BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?

Subject: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: open mike
Date: 29 May 12 - 03:49 PM

This is B.S. unless your celebrations include music.
For many years I went to a music festival each memorial and labor days. As a kid my family used to go visit family grave yard to remember our dead (not necessarily war dead) I got a message from a Canadian member of a list I am on who wished happy memorial day to all and mentioned fire works....I do not recall any fire works on this day, only on July 4th.

What did you do yesterday? and what have you traditionally done on this day on other years?

It is often the first day to get a sun burn for some people....
is that a celebration?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: kendall
Date: 29 May 12 - 04:05 PM

When I'm home, I don my medals, help form a parade of antique cars, drive to the veterans home and listen to speeches, and band music.
I still get a lump in my throat saluting Old Glory.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 29 May 12 - 06:34 PM

Good question, and I think I have a good answer. The reason I spend Memorial Day at Mystic Seaport is because there is more music than usual on this holiday. In addition to the regular chantey singing and other songs connected to the sea and shore, there are patriotic songs during a Decoration Day ceremony and a performance of music from the Civil War era.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 May 12 - 07:54 PM

Quietly. This year driving from Springfield, IL to Hayti, MO.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Joe_F
Date: 29 May 12 - 08:03 PM

I put two little flags in one of my windows.

I think about the soldiers.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: keberoxu
Date: 23 May 17 - 04:06 PM

From the small town of my childhood, I have memories of the annual parade. It was different than the Independence Day festivities, which really were a big noisy celebration.
In the small towns, there is genuine solemnity around Memorial Day. I recall how all the veterans and the ladies connected to the veterans -- don't know what the organization was, but to this day I see the elderly ladies marching in formal uniform outfits -- would bring an anchor-shaped flower memorial wreath to the bridge over the river, and drop the wreath into the running water.

Kids remember ceremonies like that.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Greg F.
Date: 23 May 17 - 06:54 PM

This is not "Memorial Day" - its been bastrdized.

Decoation Day was oprioginally intened to memorialize those individuale who served, successively, to preserve the Union in the face of the seccionist pro-slavery contingent.

Thats been forgotten in the face of the recent resugent modern Neo-Confederate hooplah bullshit.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 May 17 - 07:18 PM

I've been in the US for a couple of thse days but have no recollection of them.

This is interesting, describing the time when it meant something real:

https://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/decoration-day-according-to-charles-ives/

I've heard that piece, but it was a long time ago and I don't remember it well.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 May 17 - 08:31 PM

Here's more about what Mystic Seaport does to commemorate Decoration Day as it might have been in 1868.

https://www.mysticseaport.org/event/decoration-day/

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 May 17 - 10:12 PM

Float Trip!

Friday - drive to ranch, set up camp, blow up inner tubes, check plywood
Sat - go to river, assemble raft, float, disassemble (Stephanie!) raft, back to ranch
Sun - hang around ranch, maybe float on creek, definitely hot tub
Mon - break camp, drive home
Tue - recover from all that relaxation and vacation

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Charmion
Date: 24 May 17 - 05:24 PM

Open Mike, your Canadian correspondent was referring to Victoria Day (the Queen's official birthday, on the Monday next before 24 May) in that reference to fireworks.

Canadians don't have Memorial Day. We have Remembrance Day on 11 November.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 May 17 - 06:13 PM

For me, Memorial Day has always been about the Indianapolis 500. I lived in Detroit until 1958, and my dad worked for Tidewater Oil Company, a Getty Oil subsidiary whose brand name was Flying "A" Gasoline. Tidewater sponsored a few cars (about 5) in the Indy 500, and my dad spent every May in Indianapolis working at the race. Didn't seem like he did much working, though - a lot of his time was spent schmoozing. He went to other Indy-class races over the rest of the season. I remember Milwaukee and Detroit, and he took me to the Detroit races a few times and I got to got to the infield and watch the activity in the pits.

We moved to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1958, and my dad's new job had nothing to do with auto racing. But every Memorial Day, my dad and I would take down the storm windows, wash all the windows on the house, and listen to the race on the radio.

Memorial Day will always remind me of my wonderful dad, who died last June at the age of 96. So for me, Memorial Day will always be Father's Day. That other celebration in June is kinda redundant.

And yeah, my dad was always proud that he was a Marine, as I was proud that I served in the Army. But I'm glad we served in jobs where death was very unlikely. He lived a good, long life, and I hope I do, too. May he rest in peace.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 25 May 17 - 07:07 AM

I don't know if I'd say "celebrate." For me, "honor it" is more suitable. Honor the folks who fought so that I could live the values that America stands for.

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 May 17 - 03:06 PM

The thing about decorating gravesites on this date
is that there were flowers to choose from.
It was rare, in the household,
that the family car would be loaded up with cut flowers.
This is the one day of the year it was true.
I recall especially lilacs and peonies.

And the darned peonies were alive with ants.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Donuel
Date: 25 May 17 - 05:46 PM

Yay its saul goldie!

I have a sort of church sign that can contain various messages and posters.
I put in a picture of my sister who died from her service in the Army cold war radiation experiments.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: RTim
Date: 25 May 17 - 07:28 PM

The Marlboro Morris Ale - I have been most years since 1990 - met my lovely wife there - It is our 22nd Wedding Anniversary there again this year - love being there and NOT on Cape Cod (where we live) to welcome all the tourists..........

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: keberoxu
Date: 28 May 17 - 03:58 PM

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful day of observance.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 May 17 - 11:36 PM

I agree with SaulGoldie.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: DMcG
Date: 29 May 17 - 03:26 AM

I am interested in the choice of date, and can't find anything of help on the 'Net. In the UK, 29th May was a bank holiday introduced around 1660 to celebrate the restoration of the Monarchy under Charles II. The settlers from the UK as like as not brought that date and celebration with them. Does anyone know what then happened to end up with that date being chosen for Memorial Day?

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Greg F.
Date: 29 May 17 - 11:40 AM

http://www.suvcw.org/?page_id=973

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: DMcG
Date: 29 May 17 - 03:04 PM

Thanks Greg. Interesting background. There is nothing in it to explain why that date was chosen, but it may be nothing more than coincidence.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 29 May 17 - 08:47 PM

DMcG, you might find the answer here. Be sure to read the sections "Decoration Day" and "History of Memorial Day."

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: ranger1
Date: 30 May 17 - 06:13 PM

I work. I also purchase paper poppies for all of my fellow park crew to wear. Introduced the two 20-year-olds to the poem "In Flanders Fields" this year.

Subject: RE: BS: How do you celebrate Memorial Day?
From: Greg F.
Date: 30 May 17 - 06:39 PM

HERE

and

HERE


is the reason for Decoration Day - as it was originally established.