Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared it should be May 30. It is believed the date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.
Local observances claim to be first
Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well. Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began at their location two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South, where most of the war dead were buried.
The tradition of Memorial Day is a day we set aside each year to honor our fallen service members. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II on 6 June. This event, which ultimately led to the liberation of Europe, will be commemorated at Normandy American Cemetery. On this day we will honor the heroes who did not come home. A total of4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. In the ensuingBattle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded.
We honor the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom by attending our community parades and ceremonies. The Hope Valley Parade is today and starts at the Wyoming-Hope Valley Fire Station at 2 p.m. Westerly Memorial Day events are Monday, 7:30 a.m., at the North End Columbus Circle, 34 Pond St, Westerly, followed by their parade at 9:30 a.m. Remember our fallen.
Veterans in crisis
Project Outreach is here to assist, at no cost, to all Westerly and surrounding community veterans to gain access to the VA and eligibility for all benefits and programs they offer. The program is staffed by certified Chapter Service Officers that have attended the yearly Disabled American Veterans training. The service officer provides the proper VA forms and guidance to properly complete required documents to then ensure that they have proper representation at the VA. If a veteran is not in the VA system, they or their family are not eligible for all the great services and benefits the VA offers. Hours: VFW Post 8955 on the first Wednesday, third Monday, and third Thursday of the month at 5 p.m.; Senior Center on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon; Library second Friday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. For appointments call 401-596-0470.
Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione VFW Post 8955
New membersto VFW Post 8955 are always welcome to attend our next monthly meeting on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Post Home. We meet the first Wednesday of each month.There are two qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our National Bylaws. An individualmust meet both to become a member. They are as follows: 1. Honorable Service– must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and eitherreceived a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently serving. 2. Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. If you know of a comrade or family of comrade in distress please contact Comrade Dora Vasquez-Hellner at 401-212-6377 for assistance.
VFW Post 8955will be sponsoring a Dept blood drive on Thursday, May 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 113 Beach Street in Westerly. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are highly encouraged by calling the Rhode Island Blood Center at 800-283-8385. The VA hospital in Providence uses approximately 800 units of blood each year so any blood donations are likely to benefit a veteran in serious need.Donating blood is literally giving the gift of life, and is one of the most patriotic acts that you can perform.
This day in military history
1984—On Memorial Day the only American Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War is laid to rest at ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., attended by 250,000, including members of Congress and the international diplomatic community, and Vietnam veterans in fatigues.President Reagan, named honorary next-of-kin, delivers the eulogy at the hero’s funeral and urges greater efforts to locate the more than 2,400 service members still missing. The remains were unearthed in 1998 for DNA testing and possible identification. They were later identified as those of Air Force First Lieutenant Michael J. Blassie, and were sent to St. Louis for hometown burial.
