Memorial Day Facts

I decided that this was going to be the year where I learned more about Memorial Day. I knew it was a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers. Like most resolutions I didn't keep up my end of the bargain. I went to a family reunion on Saturday, gained five pounds and enjoyed the day off of work. I relished the time I had to complete errands and shop for insurance online. Then I remembered that this was the year for me to actually celebrate Memorial Day and headed over to wikipedia to see what random facts I could dig up about Memorial Day.

• Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day. Decoration Day is also an awesome song by the Drive by Truckers.

• Memorial Day was originally started to honor the soldiers of the Civil War. It takes place on the last Monday in May because it's near the day of reunification from the Civil War.

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars accept donations for poppies as a tribute to the John McCrae poem "In Flanders Fields." McCrae wrote this poem during the first World War. He wrote it the day after he say his 22 year old friend die.
  
  

  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.
  — Lt. Col. John McCrae
  

  
  Creative Commons Photo by Joel Bedford