Memorial Day Poetry – The Why We Celebrate!

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Richard H. McBee Jr.

Memorial Day

Today as we enjoy our friends, barbecues, beer and the beginning of summer we want to remember the reason for Memorial Day and give thanks for those it honors. I attended a great Hood River Celebration at the Idlewild Cemetery this morning, and as the wreaths were presented, I thought it important to reflect on the meaning of what we are doing on a day that seems to be losing it’s meaning amid a frenetic need to do-do-do or go-go-go in our society. Note this section of our small town Hood River News Paper: Hood river Memorial Day and Beyond

BUT WAIT! Don’t be alarmed. The paper also had this great photo and lead-in to today’s Celebration at the Cemetery which included serious speeches, a fly-over, the placement of wreaths and also a roll call of deceased veterans in Hood River in the past year: http://www.hoodrivernews.com/news/2017/may/27/memorial-day-service-may-29-idlewilde/

YES! I want to express my thanks to the organizers, sponsors, participants and attendees at the Memorial Day Celebration at Idlewild Cemetery.

So what’s it all about?

Decoration Day (now Memorial Day) was first declared a national day in 1868 by Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, General John A. Logan, it celebrated the remembrance of all who died while serving in the armed forces. It was and still is: a day of reflection by our leaders and our country about the grief caused by wars is important to help us understand the sacrifices our armed forces may have to make and why responsible leadership should utilize warfare only as a last resort in maintaining world order.

I would recommend thoughtful reading and discussion of poetry to enlighten your thoughts about:

Where the Dead are buried by reading John McCrae’s Flanders Fields, or
The impact that the Dead have on the living by reading Robert Service’s “The Convalescent” and
The denial we all have of the Dead and horrors of war by reading Robert Service’s “The March of the Dead” as enlightenment about how we need to continue to seriously and respectfully honor those who paid the ultimate price for our liberties and relaxation on each peaceful Memorial Day holiday.
Check out Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

We seriously need this day of reflection by our leaders and our country about the grief caused by wars is important to help us understand the sacrifices our armed forces may have to make and why responsible leadership should utilize warfare only as a last resort in maintaining world order. We all need to continue to seriously and respectfully honor those who paid the ultimate price for our liberties and relaxation on each peaceful Memorial Day holiday.

Give thanks with a grateful heart!

64. The St. Louis Arch