A salute

[novi]

A salute to all that served our country, and to all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

[Pete_C]

A salute to all that served our country, and to all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ah, so many confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day.

Memorial Day is for remembering all who died or were wounded in battle on both sides both military and civilian that we may remember the true cost of war and freedom, and weigh this carefully before embarking down the grim gray road to war again. It was first widely observed May 30 1868 to commemorate the losses and sacrifices on both sides of The Civil War. Originally it was known as Decoration day, and people were urged to go to cemeteries and care for and decorate the graves of war casualties who had no relatives to do so.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

Veterans day , is in November, originally it was known as Armistice day to commemorate the end of WWI; but later became a day to honor all Veterans who answered the call to defend our Nation and Constitution.