Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day: A History

I found these two excerpts in an old book that I have on my shelf; it’s my “go to” book for wonderful thoughts on Memorial Day.

As I ponder the great and ultimate sacrifice of so many, I feel the only thing I can do is pray for our beloved Republic, and say God Bless the United States of America. May she endure the assault from within, and remain the shining light on the hill.
Memorial Day is a creation growing out of the sentiment of the times in which it originated. It has been the custom in several countries of the Old World to decorate the graves of soldiers, but in no other country is it made a day of national observance as it is no known in the north and south of the United States. Its observance at first grew spontaneously from the tender rememberance of the relatives and others who survived the war for the Union. The practice of fixing a day for visiting the graves of the fallen soldiers and strewing them with flowers commenced in the early years of the Civil War of 1861-1865. But different days for some time were observed in different localities. It is a well ascertained fact that on April 13, 1862, just one year after the fall of Fort Sumter, Mrs. Sarah Nicholas Evans, with the wife and two daughters of Chaplain May of the Second Regiment, Michigan Volunteers, decorated the graves of a number of soldiers buried on Arlington Heights, VA. In May of the next year, these ladies again performed the same loving service. In May of the following year, they also rendered the same sadly pleasant attention to the graves of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg, Va. The custom gradually became more general…and at length President U.S. Grant and several Governors were led to unite in recommending the observance of the same day, and in 1874 by Congressional enactment, a ceremonial so significant of the nation’s obligation to the dead, they decided upon May 30th as a legal holiday--now known as Decoration Day in nearly every State of the Union.
 
“Thoughts for the Occasion; Patriotic and Secular”
E.B. Treat; Chicago 1894


The Nobility of Patriotism

It is appropriate and just that we should commemorate the services of those who fought during this long struggle. All nations, ancient and modern, Christian and heathen, have religiously cherished the memories of those who have fallen in the military service of their country. The reason is obvious: to peril life in the national defense is the severest test of patriotism, and the spirit which prompts that sacrifice deserves enduring honor; while the homage which it receives educates and develops that noble sentiment which is the only security for the continuous life of nations. So long as its sons are willing to die for their motherland, so long will it endure to shelter and bless them and their children. At the hour when a people shall be unwilling to abide this test, they will find that they have no longer a country worth saving, and those lives they will have deemed more valuable than honor and freedom transmitted undimmed through centuries of glorious national life, may prove to be an intolerable burden of humiliation, misery and disgrace.
 ibid pp. 119-120

3 comments:

Perfect Poker Profit Pointers said...

Many American citizens have no idea what it is like to serve their country and take for granted what our military service men and women go through to protect all Americans Freedoms. Many are complacent ignorant fools that say stupid things when they have no clue what it is like to be in the boots of the true American Hero’s that are fighting for them. True Americans will Never Forget your Incredible Valor. I say God Bless our Fallen Hero's and thank you from every fiber of my being.

Bonita said...

Love it! Love it! Love it!
And on a side note...I love your reading list for the year, I have been choosing my books from it this year.

Jeannetta said...

Perfect Poker, thanks for stopping by :)

Bonita, I'm so glad!! I was sick for a while, and finished five books lickety split! Now I've slowed down, but I have three going right now :D