Honoring
The Dead
As Oliver Wendell
Holmes, Jr. said in his Memorial Day address in 1884 at Keene, Memorial Day
'celebrates and solemnly reaffirms from year to year a national act of
enthusiasm and faith.' With changing times, Memorial Day is more celebrated as
a holiday than the glum occasion it was meant for. We must remember that the
day means to honor of America's defense personnel who lost their lives in
various wars. Though, people used to honor the graves of the war dead even
before the Civil War, the National Memorial Day holiday, originally known as
'Decoration Day' was first observed on May 30, 1868.
The concept
originated in the mind of General John Alexander Logan, who dedicated this day
to decorate the graves of the American Civil War dead. Later, it encompassed
all those who sacrificed their lives for their nation, from the Revolutionary
War to the present. May 30th every year was celebrated as the Memorial Day
until 1971. Later, the federal government issued the orders of holding the
Memorial Day on the last Monday of May. Alabama celebrates Confederate Memorial
Day on the fourth Monday in April while the states of Mississippi and Georgia
celebrate it on the last Monday of April.
Seeing the Memorial
Day losing its importance in the minds of younger generations, the concept of
the National Moment of Remembrance was hatched by a national humanitarian
organizations known as the 'No Greater Love, based in Washington, D.C. It was
introduced in 1997 and is recognized by the President and Members of Congress.
Since then, 'Taps' is at 3 p.m. throughout America to honor the contributions
of our dead soldiers. All Americans are encouraged to pay respect to them by
keeping silent for one minute in their memory at 3:00 p.m.-
Day is done...
Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...
Safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light....
Dims the sight
And a star....
Gems the sky....
Gleaming bright
From afar....
Drawing nigh
Falls the night.
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