Community Corner

Honor Their Sacrifice By Attending A Memorial Day Event

Here's the why, where and how you can celebrate Memorial Day this weekend. And if you go, feel free to upload your Memorial Day photos by clicking on the "upload photos" tab.

You've got the American flag planted on your front porch, but you want to put a little more meaning into Memorial Day.

How do you do that?

Well you can start by remembering a little more about why we celebrate Memorial Day. The day used to be called Decoration Day because women would decorate the graves of those who died during the Civil War. Originally, Gen. John A. Logan ordered Memorial Day to be held on May 30 in 1868.

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Here's an excerpt from the order:

The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

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We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

So often we celebrate Memorial Day with gatherings, but we don't really attach our activities with its real meaning. We may gather in fellowship with friends and family, but do we remember to honor the ultimate sacrifice that has been made by our military? Jessica Watson, a blogger for SheKnowsTV, made a list of ways a person can honor our veterans -- by attending Memorial Day ceremonies, observing the national moment of silence, or simply hugging a military family.

To learn more about where and when the Memorial Day events are happening in our area, click here.


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