Memorial Day: A Truly Lost American Tradition

To most Americans, Memorial Day represents the start of the summer, but some of you may be wondering how Memorial Day actually got its start and what Memorial Day was truly meant for. Today I will take you on a journey of Memorial Day from the 1860s during the Civil War to the family barbecues and cookouts of today.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day began as a way to recognize the men who died fighting in the Civil War. Memorial Day is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May by most states in America. It was first officially recognized as a Federal holiday in 1971 by Congress, though people had been celebrating Memorial Day since the late 1860s.

No one is quite sure when or where Memorial Day first originated. It is said that the day was started because of all of the gatherings in many different towns and cities by Americans decorating the graves of those who fought during the Civil War, some celebrations were happening even before the war ended. On May 2, 1868 General John A. Logan, “national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic,” first declared Decoration Day to be celebrated later that month on May 30,1868. He announced the day to be one of prayer, celebration, and appraisal for those who had died during the war. On that day, people placed flowers on Confederate and Union soldiers’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery. New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873. By 1890 all of the Northern states recognized the day while Southern states continued to celebrate Confederate soldiers on a separate day.

After the United States became a part of another major war, World War I, Decoration Day became a commemoration day for American men and women who fought and died in all wars. It was then that Southern states began recognizing the holiday, although Texas, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana still have a second day to remember just Confederate soldiers. For 100 years, Decoration Day was celebrated on May 30 until 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which declared Memorial Day to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Many people to this day still believe that Memorial Day should be moved back to its original date of May 30th so that Americans will be less nonchalant about celebrating the holiday and the importance and uniformity of Americans will be brought back into the day.

Today there are many traditions celebrated on Memorial Day. Many parades take place across America; the largest taking place in Chicago, IL, Washington D.C, and New York. In most parades, some American veterans and current members of the U.S. military walk. Other Americans visit gravesites and honor the military in that way. Yet most Americans hold barbecues and parties to celebrate the long weekend and the start of the summer. Most people have forgotten the true meaning of the original Decoration Day leading us to lose yet another way in which the American people can meet in unison in commonality and equality.  

FLAG DUTY: Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot's Story. A proud service-man and true American.

Thank you, Russell, for sending this to us and letting us know about this fine American. Here is Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot's story...

On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in Edinburg -- probably didn't make much news back then. Twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944, near Carano , Italy, Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in the Army in 1940, set out to flank German machine gun positions from which fire was coming down on his fellow soldiers. He advanced through a minefield, took out three enemy machine gun positions and returned with 17 prisoners of war.




















If that wasn't enough for a day's work, he later took on and destroyed three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.

















That probably didn't make much news either, given the scope of the war, but it did earn Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a colonel after also serving in Korea and Vietnam, a Congressional Medal of Honor.
















What did make news last week was a neighborhood association's quibble with how the 90-year-old veteran chose to fly the American flag outside his suburban Virginia home. Seems the rules said a flag could be flown on a house-mounted bracket, but, for decorum, items such as Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were unsuitable.















He had been denied a permit for the pole, erected it anyway and was facing court action if he didn't take it down. Since the story made national TV, the neighborhood association has rethought its position and agreed to indulge this old hero who dwells among them.














"In the time I have left I plan to continue to fly the American flag without interference," Barfoot told The Associated Press.

As well he should.And if any of his neighbors still takes a notion to contest him, they might want to read his Medal of Honor citation. It indicates he's not real good at backing down.


Van T. Barfoot's Medal of Honor citation:

This 1944 Medal of Honor citation, listed with the National Medal of Honor Society, is for Second Lieutenant Van T. Barfoot, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano , Italy . With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German field piece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of point blank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers."











WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
IN GOD WE TRUST!