Happy Memorial Day

I just wanted to point out that Memorial Day is a day to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in defense of our nation. I have lost many comrades over the years and find nothing happy about remembering them today. Sorry but that is how I feel and I do not mean to offend. I will celebrate Veterans Day with joy but not Memorial Day. I attended 3 separate local ceremonies and saw tears of sorrow at all 3 not tears of joy.

I loved the pictures. I think that we honor our military in many different ways. My dad was a veteran and so were all of my uncles. They are all gone now.

Because most of us have not been in battle or even served in the Military, we do not have the same connection as someone who did. We do, however, find ways to show our appreciation to those who have served.

I think that is what Jessie meant. It does not diminish the sacrifice of those who gave their all.

Understand but the true meaning behind Memorial Day is to remember those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and I do not see how "Happy Memorial Day" fits. Here is a link that expalins it much better than I can and with less emotion.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

I think a thank you is due to every military member, past/present/future everyday but to say "Happy Memorial Day" does not sit well with this Vet. That is all I am trying to say and do not want to get into a debate. That is how I feel so I am saying it.

I agree with you Old guy. I'm also a veteran. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance not a celebration. Our family watched the ceremony where the president laid the wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier yesterday.

Just to add a little information, History.com provides a good explanation of the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

"Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day--a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans--living or dead--but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime."

Truly I did not mean to be offensive. If you have read my blogs, that is a constant theme. TO NOT OFFEND. What I meant by my blog was to HONOR those that have done what they've done. AND I always want folks to be happy. Jessie

Ms. Miller,

Understand you did not nor do you ever mean to offend. I just was tired of hearing people wish others a "Happy Memorial Day' after attending 3 seperate services. I had to explain toa few active duty military the meaning of Memorial Day as they had it confused with Veteran's Day. Maybe a better word than Happy would have been a Memoriable Memorial Day or something along those lines. The title leads one to think differently.

Point taken.. I actually believe a few years ago, I did put that as a caption on a blog.

http://www.mountainhomenews.com/blogs/1445/entry/47956

I realize that tears flow during services for Honoring those that we loved and lost. I'd like to know in my heart that we do love and honor them still, and also remember them with joy and cherish the awesome memories that we share with them.

Jessie

Some people want to make it a specific day so that it stops looking like just another 3 day weekend holiday, One way to honor our veterans that died as a result of their service would be for people to remember that it is not all veterans that we are honoring but a special subset of veterans, those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

A huge THANK YOU! to the American Legion Honor Guard for doing what you do almost on a weekly basis. Thank You for honoring the fallen soldiers on Memorial Day at not only Mountain View Cemetery but also those who are up at Pine and Prairie

The Legion Honor Guard and Legion Riders performed 3 seperate ceremonies this past week for Memorial Day. We did one at the Pararie Cemetery on Sunday, where one had never been performed. One of those laid to rest in this cemetery is acutally a relative of the great Sgt Alvin York from WWI. It was amazing to hear the story of his military career as told by his son. We then performed two ceremonies on Monday, Mt View Cemetery and Pine Cemetery. It is always this Veteran's honor to pay respect to those that came before him and honor those that served after him or are currently serving.

Jessie, from the link that you posted it looks like there is still a misunderstanding about the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

The holiday designed to honor all veterans, living or dead, is Veteran's Day.

Memorial Day is for military that died as a result of serving their country.

If you were in the Army for three years and then got out and worked for awhile and finally died in your 80's then Veteran's Day is your holiday not Memorial Day.

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, Decoration Day meant one thing. My Dad's cousin and namesake, Paul Mouser, who was born near Hill City around 1895, would arrive in Mtn. Home on a bus from his home in Kooskia (later Seattle) on the 27th or 28th of May. Two of his sisters, Belle and Anna, still lived in town and grew flowers that were supposed to bloom at the end of May. They were mostly iris or flags and lilacs as I recall, although it seems that occasionally the snowball bushes would be in bloom too.

We would go to their houses in the evening of the 29th, cut flowers and put them in washtubs with a little water and ice in the bottom. Then early on the 30th, we would head out for a day of visiting cemeteries and placing flower arrangement on dozens of graves. Some years, we went to Mountain Home, Melba, Boise, Parma and Nyssa and others we went to Gooding, Bliss and Hill City. If the 30th was on a weekend, we would take two days and make both circuits.

And yet, out of all of the grave sites we visited, only Uncle Amos, Paul's father, ever served in the military.

So for my family at least, it was not taken as a day just for remembering military dead. Instead, it was set aside as a day to remember all family members that had passed before us. It was a time to honor each grave and reflect on their lives. A reunion of sorts, I guess.

I cannot help but wonder how many other families may have had similar traditional reunions as part of what we now call Memorial Day.

And that last picture reminds me of looking down off the benches between Vale and Ontario.

Remembering family members has become an unofficial part of Memorial Day as it is unofficially the start of summer, and for some the unofficial first camping trip of the year.

We were talking about the holiday Memorial Day and why it exists. Did you know that at 3:00 pm locally it is the law, Public Law 106-579, to practice a National Moment of Remembrence. A couple examples: Major League Baseball games halt, and Amtrak trains blow their whistles.

That is somewhat close Warren, but not the right location of that photo.

And thanks for your thoughts on Memorial Day. I think it just is what it is for folks.

Jessie did you change your opinion to not wanting to offend those who lost friends and relatives who actually died for their country? Just curious.

I think Memorial Day should not be reduced to a 3 day weekend or a family tradition. Even if your family tradition is to decorate graves all over Idaho maybe a thought could be made for the real purpose of Memorial Day and remember the heroes who died for their country.

After we watched the unknown soldier ceremony we had a barbecue. We usually decorate graves but due to the weather and the health of one member of our family didn't this year. That's our unofficial tradition.

I agree with Geordey. We know why we celebrate Memorial Day and it isn't because of great-aunt Anne whom we loved. It is because of Paul who died on the Indianapolis and others that we aren't related to or didn't know who sacrificed their lives for our country.

Decoration Day was never an official holiday. Memorial Day is. I was surprised that anyone even remembered Decoration Day but then I found out that Memorial Day didn't become official until 1971 although family members have told me that it was called Memorial Day long before then.

I must be rambling but I want to return to Old guy's comment. Let's remember what the holiday is really about and who it's intended to honor.

The lectures and scoldings continue about how others feel about how Memorial Day should be celebrated even days afterward is crazy. We believe jessiemiller explained herself quite clearly. We also are personally insulted by all the people that have scolded us for having a BBQ. Can we not do our memorializing the way we choose? Freedom runs both ways in my veins.

sara-connor you misunderstand. There are no scoldings on how Memorial Day is celebrated. We had a barbecue. This is just attention paid to the meaning of Memorial Day as something uniquely different from Veteran's Day.

I was honored to have been chosen to attend the American Legion Gem Boys State gathering in 1966. Several of the volunteers and speakers were a WWI veterans. That week was magical then and is still with me to this day. My utmost respect goes to those who died in service to this nation.

After I posted my other comment, I remembered the red poppies on Memorial Day. Cousin Paul or my Dad would always give me a quarter or two so I could buy one to support the disabled vets and their widows. Seems like back then, they were made of crepe paer by those vets. In later years, they were made from a kind of plastic. I never see them anymore.

Something to think about...........

All the Veterans honored on Memorial Day sacrificed their life's to give you the freedom to have BBQ'S on any day you so wish. They paid the ultimate price for all of us!

Ode to the Fallen soldier,

For he has made the ultimate

Sacrifice for his world.

Ode to his Mother for while

She lives, the grief and sadness

Take their toll on her mind, as

She goes throughout her day,

Answering questions like "are

You ok? " and "where is your

Son, I haven't seen him for a while? "

She always answers, "yes I'm fine"

Or, "he's away." But she knows, inside,

She can't deny.

Ode to the son he left behind,

For he will grow up without

Knowing who his father is,

Only what he's done. Never

Will he play catch in the yard,

Like the neighbors next door.

Never will he hear that "Man to

Man" talk, that all boys should.

Ode to the music that will never

Be heard, for the only music

He made, rests in his heart.

Ode to the art that will never be

Seen, for the only art he made,

Remains in a box underground.

Ode to the Fallen Soldier, who

Died so we could live, the way

All mankind should, happy and free.

David A Harris

Warren

They still sell poppy's made out of crepe paper. Every year the American Legion ladies Auxiliary sells them. My husband Pat was wearing one on Memorial Day

I purchased two shortly before Memorial Day. Actually, I gave my grandkids the money to put into the box. I also thanked the Veteran who was handing them out for his service.

I don't think that decorating graves for family members or having cook-outs is as offensive as Memorial Day Sales in retail stores. There is where the disrespect comes in.

Having never met my dad's parents, decorating their graves was an honor for our family. I still stop by whenever I go to GF for all the family plots and Dad's plaque in the Veteran's plot. My Dad was not in WWII, but served overseas. However, My five uncles did serve in WWII and one was badly wounded. I honor my grandparents because they raised patriotic children.

I can think of nearly two dozen members of my family who served in the military. Some who have gone on to their great reward.

I honor veterans all year round by saluting our flag, singing the National Anthem and Standing when the Flag goes by. I have taught my children and grandchildren to do the same.

I am pretty sure that Jessie has also.

It's all about interpretation. If we all interpreted things the same exact way we wouldn't have this argument, or arguments about POLITICS, RELIGION, etc...

There are a couple simple rules I live by, some people should think of and maybe adopt for themselves as well.

Think before you speak (type). If you don't agree or having something nice to say then just don't say it.

That's a nice poem MsMarilyn.

Next holiday: 4th of July - or is it?

Flag Day - June 14th, the anniversay of the "Flag Resolultion of 1777".

This is a bit of a read, but I enjoyed it and think some of you might too. I agree totally with the sentiments about the sales ads associated with our national holidays.

http://patriotpost.us/alexander/18325

It's just free enterprise, Warren.

I know. It's all a part of getting some share of the marketplace, and that's not a bad thing.

My daughter has a degree in marketing, and we go around on this all the time. lol

What's the issue JYD. I forgot about flag day. I welcome the comments of HN and any other POLITE people.

Khgal it sounds like you are really unto honoring veterans but it sounds like the last veteran albeit a peacetime veteran in your own family was 60+ years ago. So do you figure honoring people who have actually sacrificed replaces any effort on your part except saying "thank you for your service"?