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From: "Marianne Ordway" <>
Subject: Memorial Day - May 30
Date: Sun, 30 May 2004 20:07:52 -0400

This is worth sharing so I am & hope that you all have a very nice Memorial
Day Weekend! Marianne


Subject: Memorial Day - May 30


A little background on the Memorial Day holiday...


Memorial Day was originally designated to honor the Civil
War dead from the North by decorating their graves with
flowers. It was at first called "Decoration Day." The first
commemorations were held in 1866 in Waterloo, New York, and
in Columbus, Mississippi. While the American flag flew at
half-staff, a veterans' parade marched to the village ceme-
tery and patriotic speeches were given. The first national
Decoration Day was held on May 30, 1868 by Union Army
veterans known as the Grand Army of the Republic.

May 30 was chosen because it was close to the date of the
final surrender of the Confederate Army (May 26, 1865). The
Southern states began remembering their soldiers on a
Confederate Memorial Day on various dates. When World War I
ended, the American Legion took over the observance, renam-
ing it Memorial Day, placing it on the last Monday in May,
and dedicating it in honor of all those killed in U.S. wars.
Some states still observe a separate day to honor the
Confederate dead.

The day is observed with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb
of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,
Virginia. Religious services, parades, and speeches are also
part of the day. Flags, insignia, and flowers are placed on
the graves of veterans in local cemeteries. During the Civil
War, the practice of decorating graves with flowers and wreathes
began, so it became a natural part of the observance.

A flag as a piece of cloth used as a standard, signal, or
symbol in English dates to the late 15th century. The word
may be an onomatopoeic representation for such a cloth
flapping in the wind, but the origin remains obscured. As
far as the American flag goes, there are many theories about
its origin, with the story of Betsy Ross being the most famous.
On Memorial Day, the flag is to be flown at half-mast,
a symbol of mourning, from sunrise until noon, and at full
staff from noon until sunset.

Red paper poppies are used to symbolize war dead because
>real poppies bloomed everywhere in the battle graveyards of
France. The Veterans of Foreign Wars had their first paper
"poppy sale" in 1922 to raise money for disabled and desti-
tute veterans. At one time, many people referred to Memorial
Day as "Poppy Day."

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• Memorial Day - May 30 by "Marianne Ordway" <>