Memorial Day was first officially celebrated on May 5, 1868. There are numerous stories as to who actually started Memorial Day. Many folks believe the day of remembering those who died in service to our country, was started in Mississippi by a group of women. The Ladies began putting flowers on Civil War graves to show respect to fallen soldiers.
During WWI and WWII Memorial Day was elevated to new heights as thousands upon thousands of soldiers gave their lives to insure the continued freedom of the USA.
Sadly, over the past few decades the meaning behind Memorial Day has shifted to barbecues and an extra day off.
At this very moment soldiers are serving- I salute them one and all. Not just on Memorial Day-but on every day I honor those who stood on the line of freedom and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Pap was a Marine, The Deerhunter’s Dad was an Army Man (that’s him by the truck in the picture). What about your loved one-what branch are/were they in? Or maybe it was you who served our country?
Tipper
Wo, talk about memories. I just now paid attention to the fine print of your newspaper clippings. They look like the ones in the scrapbook my mother made when my father went to war. He was also a Liberator pilot and was shot down over Ploesti, Romania. But unlike Frank Curtis, he lived.
Your post stirs memories of my mother’s yellowing newspaper clippings. Thanks.
Wonderful photographs as usual! Thanks for this post, and it was neat to read the comments. My mom was in the Army, my dad was a Merchant Marine. My uncle served in the Korean War. My granddad was in WWI. So thankful for all these men and women who have served our country and paid a heavy price.
Hi Tipper. Great Post.
My husband served in the navy on the U.S.S. JFK air craft carrier 1969-1974.
My brother is Vietnam veteran and another brother served 6 years in the navy.
My Grandfather was in the army and fought in France in WW1.
I believe all our service men and women need to hear it more from us all, how much we appreciate what they have done for us.
Have a great day!
Nice post. So many of uncles were in the military, and now I have two cousins who have been to Iraq and back twice already. Thanks for the tribute.
first husband, high school sweetheart, was drafted into the army and sent to viet nam. of course, he was never the same and left me and our son 6 months after returning. my dad was in the army/air force and served in the european theatre.my late husband mike was too tall at 6’11” and mark was too young. my son served 12 years in the army as an mp…thank god my boys are too old to go. i do not support the war but i do support our troops. i know that sounds wierd but how i feel.
My father was in WWII in the Navy. I have 3 aunts who served in WWII in the WACS and an uncle who was an interpreter and in intelligence during WWII. My father in law was a Marine who was wounded twice and received two purple hearts on Iwo Jima.
Our family came to America in the early 1600’s so I also have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War.
God Bless our service men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms!
It’s a somber day, to say the least.
Prayers for the families of our fallen soldiers~
Sadly, it seems that with each passing generation, the true reasons behind celebrating Memorial Day become more scarce and less known.
I remember, as a chld, that each Memorial Day, we’d gather up my elderly aunts and grandmother and make a several hour trek (at least it seemed several hours to me as a child-maybe it wasn’t) to the town where graves of deceased relatives, including some servicemen, were buried and place flowers there.
My dad died a few years ago, but he served in the Navy during WWII. He joined up at age 17 to serve his country. My late husband’s dad joined the Marines at the age of 15, having to lie about his age in order to join. Back then, all young men wanted to take up arms and ‘serve their country’. Sadly, that patriotism isn’t as profound in America today.
I salute the men and women of yesterday and today who are willing to serve our country in the military.
You are right, it is so easy to forget the real reason behind Memorial day, and how it should be a reminder for us to keep the troops in our minds always.
My Great Grandpa Olsen was a war hero in WWI. He dies quite young so we don’t know that much about him. My Grandpa Simmons served in the Army in France and Germany during the end of WWII. But my Grandpa Smith had it the hardest. He was in Okinawa with the Marines when they tried to take Sugar Loaf Hill. He was a gunner on a tank and recieved a Bronze Star for his actions on that day. From what I understand those in the Pacific have had the hardest time dealing in the years after that experience. That makes sense. My Grandpa was a very strict and tough man. Most of those men still alive are only now being able to talk about their experience. My Grandpa never made it to that point. I have the utmost respect for those who serve our country and for the sacrifices they and their families make.
My dad was an Airforce airplane mechanic during peace time. His dad was a Navy man, and on the weapons carrier stationed just off the coast of Japan during WWII. He told of standing on the deck as Kamikazes flew overhead. One circled their ship so close that they looked one another right in the eyes. As the plane came back around, the Japanese airman seemed to be using Pappaw as a target, but at the last second pulled up slighty and hit the hospital ship right next to them. Pappaw said that you could see the fireball sinking miles into the ocean beside them and that if he had hit the weapons-carrier that he was on that it probably would’ve sunk them, the hospital ship, and another nearby ship altogether. He always wondered why the Japanese man pulled up at the last moment. I think it’s because they looked one another in the face and saw humanity for a instant. All four of Pappaw’s brothers served during WWII also. My baby brother is currently an Army Reserve Drill Sergent.
I used to sit with a man who was in the Army during WWII in France. He was so nice during the daytime, but at night it was heartbreaking to hear him reliving the fears he had during their battles.
My father was an army man in WWII as well as my uncles (his brothers). My brother-in-law was army as well in Viet Nam. My nephew is now in the Navy. I honor and applaud every service member for making our country a safe place to be.
Hi Tipper – I love your history posts! My dad served in the Army, in Germany in the 70’s, actually he met my mom while home on leave and they were engaged before he went back – 10 short days in all. My mom planned the wedding over the next 7 months, and they were married while he was home for leave around Christmas. They got to know each other while living in Germany the next year or so. He just retired after working as a civilian employee for the Navy since returning stateside.
I’m from a long line of soldiers–all branches of the military. My great-great-grandfather served in the Union army during the Civil War, was wounded and a prisoner of war. My grandfather was a lawyer in the Coast Guard, my father and his brothers were in the Army Air Force and the Navy. My husband was a Marine in Vietnam, and four of my five sons have served in the Air Force and the Army. Even my English mother had military men in her family–two uncles died in WWI. And one of my daughter-in-laws is also former Army.
I’m proud of them all, and appreciate them. Can’t wait til June when #3 son returns from Iraq!
Great post, Tipper!
My Dad and The Captain’s Dad were in the Army. The Captain’s Uncle was a Tunnel Rat. We have several other family members who have served in all branches of the service. I also, salute them daily for their service to our country.
My father served in the army and has beautiful photos as the ones you showed us. Thanks for sharing Tipper.