and heroism is what we honor today. I salute each and every one of our brothers in arms. God Bless. We love you.
S/F
About the author: Scott Bernstein is the CEO of Global Security International LLC headquartered in NYC. He has extensive experience as an Counter terrorist Consultant, International Apprehension Operative, Human & Sex Trafficking Expert and a Military and Law Enforcement Trainer. He is available for speaking engagements globally. He has been recognized as a leading authority by the international media by his peers and colleagues. In addition to his LinkedIn profile, you can also interact with Scott on his LinkedIn group http://bit.ly/1LMp2hj.