Happy Memorial weekend. It is the unofficial start to summer, a time to camp, go to the cabin, open the pool, or have fun with friends. But wait.....why do we have this holiday? To Remember.....and honor........the men and women who gave their lives so that you can do all of these things.
This article found on Mental Floss gives a history of how the holiday got started: http://mentalfloss.com/article/27858/10-things-remember-about-memorial-day. Did you know that this holiday can trace back to the Civil War and spontaneous commemorations of the dead?
On May 5, 1868, General Logan, issued General Orders No. 11, which set aside May 30, 1868 "for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise dec
orating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion." The orders expressed hope that the observance would be "kept up from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades."
The holiday was long known as Decoration Day for the practice of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. The name Memorial Day goes back to 1882, but the older name didn't disappear until after World War II. Federal law declared "Memorial Day" the official name in 1967.
Please take some time this weekend to remember and honor those that gave their lives so that you can enjoy this unofficial start to summer.
