The Day Formally Known as Decoration Day

On this Memorial Day we commemorate those members of the armed forces who died in service to service to our country, and we often thank those who are currently serving despite that we should probably be thanking them more often! Many do not realize that this was the 140th anniversary of first Memorial Day.

"Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery."

On the 43th anniversary of the holiday, the first Indy 500 was held on May 30, 1911. I wonder why 80,000+ people decided that this would be the best way to spend the day, but it has since become a national pastime. Armed with this information, I can proudly say that the car I drive celebrates the 130th Memorial Day, and is thus a constant way of honoring those who served!

Memorial Day in the News

President Bush paid tribute Monday to America's fighting men and women who died in battle at Arlington National Cemetery: "On this Memorial Day, I stand before you as the commander in chief and try to tell you how proud I am. They're an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens. I am humbled by those who have made the ultimate sacrifice that allow a free civilization to endure and flourish." Perhaps the most important line he spoke: "It only remains for us, the heirs of their legacy, to have the courage and the character to follow their lead and to preserve America as the greatest nation on Earth and the last, best hope for mankind."

The last living World War I veteran, Frank Woodruff Buckles, was honored at the Liberty Memorial during Memorial Day weekend. The 107 year old was 16 when he enlisted, spent his tour of duty working mainly as a driver and a warehouse clerk in Germany and France, rose to the rank of corporal and after Armistice Day he helped return prisoners of war to Germany.

One Billionaire has decided to honor those who serve our country by sending them all expenses paid to Las Vegas! The first group of 40 went over Memorial Day weekend, but their are plans to bring more of our wounded warriors to the Sin City.

President Bush becomes an honorary member of Rolling Thunder. The group who's mission is to publicize POW-MIA issues has held its "Ride for Freedom" along the National Mall during Memorial Day weekend for the last 21 years. As he accepted his new leather vest, Bush said, "You've done a lot for the country, and the troops appreciate you, and the veterans appreciate you, and your president appreciates you."