|
May 26, 2001
This is Memorial Day Weekend. The practice began in 1868, when
Gen. John A. Logan, commander in chief of Army of the Republic,
designated May 30, as a day for decorating with flowers the graves
of men who had fallen in the Civil War. Since World War I the date
has been used to commemorate the dead of all wars.
I suspect that our citizenry as a whole has forgotten what the
day is about. Mostly, it is now used as the opening bracket for
the summer season, with the closing bracket being Labor Day. It is
a good excuse for the family to get away on an outing. In some
areas of our country, churches alter their summer Sunday schedules
because of the vacation habits of their members that begin on
Memorial Day.
Could there be good family experiences around this holiday?
Well, for sure, when the family gets away from its usual routine
and has time together, it is almost guarantee to pay rich
dividends. But I have something more in mind. What about
remembering family members who have given their lives in the
service of our country. Their story could again be told in the
family circle as a way of remembering them and their sacrifice. If
their grave is near by, flowers could be used to decorate and
remember.
In my family, four have given their lives in our country's
wars: a great-great uncle, great uncle, uncle, and cousin - the
Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War,
respectively. Sometime during the weekend, Janell and I are going
to remember...tell the story of each...be grateful for the
sacrifice. I don't know whether all of my relatives believed in
what their country called upon them to do or not. William Atkinson
may or may not have thought the South's cause was a just one.
Clyde Meece may or may not have thought boys from the United
States should be trying to liberate France. But they did what
their country asked of them and they set in motion a patriotic
tradition for all of us who have followed. For this Janell and I
are grateful. We have a goodly heritage.
Memorial Day - It is a time of remembering - remembering those
who have died in our country's wars. Use some portion of the
weekend to pay tribute to family members who have died in the
service of their country.
|
