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Memorial at Gettysburg
Happy Memorial Day
Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day when I was a child. The Veterans sold Buddy Poppies and I was always thrilled when my Grandfather bought one for me. They were red silk flowers with a tag attached. I think the connection between heroin and poppies ended that custom.
Decoration Day began to honor the Civil War dead. My maternal great grandfather's fought in the Civil War in the Ohio regiment so this was a very meaningful day for my grandparents. Grandpa's dad took a ball (bullet) in the elbow and was unable to bend that arm the rest of his life. Grandma's dad was wounded and taken prisoner by the South. He was not expected to live and so the Rebels gave him back to the Yankees. He lived, but was never very well after the war.
Instead of picnics, the importance of this day was one of honoring the dead and my grandmother tended the graves of the departed family members. She bought masses of flowers and I always thought it was a shame that we couldn't have them at home instead of leaving them in front of monuments. The dead can't smell.
While you are enjoying a day off and families are gathering for fun and food, take time to remember the Veterans who died to make our freedom possible.
6 comments:
I remember the red paper poppies for Memorial Day. And also the Poem "In Flanders Field" I guess we learned it in elementary school.
I still see people around with poppies.
Darlene: this morning I was looking up how to care for Calla Lilies. There was a question from a lady who lives in AZ and her name is Darlene. Hmmmm -
*Chancy - Some were paper and some were silk. I guess the price determined what they were made of. (Or maybe my memory has gone bonkers again.);-)
*tnlib - It wasn't me. I know several Darlene's here. One is a neighbor, but she is 92 years old and has never used a computer. Nor does she want to. Too bad; it would fill a lot of those hours she spends watching Oprah, etc.
Happy birthday! Have a great time with your family and don’t watch the news too much – it is so very depressing. Thanks for popping on my blog. Yes I have more pictures on my mum. My next post will be a continuation of this one, on my mother’s youth, but it will be in my blog when you return, so you can read it then. There won’t be that many posts to read since I post only about once a week and am, too, planning another trip, west this time.
Happy Birthday, Darlene!!!! And bon voyage!!!!!
*Vagabonde - I am looking forward to your next post.
*Kay Dennison - Thank you and Bon Voyage to you, too.
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