When this day was originally envisaged it was extremely emotive and carried a sense of pride and honor for fellow soldiers and family members honoring those who had died in the American Civil War. The initiators of the then called Decoration Day were African American Union veterans who gathered at a cemetery where two hundred and fifty-seven fellow soldiers were buried on the first of May eighteen hundred and sixty-five and started a tradition that would become Memorial Day.
Many other veterans followed suit and within two years one eight three burial grounds in twenty-seven states were acknowledging this day. It has grown into a major date on the country's calendar saluting all men and women who have since been killed when fighting for their country.
Over this weekend numerous cities and towns host large parades and speeches as made by various dignitaries in honor of dead soldiers. One town in the country, Ironton, Ohio holds the distinction of hosting a parade from the third year of Decoration Day to today
The emphasis has shifted over the years and where people spent the day visiting graves and having family gatherings it has now changed into a weekend spending time shopping or going away on a quick holiday.
A National Memorial Concert on the west lawn of State Capitol is televised nationally and attended by thousands of people who come to listen to a program of music, song and tributes to fallen soldiers. Traditionally a Memorial Day golf tournament and the Indianapolis Five Hundred also feature at this time.
It is a time for patriotism to flourish and half mast flying flags are on display during the day at many homes and one finds that there are still many people who visit burial places of soldiers to cover them with flags. National harmony and pride in one's country and its achievements as well as encouraging people to work together towards common aims across philosophies and creeds is what Memorial Days is all about.
Many other veterans followed suit and within two years one eight three burial grounds in twenty-seven states were acknowledging this day. It has grown into a major date on the country's calendar saluting all men and women who have since been killed when fighting for their country.
Over this weekend numerous cities and towns host large parades and speeches as made by various dignitaries in honor of dead soldiers. One town in the country, Ironton, Ohio holds the distinction of hosting a parade from the third year of Decoration Day to today
The emphasis has shifted over the years and where people spent the day visiting graves and having family gatherings it has now changed into a weekend spending time shopping or going away on a quick holiday.
A National Memorial Concert on the west lawn of State Capitol is televised nationally and attended by thousands of people who come to listen to a program of music, song and tributes to fallen soldiers. Traditionally a Memorial Day golf tournament and the Indianapolis Five Hundred also feature at this time.
It is a time for patriotism to flourish and half mast flying flags are on display during the day at many homes and one finds that there are still many people who visit burial places of soldiers to cover them with flags. National harmony and pride in one's country and its achievements as well as encouraging people to work together towards common aims across philosophies and creeds is what Memorial Days is all about.
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