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Happy Memorial Day to All...
I realize that for many of us Memorial Day has
different meanings. For some it is the holiday marking
the first three-day weekend of the summer season, and
for others it is a day to enjoy quality time with
friends and family. We sometimes forget that Memorial
Day is a day of remembrance for those who have given
the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
Memorial Day's roots can actually be traced back to
May 5, 1866 in Waterloo, NY as that is the first
officially recognized remembrance of those who lost
their lives while fighting to preserve the Union
during the Civil War. Memorial Day was originally
known as Decoration Day back then and observances
began to spring up in communities throughout our
nation. The first official observance on a national
level was by official proclamation in 1868 by Gen.
John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of
the Republic, by General Order No. 11 which proclaimed
May 30, 1868 as a day of remembrance for those who had
lost their lives fighting during the Civil War.
In 1873 New York was the first state to officially
recognize Memorial Day as a holiday. All of the other
northern states soon followed suit. The southern
states did not recognize Memorial Day until after WWI
when the holiday was changed to remember all Americans
that lost their lives fighting in any war instead of
just the Civil War. Congress passed the National
Holiday Act of 1971 making Memorial Day the last
Monday in May a National Holiday and thus creating a
three day weekend.
I've unfortunately seen the observance of this holiday
change for the worse over the years. Some of my
fondest childhood memories are from Memorial Days of
years past. I remember the pride and excitement of
marching in the Memorial Day Parade in Kerhonkson as a
Cub Scout and Boy Scout. Back then all of the scouts,
firemen, the Drum and Bugle Corps, veteran's groups,
and other organizations would march to the center of
Kerhonkson and pay tribute to our fallen servicemen at
the American Flag Pole. The same thing would be done
in Accord and in other towns throughout the area.
There was a true sense of community and respect for
our fallen heroes was being passed from generation to
generation.
Today we are hard pressed to find official observances
around our area as well as around our nation. Back in
2000 a National Moment of Remembrance resolution was
passed by Congress. This resolution calls for every
American to voluntarily and informally observe a
moment of remembrance and respect by stopping whatever
they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to
Taps at 3PM on Memorial Day to honor those who lost
their lives in the service of our country. I urge each
of you to participate in this Moment of Remembrance.
Please remember those who have fallen in support of
our country and also pray for the safe return of those
who are in harm's way in defense of our country.
I would also like each of you to join me in making
this holiday special again in our Town. I believe that
the completion of the Veteran's Park in Accord will
give us an opportunity in order to do something
special next year. It would be great if we could all
work together so that we could have a parade with a
proper observance at the Veteran's Park in memory of
those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country.
I don't think it would really cost very much at all to
do this other than just a little time and effort to
contact groups and organize things. I believe that we
owe to those who have served to keep us free. We also
need to pass on these traditions to our children as
they are the citizens of the future. Sometimes true
progress comes from taking the good from the past and
applying it to the present and hopefully creating a
better future.
God Bless and Have a Safe Holiday,
Carl Chipman — President
Rochester Republican Club
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