Today in the US, we celebrate Memorial Day. It’s often called the ‘unofficial’ beginning of summer but for us at the Ranch, we view it as more of a day of reflection that honors and mourns US military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. So how did Memorial Day originate?
Originally called Decoration Day, the first national observation was proclaimed in 1890 though it is believed many cities in the South began decorating Civil War grave sites honoring their war dead years earlier.
On May 5, 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed that all soldiers from both the Union and Confederacy shall be honored by decorating graves the same way the Southern states had.
The name “Memorial Day” was first used in 1882, and ultimately replaced “Decoration Day” after World War II but it did not become federal law until 1967. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moving four holidays (including Memorial Day) from their traditional dates to a specified Monday, thus creating a three-day weekend by changing Memorial Day from its original May 30 date to the last Monday in May.
We will eschew the mattress sales and BBQ’s to reflect on those who lost their life protecting the country’s freedom. Please have a safe and reflective holiday.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
We celebrated by planting flowers on my parents’ grave. My dad wasn’t in the service (too young for one war and too old for the other) but i have many relatives who served (and my husband). I refrained from buying anything but spent it with my brother who spent most of his military career in Germany.
It’s not uncommon to go to cemeteries on Memorial Day to decorate gravesites. Spring flowers are at their best this month-it’s nice to spruce things up then. Hope it was a pleasant reflective day for you and your family.
It was and we celebrated with lunch afterward!
Love this Memorial Day post!! We spent the day quietly – remembering what Memorial Day is all about……
Love, Pam and Teddy
Thank you, Pam and Teddy. Our society seems to have lost sight of what this day signifies and it’s important to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Lookin’ handsome, Wilson!
Thanks so much. He’s a good sport dressing up for holidays. We hope it was a peaceful day of reflection for you and the kitties.
Lulu: “Wilson, you are somehow managing to look patriotic and funky at the same time! Well done!”
Well Lulu, there’s nothing wrong with a spot of sparkle when you’re celebrating freedom.
You look great, so patriotic. XO
Thanks. Wilson takes patriotism seriously and solemnly. 😉
You look fabulous Wilson! We will always remember, respect and honor our heroes.
Thanks, Terry. It’s important more than ever to honor those who sacrificed everything so that we may enjoy our freedoms.
Many thanks, Terry. Respect and honor were the words of the day.
Yes, indeed the memorial day is a time for reflection on the sacrifice of so many and their families. Let us hope that the country they died for will remain.
We have our paws crossed. Hard.
We should always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to establish and protect our freedom.
We couldn’t agree more, Dan.
Very nice sentiments, Monika. I agree with you completely that I’d rather spend the day honoring the fallen instead of buying something.
All those sales…talk about cringe-worthy. Yeesh. Hope the week is a good one for you.
All the more upsetting is to see their great sacrifice and ideals of freedom and democracy under attack. It is beyond belief. I pray that honor and justice will prevail. 🙏🏼
Those ideals sure seem to be under attack these days. I start every day with a prayer that some sense of decency will emerge and begin to right too many wrongs that are being foisted upon us. Here’s hoping it’s a good week for us all.
🙏🏼
Happy Meowmorial Day Wilson an Miss Monika!! You look SO-O Pawtriotick Wilson! Wee diggin yore ‘shadess”
Have a grate day deer frendss!
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDharma~~~ an (((huggiess))) BellaSita Mum
Thanks dear kitty and Mum. Peace is needed more today than ever.
Wee toetally agree with you Miss Monika an Wilson. “Give PEECE a chance!”
Amen. ☮️
A wonderful post for an important holiday. We must say Wilson, we are very impressed with your patriotic attire today!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
Many thanks, gang. Wilson was a good sport letting me dress him up.
Thank you for this reflective post…and the real reason we need/have Memorial Day.
Thanks, Meezers. Especially in the current political climate, we need to speak truth to power regarding what this day means more than ever. Here’s hoping it’s a good week for you all.
A lovely message, Monika. Thanks for honoring those died that we can still be free.
Our pleasure, John. I think reminders of this day are more necessary than ever. Have a great week.
Thanks for the history reminder. After all, everybody and everything has a history. Enjoy the day!
Thanks, Frank. I think it’s even more important to share in an age where civics and history seem short-shrifted. Have a great week.
Thank you, Wilson, for sharing the history of this important day with us. We also honor and remember the many men and women ~ and some wonderful animals, as well ~ all who have fought and died, allowing each of us to live the lives we have.
Thank you. Yes, there are many to honor and remember today. Have a good week.
Wishing you and sweet Wilson a safe and reflective holiday too dear Monika and a gentle ease into Summer 💛 xxx
Many thanks, Xenia. We will enjoy some much needed moisture that’s seems to add to the mood of recalling the loss of so many people.
that was super interesting.. and we lo´ve your glasses … tres chic… have a good start into summer
Thanks, it’s one of those holidays that have kind of morphed over the years. Have a great Monday and a better week.
Looks just like our flag, in the same spot!
Thanks Jacqui. These days flying ‘Ole Glory’ can be fraught with much emotion, not all of it positive. Have a great week.
And I hope we will think to pressure our governments to care for those who return…to treat them with respect and dignity.
These days the best we can hope for in this country is they stop cutting veteran benefits to pay for tax breaks for the uber wealthy. It’s all so shameful how justify the cruelty against the very people who made it all possible for them.
Thank you for telling the history of this day before the Memorial Day.
Dear Wilson, you have really long.legs, you are a big boy, I understand why you are called sometimes a house pony.
Kiltos, Kristiina. A lot of people in the US think today is a day for remembering all who have passed and the cemeteries will be busy with folks decorating their family plots. Yes, Wilson has fairly long legs but is pretty standard sized for a sheepdog. Have a great week.
Nicely stated M. We Will definitely skip the mattress commercials and will keep our fallen hero’s in mind as we light the Barbie. And speaking of decoration day, Wilson is very nicely decorated in this photo! Take care and be well through the coming (first unofficial) week of Summer.
Thanks, Mike. Wilson seemed to recognize the solemness of the day when he posed. Have a good Memorial Day.
Thanks, Sandee. As always we appreciate you adding us to your Monday hop. We hope you have a good Memorial Day.
We think you are more suited for decoration day in your photo, but definitely looking good. Enjoy the day keeping in mind why we have this day.
We always keep the true meaning of the day in our hearts and minds.
A wonderful history lesson and a handsome Wilson all dressed up for the day.
I linked this post to Awww Mondays.
Have a fabulous day and week. A big hug to you and lots of scritches to handsome Wilson. ♥