San Francisco War Memorial Veteran's Commission celebrates annual POW Commemoration Day, 2004

Like most Washingtonians I constantly seek less stressful ways to commute to and from work. Recently, I began riding twice daily a local commuter train. The ride has proven to be as interesting as the diversity of my fellow commuters. Last week on the way home I became a third party to a conversation between two ladies in the seats in front of me. Both obviously were active in a community Veterans Service Organization Post and equally obvious was that a controversy was brewing over the approaching commemoration of Memorial Day. It seems that the post commander had directed that the kitchen would only serve sandwiches on Memorial Day weekend. The ladies were vocally upset that the commander would make such a decision. “He should know that Memorial Day weekend is the start of barbeque season!”

Since its inception “Decoration or Memorial Day” has been a matter for discussion. Where was it first observed? Was it Columbus, MS where on April 25, 1866 ladies decorated the graves of friend and foe with flowers? Over 25 cities, both north and south have laid claim to the origins of Memorial Day. On May 5, 1868 Major General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued an order establishing “ Decoration Day.” The first observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery where over 20,000 dead lay in eternal bivouac. Today this hallow ground hosts 270,000 American heroes. The U.S. Congress and former President Lyndon Johnson interceded in the debate and have declared Waterloo, NY the “birth place” of Memorial Day. May 30 became the day set aside for commemoration of our fallen and after World War I Memorial Day was set aside to honor the fallen from all of our wars. By 1971 congress had declared Memorial Day as a national holiday and the last Monday of May was set aside for its observance.

This weekend across our great nation swimming pools will open, department stores will announce huge saving at the annual Memorial Day sale and yes, barbeque grills will be started. Motorcycles of “Rolling Thunder” will roar through Washington, DC, grand speeches will be given at monuments to the fallen and wreaths will be laid in their honor. Muffled drums will beat slowly and taps will echo across Arlington yet again. With the last refrain of music the gathered crowd will quickly become indifferent and disperse to a reception, a restaurant or a barbeque. A few mourners and reverent visitors will linger among the stones to express sad memories of life cut short. These few maintain a tradition of solemn remembrance of the profound sacrifice made by so many young men and women. They walk among the stones in the garden, full of mourning for those who lie before them. Memories of distant battles, loved ones sent off to war and the terrible costs scream loudly that our freedoms have been preserved at a terrible price.

In America’s wars over 650,000 men and women have died in battle, over 88,000 are missing and another 1.4 million bear the scars of their wounds.

Today the men and women of our Armed Forces stand not on the ramparts of freedom. They have left the battlements for the field. Around the globe they are fighting a war in the shadows. A war that knows no boundary. Skirmishes are fought on our city streets and first responders join in the fray. Like the men and women in the Armed Forces they too carry a heavy burden and pay a terrible price for their devotion to duty.

On Memorial Day Americans should pause across the land in a moment of silence to pay tribute to those who fell so that we may enjoy the bounties of our rich land. We should rejoice for those who still stand in harms way so that we may gather in remembrance. Let no one speak disparagingly of the flag that they hold so dearly and which now decorates so many graves.

As stated in General Orders No. 11 of the Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic, May 5, 1868 “If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.” From this statement I hope that we can all realize that it is our solemn responsibility to never let the sacrifices of our dead fade with the passage of time. It is our duty not only to pay tribute on Memorial Day but it is also our responsibility to pledge that we will educate the youth of today about the human cost of freedom. Let us all carry forward the lesson from this brief poem written by Moina Michael who was inspired by “In Flanders Field.”

Wear proudly a red “buddy poppy” on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation.

Robert L. Jones
VP, Health
Association for Service Disabled Veterans