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High praises and thanks to everyone who has served this country in uniform. Also gratitude to all of our relatives and friends who have served, including those wounded and those who never made it back home.
I can't get used to the 3-day Memorial Weekend holiday..I always think of Memorial Day as being May 30th. Anyway, I have my flag out this morning.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Richard, I get your point regarding opening this topic on the "traditional" Decoration/Memorial Day, as holidays to honor an event or persons have simply become an "excuse" for a three day weekend.
While the argument can be made that Memorial Day no longer honors any specific event, but rather those who gave their lives for their country in what has to be considered our wars without end.
The proponents who sought to have the birthday of Dr Martin Luther King honored with a national holiday wanted such to be celebrated to the actual date of Dr. King's birth, however, give it a few years and the day simply became one more floating holiday to make a three day weekend.
I would in heart like to have September 11 become a national holiday; as one who has two "near misses" within his immediate family and a grade school colleague who did not come home that day, I believe this day should be observed on September 11 - period. Whatever day it comes on so be it. I would want any and all non-essential services to be shut down - no excuse to hit the malls, go railfanning, or whatever so we never forget.
But if 9/11 were to become a holiday, 99% chance it would just be any of the other floaters, so let it not be recognized as it will be just one more day of what should be remembrance simply desecrated.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I do agree with you and carry it a bit further. We used to celebrate Washington and Lincoln's birthdays on the appropriate day . Now it is Presidents day and a huge sale day. At least around here. Jefferson? forget him. it seems as if everything has become a big commercial event.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Memorial Day has been celebrated on the last Monday of May since 1971. I remember when it was May 30th, and even remember it being referred to by some as Decoration Day, its original name from Civil War days.
-------------------- Ocala Mike Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Like Ocala Mike, I remember marching in the Decoration Day parade on May 30 as a Brownie and in the high school band. We always went to the cemetery the prior weekend to plant geraniums on all the family graves, veterans or not.
While 3-day weekends are nice, we lose something when a special day becomes just another day. I'm waiting for the 4th of July to become a roaming holiday to supply a 3-day weekend - just what the signers of the Declaration of Independence had in mind!
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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