Bay Shore NY
5-24-2023 11:38am

Memorial Day

SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - MEMORIAL DAY

The unofficial beginning of summer starts this weekend, and I couldn't be happier. I love summer. This is the time of year when we can all relax more, spend time with friends and family, and remember those who served our great nation in various wars throughout our history. Thank you all.

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. And some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo, which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866, was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. We still do this today.

Decoration Day

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated 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 churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.

The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there. Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor the dead on separate days until after World War I.

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

We all look forward to this special day each year. Let the barbeques begin. Be safe, have fun, and most importantly, let's remember our American men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect this great nation we call America. Andiamo in spiaggia! Let's go to the beach!

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, we have lived long enough to remember, first-hand, some of the wars America was involved in. Let's hope there aren't any more.

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - THE BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is one of the best ways to celebrate Memorial Day. This year, The Thunderbirds take to the skies as the headliner. The 2023 Bethpage Air Show will take place Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, from 10AM-3PM! 

Back again for our 2023 show is the Bethpage Air Show Mobile App. Text ‘Airshow’ to 516-842-4400 to download the app for performer and sponsor information, a site map, helpful FAQs to prepare you for the show, and more. Available on the App Store and Google Play.

For more information, www.bethpageairshow.com

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

"Heroes never die. They live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps."

-Emily Potter

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What will you do to honor our veteran's this Memorial Day? If you're a vet, please share a story of yours. Please put your answers in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER by WHITNEY HOUSTON

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LYRICS

O say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave


WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE

Hello and thank you for reading my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and towns beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to and things I want to explore. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

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Please feel free to comment about my article below. I'd love to know what's on your mind.

Thank you for your love and support. Apprezza la giornata. Cherish the day.
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