I can honestly say that I have never preached on “Memorial Day” before…
But “a little bit of research” reveals all kinds of things…
I cannot believe I have lived this long and never knew…that there is “a moment of remembrance” that takes place – each and every year on Memorial Day at 3:00 P.M.
You are supposed to stop what you are doing, pause and remember. Prayer is appropriate. Silence also is appropriate.
Why didn’t anyone tell me?
Why doesn’t the news media report it?
Why is this – the very first time I have heard of it…
Why did I have to research Memorial Day to find this out?
I also found out that Memorial Day started out as a “Civil War” Remembrance Only!
The War dead from the Revolutionary War were not to be included.
I knew for example that it was originally called “Decoration Day.” I remember going with my grandparents as a child, visiting the graves and placing flowers there. It was an annual event.
I was conflicted. “Decoration Day” is not what they called it “in school.”
“Everybody” called it “Memorial Day” but not my grandpa and grandma.
For them it was always “Decoration Day.” They would accept no other names for it. They were “adamant.”
I did not know that the first known “Public Tribute honoring war dead” actually goes all the way back to Athens, Greece and the year 431 BCE.
I did not know – that one of the earliest commemorations was organized by recently freed – formerly Southern slaves.
Nor did I know – that 9 Southern States still officially recognize a “Confederate Memorial Day” – separate from the Federal Holiday!
That seems weird to me – being a Northerner and all.
The actual founder of the holiday had a long and distinguished military career. General John A Logan was his name. He was also a politician and a US Senator from Illinois. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1884.
Logan adapted the idea from earlier events in the South. It did not become a Federal Holiday until 1971.
More than twenty US cities claim to be the birth place of “Decoration Day.”
While May 30th is always Memorial Day in a lot of people’s minds. The celebration was moved to the last Monday in May, allowing for a “convenient” three day Federal Holiday Weekend.
It has been stated repeatedly that changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. And this has “No doubt, contributed a lot to the general public’s “nonchalant observance” of Memorial Day.
There have been many, many attempts to return Memorial Day to its more “traditional date.”
All kinds of traditions evolved over the years, including parades, family gatherings, visiting cemeteries or memorials, picnics, religious ceremonies are also held at various cemetery’s, military reenactments, political speeches and local dignitaries, the planting of flags on the graves, cookouts and even the Indianapolis 500 has become a part of the Memorial Day Traditions.
Memorial Day Weekend is also “the unofficial beginning of the summer.”
Of course, over time, deceased Veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam and all other US conflicts and engagements were added in, as well.
Unfortunately, the day is often times confused with Veterans Day. Veterans Day celebrates “all those” who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States, both living and deceased.
Something else I never heard about: On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is supposed to be raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.
The half-staff position remembers the more than one million “men and women” who gave their lives in service of their country.
At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to “rise up in their stead” and continue the fight for “liberty and justice for all.”
I know this, on this one day a year we could all take a moment to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice – in service – to our country.
How will you, remember them?