May 22, 2008

Some of you may remember the real Memorial Day, the day of remembrance that once fell on May 30.  South Boston Online thinks it’s unfortunate that it has now become just another long weekend.  To most of us, it marks the beginning of summer, the Indy 500, college graduations, and firing up the grille for the first time.  Nothing more.

That’s not the way Memorial Day started.  It began as one of the first steps in healing the nation after the Civil War. 

The immense carnage of the War Between the States meant that every one in America – the North and the South, the Union and the Confederacy alike – lost someone near and dear.  Frequently, a family lost many of its members.  A swath of land from Pennsylvania southward to Georgia and westward to the Mississippi River was devastated.

It is possible that the first Memorial Day of any kind was observed in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865, where the old race track had served as a Confederate prison.  A parade there, made up of remaining Union soldiers and freed slaves, was followed by hymn singing and a picnic.

Not to be outdone, several northern cities and towns started memorial observances, usually in late May, after the weather broke and flowers became available to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers.  This has long been a traditional way to salute the dead – societies as far back as ancient Greece paid tribute to their dead by placing flowers on their graves.

The first regularly celebrated Memorial Day was held in Waterloo, N.Y.  For several years, it was kept on May 5.  The Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, General John A. Logan, found out about the custom and in 1868, he declared that the Armed Forces would festoon the graves of war dead.  He called this remembrance “Decoration Day”, a title that lasted into the 20th Century before it became known as Memorial Day.

In the 20th Century, it also became the day on which families visited the graves of loved ones, military or not, and weeded and trimmed them after the winter months.  Fresh potted plants were placed around the headstones, and then prayers were said.

Nowadays, most observances of Memorial Day have fallen by the wayside.  Many of us, including South Boston Online, think this stems from the decision by the Federal government 37 years ago to float Memorial Day from May 30 back to the fourth Monday in May.  Somehow, this took the solemnity out of the holiday. 

If that seems strange to you, ask yourself if you would enjoy celebrating “Thanksgiving Monday”.  That has been proposed by more than one federal legislator who has lost touch with America.  How would you feel if Independence Day was moved to Monday, July 6, this year?  The Feds have their ways, don’t they?  Unfortunately, nothing much is sacred to them any more.

Now, South Boston is better than most localities in this regard.  In 1982, South Boston became the site of the first memorial to those who died in Vietnam.  Ground was broken for our World War II Memorial in May of 2002.  We have consistently supported veterans’ causes and issues over the years.  And who can forget the story of Lance Cpl. Walter “Gator” O’Haire, USMC, who died in Iraq last May 9.

 This year as usual, a Mass and flag-lowering will take place on Dorchester Heights at ----- on Monday, May 26.  This brief ceremony should be attended by everyone.  Take your kids to visit the graves of their deceased relatives, especially those who served in the Armed Forces.  Leave all cell phones at home.  The kids may gripe about it and the time it will take away from hanging out. However, despite their complaints, your kids will remember that you did this.  Eventually, they’ll understand why you did it.  Buy a small flag for each of your kids to wave, even if they do it during a cookout.  That’s fine!

And then, how about writing your elected officials about moving Memorial Day back to May 30?  Permanently.  For the next four years, it won’t make that much difference, because May 30 is on Friday this year, and on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in 2009, 2010, and 2011. 

And if you are ever in a city that still observes Memorial Day on May 30 – Asheville, North Carolina, is an example – stop and see what a meaningful day it still is for that city’s lucky residents.

Think about it.  It’s an election year, after all.

But most of all – remember …

Give us your thoughts.