This upcoming weekend marks Memorial day and here at Walck’s 4 Wheel Drive, we’d like to remind everyone about the history and why we should all take a few moments to honor and remember those who fought for us.
Memorial day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Now, there are many stories as to how the day actually began, especially with over two dozen towns and cities who claim to be the birthplace of the day.
With that being said, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo N.Y. the official birthplace of Memorial Day in May 1966. However, it’s more than likely that Memorial Day had many separate beginnings in different towns and cities across the nation where people have gathered and honored the war dead.
Moina Michael created a poem to honor the day:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
That’s when she then 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.
While traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years it’s important to remember this day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
For more information on the history of Memorial Day visit the US Memorial Day site by clicking HERE
