My Flag Will Be Flying at Half-Staff, Will Yours?

by Jack L. Treese, CWO US Army, Retired

Memorial Day is a day to recognize the sacrifice of all the men and women who have given their lives in defending our country. It began during the Civil War when cities and towns held special days to lay flowers on the graves of fallen, husbands, sons, and fathers. Women of the fallen who organized groups to place flowers on the graves of their loved ones may have started it.

memorialday06-789086

Memorial Day has grown over the years to be commemorated with flag waving ceremonies, military parades and memorial services held at military cemeteries and parks across America.  Many cities and towns line the streets with the American Flag and some do not.  Patriotic citizens fly the flag in front of their homes on days like this, do you?

I lived in Simi Valley, California for over 10 years, it is infamous for the Rodney King trial and the home to many Los Angeles Police Officers, and has been rated in the top ten safest cities in America several times.  It is not like a city full of “rednecks” like some believe.  My neighbor on one side was a family from Mexico; next to him was a black family, across the street were some Arabs and down the street lived a Chinese family.  Yes there are many folks from India running the local gas stations and 7 Elevens and they are all very polite.  Simi Valley is a great place to raise a family.

On holidays like the 4th of July and Memorial Day one could drive down any residential street in Simi Valley and see numerous American flags. Now I live in a neighborhood near the San Fernando Valley, where out of over 500 homes only one or two flags are flown. But when the Lakers are in the playoffs their flag adorns many cars.

It seems like political correctness dictates that flying your countries flag is not politically correct. Folks from countries like El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, etc. will adorn their cars with their flag, why don’t more Americans?

After the Civil War the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was founded in Decatur, Illinois in 1866.  Like today’s Veterans Administration, it was formed to assist veterans.  The GAR was comprised of about 500,000 veterans of the Civil War.  It was not unlike a political party and five of its members went on to be elected President of the United States.

The GAR also elected its Commander-in-Chief, General John Logan. On May 5, 1868 General Logan officially declared May 30th “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.” Thus it became known as Decoration Day. It is believed that May was picked because of the availability of spring flowers to place on the graves.

The following is a paragraph from General Logan’s written order:

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

The first recognized “Decoration Day” at Arlington National Cemetery began with a ceremony at the Arlington mansion the former home of General Robert E. Lee.  General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant were present and administered the ceremonies.  Following speeches from members of the GAR and children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home flowers were placed on the graves while hymns were sung and prayers were recited.

Memorial Day was always observed to honor those who died in the Civil War until after World War I when it was broadened to include those who had died in all U.S. wars. It wasn’t until 1966 that President Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. In 1971 Congress acted to declare the last Monday in May as Memorial Day.

Today at Arlington and many Veterans cemeteries across the nation American Flags are placed on every grave.  Today 1.1 million Americans have given their lives for our freedom and freedom around the world. In 2000 “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” was signed into law. This law formed the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance whose treaty was to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity”.

The National Moment of Remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day with one minute of silence to salute those who have died in service to The United States of America. As the founder of Moment of Remembrance, Carmella LaSpada stated, “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

My flag will be flying at half-staff, will yours?


Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | | Bookmark and Share

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted May 31st 2010 at 7:01 am in Culture, Defense, History | 164 Comments