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During this gindue4on period, it
emorial Day. The annual
holiday that falls on the last
Monday in May. It is a day
for cookouts, picnics and family gather-
ings. But Memorial Day is supposed to
be much more than a federally mandated
three-day weekend
Memorial Day is the time when
Americans remember and honor those
who died serving their nation in its
armed forces, in all its conflicts, large and
small. Not to be confused with Veteran's
Day on Nov. 11, the day we honor all
who have served in America's armed
forces, Memorial Day commemorates all
who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their
nation.
This year, Memorial Day (May 25) also
coincides with the 70th anniversary of
the end of World War II in Europe. In this
war, more than 291,000 American lives
were lost in combat, and a total of more
than 405,000 when including all military
deaths related to wartime service in the
military. Of this number, an estimated
11,000 Jewish service members died in
the war, more than 7,000 of these resulted
directly from combat.
Indeed, it is good to note than Jewish
Americans have fought in every war in
which the United States was involved.
The origins of Memorial Day can be
found in Decoration Day. On May 5,
1868, Gen. John A. Logan, commander-
in-chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic (GAR), called for an annual
national observance — Decoration Day.
This day would honor the estimated
600,000 or more Americans who died in
the Civil War.
The GAR was an organization of veter-
ans of the Union Army formed after the
Civil War. In Downtown Detroit today,
at the corner of Cass and Grand River,
stands the old castle-like GAR Building,
which opened in 1897 and has been
recently refurbished.
While a fine idea, it was not Logan's
original brainstorm. He was inspired by
"Confederate Memorial Day" that had
been celebrated in the South since 1866.
Regardless, after Logan's proclamation,
May 30 was chosen as Decoration Day.
The idea soon spread around the
nation. In 1868, events were held at cem-
eteries in 27 states and many of them
began to declare Decoration Day an offi-
cial holiday. Michigan did so in 1871. By
1890, every state had followed suit.
Eventually, Declaration Day evolved
into Memorial Day, the latter becoming
a more popular title after World War II.
In 1967, the federal holiday was officially
declared Memorial Day and, in 1968,
the Uniform Monday Holiday Act gave
Americans a three-day weekend. This
also meant that the traditional day for
Memorial Day — May 30— was moved
to the last Tuesday in May.
Many other nations also honor their
fallen military members in a similar
manner. In England and France, it is
Remembrance Day (also called "Poppy
Day"), which evolved out of Armistice
Day. This was originally a day to com-
memorate the signing of the armistice
that signaled the end of World War I, but
is now a day to honor all of those nations'
war dead.
In Germany, a National Day of
Mourning was established to honor their
soldiers' sacrifice in World War I. After
World War II, it became a day to mourn
all victims of war. In Canada, much like
the United States, there is a Memorial
Day. Israel also has a national day to
honor those who have died defending
that nation — Yom HaZikaron.
So, as you barbeque or have a beer
with friends this Memorial Day, take a
moment to remember those who deserve
our thanks for giving their lives for our
nation. This holiday is their day.
❑