| In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the | | | | Day." |
| crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the | | | | Since the end of World War 1, due to the poem at the |
| sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard | | | | top of this article "In Flanders Fields", Memorial Day has |
| amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days | | | | also become known as Poppy Day. By 1918 the poem |
| ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and | | | | was well known throughout the allied world. Moina |
| were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. | | | | Michael, an American woman, wrote these lines in |
| Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing | | | | reply to the poem by McCrae: |
| hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If | | | | We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields |
| ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, | | | | where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That |
| though poppies grow In Flanders fields. | | | | blood of heroes never dies |
| ~ John McCrae, 1915. | | | | She then adopted the custom of wearing a red poppy |
| First I want you to read this article. Then I want you to | | | | in memory of the sacrifices of war and also as a |
| scroll back up and re-read the poem above, softly, | | | | symbol of keeping the faith. |
| gently, out loud. | | | | A French women, Madam Guerin, visiting the United |
| Memorial Day began on the 5th of May 1868 by | | | | States, learned of the custom and took it one step |
| General John Logan, national commander of the Grand | | | | further. When she returned to France she decided to |
| Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11 which | | | | hand make the red poppies and sell them to raise |
| said: | | | | money for the benefit of the orphaned and destitute |
| "The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose | | | | women and children in war torn areas of France. This |
| of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the | | | | tradition spread to Canada, The United States and |
| graves of comrades who died in defense of their | | | | Australia and is still followed today. The money |
| country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies | | | | collected from the sale of poppies goes to fund |
| now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet | | | | various veterans programs. |
| churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of | | | | In essence, Memorial Day is a day to remember not |
| ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in | | | | only the war heroes of the past and present who died |
| their own way arrange such fitting services and | | | | to give us freedom and rights, but our own family |
| testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit." | | | | members who served and passed on after serving. |
| And it was first observed on 30 May 1868, when | | | | My own father served in the Korean War and |
| flowers were placed on the graves of Union and | | | | Vietnam, and passed away in 1988 of heart disease. |
| Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. | | | | He was a Chief Master Sgt. in the USAF, and I spend |
| The first state to officially recognize the holiday was | | | | every memorial day thinking of him. So this year, in |
| New York in 1873. | | | | between the picnics, the racecars, the ice cold beers |
| Although some Americans view this as a great 3 day | | | | and the traffic jams (drive safe!!!), take a moment to |
| weekend, and a time that local swimming pools open, | | | | buy a Poppy from the old man at the card table in |
| picnics, sporting events and other "fun" activities, | | | | front of your favorite store (or buy several), and take |
| Memorial Day has traditionally occurred on May 30, | | | | a moment to remember our heroes. Leave flowers on |
| and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars | | | | the graves of soldiers, fly the flag at half-mast, wear |
| (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War | | | | your poppy with pride, and attend your local Memorial |
| (SUVCW), advocate returning to this fixed date. The | | | | Day parade or ceremony. |
| VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, | | | | Don't let the ones who suffered for our freedom and |
| "Changing the date merely to create three-day | | | | our country be forgotton, and don't let their battle cries |
| weekends has undermined the very meaning of the | | | | get muffled by the pages of history. Remember, and |
| day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the | | | | be thankful. |
| general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial | | | | |