I hope you are having a great Memorial Day Weekend.
I visited the Memorial Day Site to learn more of the history and meaning of Memorial Day.
Proper observance of Memorial Day should include:
- Visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
- Visiting memorials.
- Flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
- Flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
- Participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance“: at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
- Renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.
Here are some Memorial Day facts (from Memorial Day Site) to help your celebration:
- Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Moina Michael, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields”, conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.
- Because many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.”
- Many feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971, it made it all the easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: “Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”
Again, I wish you a meaningful Memorial Day!
On with my roundup!
Recommended Reading:
How to Make a 6 Figure Income Working at Home: Interview w/ My Wife Quit Her Job.com At Good Financial Cents
The Seven Pillars of Financial Success: Pillar 1: Spend Less Than You Earn at Free Money Finance
Frugal Printing, Is It Possible? at Eliminate the Muda
Buying a Used Car in a Private Sell – Protect Yourself at Canadian Finance Blog
Greed is Good – Or is It? What Would Jesus Say to Gordon Gekko? at Redeeming Riches
The 5 Biggest Home Repair Ripoffs at Len Penzo dot com
A Pledge to Never Take Credit Again at Frugal Zeitgeist
Should You Invest While Still in Debt? at One Money Design
How to Invest When Interest Rates Are Expected to Rise at Consumer Boomer
Carnivals I have participated in this week:
Yakezie Carnival hosted by Free From Broke
Carnival of Money Stories hosted by Funny About Money
Christian Blog Carnival hosted by Thinking in Christ
Baby Boomers Blog Carnival hosted by Baby Boomers US
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Thanks for the facts and the observance reminder. The day off id great but we all need to remember the sacrifices that were made so our country is free to have our economy, way of living, and freedom.
great facts Joe and thanks again for the link and mention!!
Thanks for the link. Interesting reprise of observances!
Thanks for the mention Joe!
Thanks very much for the link.
I don’t know much about memorial Day in USA… so learned some stuff here. In UK we have a similar day on 11/11 called remembrance day. We wear poppies and have a nationwide minute of silence at 11’0clock to respect the fallen in the two world wars.
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