Looking back on Memorial Day

What is Memorial Day about? Most of us know that it is a day set apart to remember those who fought for our freedom. Some of those who served their country would not return to see their families, while those who lived returned to their country. Sometimes, you may hear other veterans say that the real heroes were those who died, but to me all veterans are heroes. The exact origins of Memorial Day are unknown with more than 24 cities claiming that it originated in their city. It was first observed on 30 May 1868. Over time all states acknowledged the day. The southern states refused to acknowledge it at first. Each southern state would then set aside another day to honor Confederate war dead. Moina Michael would start the tradition of wearing red poppies to honor those “who died serving” their nation (Memorial Day History).
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
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.
This tradition would then be noticed by Madam Guerin of France, who was in the United States at the time. Madam Guerin would then returned to her country and started making artificial red poppies to sell. According to Memorial Day History,
“. . . when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries” (Memorial Day History). In 1921, The Franco-American Children’s League would sell the poppies nationally, but would later disband in 1922 causing Madam Guerin to “approach the VFW for help” (Memorial Day History).
“Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it. (Memorial Day History.)”
This is how the veterans started selling red poppies or asking for donations and giving you a red poppie in return.
Salute those soldiers who fought for their country, the United States of America so that we may keep our freedom!!!
Nakwana Leofman
Memorial Day History. 1994-2009. 4 April 2009 http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Memorial Day

Coming Soon Memorial Day post

By the end of this week, I should have a memorial day posted on my blog. Later on, I will get back to the book, "More than a Carpenter."

God bless you and yours,
Nakwana Leofman