Today is Memorial Day in America. All across the country, people will pause to reflect and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.
In the South, this day was historically known as ‘Decoration Day’ and was observed on May 30. Lisa’s Grandmother (‘Granny’) was a big believer in Decoration Day. On that day, many people visit cemeteries to pay their respects or to ‘decorate’ gravesites with flowers and flags.
The name changed to Memorial Day after World War II and in 1968, when the Federal Government passed the ‘Uniform Holidays Bill’ to create Monday holidays and three day weekends, it became law to observe this day on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day is often considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the U.S. School systems frequently end their academic year just before or just after Memorial Day. Later that week, June begins and, of course, later in June, we mark the OFFICIAL start to summer.
In MLB parks, on Memorial Day, teams paid tributes to our armed forces.
There were thousands of backyard cookouts and barbeques across the country over the course of this weekend. There were scads of other festivals too. In San Francisco, for example, they spent this weekend marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Golden Gate bridge.
However you are choosing to mark this day – whether it is with a gathering with friends and family, a solemn observance of the meaning of the day, or just a quiet holiday from work – I hope you have a wonderful day!
JG
Originally posted 5/29/2012
No comments:
Post a Comment