A short history lesson:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363).
Our day was more about trying to keep Riley's food in his tummy and not on Gramma. He was a very unhappy boy until about noon and then a switch was thrown somewhere and he must have felt better. Not really sure what it was and if it was related to yesterday or just something new.
Kaleigh was a real trooper, she just slept through everything until it was time for her to eat. Then she ate, got the hiccups and went back to sleep.
I spent the afternoon getting to know our new computer better and things are looking up. I really like the new Photoshop Elements I got and with the faster computer I get stuff done so much faster.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and for those who had to work today I hope it wasn't to bad.
Our day was more about trying to keep Riley's food in his tummy and not on Gramma. He was a very unhappy boy until about noon and then a switch was thrown somewhere and he must have felt better. Not really sure what it was and if it was related to yesterday or just something new.
Kaleigh was a real trooper, she just slept through everything until it was time for her to eat. Then she ate, got the hiccups and went back to sleep.
I spent the afternoon getting to know our new computer better and things are looking up. I really like the new Photoshop Elements I got and with the faster computer I get stuff done so much faster.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and for those who had to work today I hope it wasn't to bad.
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