AmericanTrilogy

    Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
     Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).   It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress in 1968 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
     Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.
     And since 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights
     Sad to say, but most Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.
     To help Americans re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning 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." "To remind Americans of the real purpose of Memorial Day and thank veterans and members of the armed forces for their service to our great country."
     At the bottom of this page there are two media players, stop the first one, click on the second to hear Taps by Barry Taylor recorded in 1997.

In honor of all who have served, and
continue to serve our country for
the cause of freedom...God bless you....
and God bless America.

Please Wear a Poppy

This bright red wildflower became a
symbol of World War I after a bloody
battle in a field of poppies called
Flanders Field in Belgium.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw,
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae

John McCrae was a Canadian physician who fought on the Western Front in 1914, but was then transferred to the medical corps and assigned to a hospital in France. He died of pneumonia while on active duty in 1918. His poem, In Flanders Fields is probably the best known poem from WW I.

One of the most asked questions is: why poppies? The answer is simple: poppies only flower in rooted-up soil. Their seeds can lie on the ground for years and years, and only when someone roots up the ground will they sprout. There was enough rooted-up soil on the battlefield of the Western Front; in fact, the whole front consisted of churned-upsoil. So in May 1915, when McCrae wrote his poem, around him poppies blossomed like no one had ever seen before.

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said,
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made,
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "May I have one?"
When she's pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way,
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there--is the symbol for,
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see."

"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew,
and became a man - as you will, too."

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while,
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day,
When he smiled at me and said, "Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry."

"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire."

"Till at last, at last, the war was won.
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded cheek;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all,
When asked to answer their country's call,
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

by Don Crawford

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The music here is purely for entertainment and educational purposes only,
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Titles have copyright by their respective artists and record companies.

Stop First Player, Click On
Second To Hear Taps

Plaque by Tommy Mitchell

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