Are You A Traditionalist?

[warsawdaddy]

I guess I am.I like and believe in our traditions,for example,take Decoration Day(now known as Memorial Day and a 3 day holiday).It was always a day when families went out and decorated the graves of passed family members,no matter what the day of the week it fell on.When they made it a 3 day holiday,all it seems to have done is make it a holiday for the people to say,"3 days,let's go to the lake",instaed of visiting those who have passed and reflect on past memories.I for one wish it would get reversed again.Certainly the military still observe it,so why not all of us?So many of our traditions are being swept away slowly by the 1% of population that only care about themselves or trying to gain a moment of notoriety.They don't realize or care that it is because of our traditions that they are living in this country as they do.My opinion.

 

[MD Dog]

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

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: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). 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 that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. 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.

 

[Smee]

May 30 was, until 1947, a remembrance of the Union war dead. Congress in their infinite wisdom, chose to convert May 30, later changed to the last Monday in May, and renamed it Memorial Day, a day to reflect on all US war dead. Call me a rebel, but I like to remember our Confederate soldiers on their own day, and not the day originally set aside for the opposition.

Confederate Memorial Day - April 26, 2009

Then you should appreciate this: http://beauvoir.org/photo_gallery/photo_gallery.htm

Scroll down, almost to the middle of the page.

My Great Grandfather and at least one brother are buried there at Beauvoir.

 

[Noodle]

I'm a little younger than you, WSD (I think), but I was raised that Memorial Day was for remembering not only soldiers who had served or died in service to their country, but also those at home who suffered with their deaths. Going to the cemeteries was a special visit to take flowers and clean up the area. It was a family time. We still do the same, without the clean-up, of course. Most cemeteries are kept up nowadays, but of course not all. In my heart, it's still mostly for military. -Noodle