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Showing posts with the label Memorial Day

Memorials 2023

  Unmarked grave of Grandmother Mary Sutton and daughter Margaret A Day of Remembrance I began thinking about Memorial Day in a different way this year. I especially like the old name of Decoration Day—a day to decorate the gravesites and honour those who died while they were in service. Memorial Day has to be different for we immigrants who do not have close connections to family members or close friends who actually died in service. Yet we can appreciate their sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy. At some point, I learned the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. In an era of considerable travel, we are often far away from the graves of those who have passed. I recall visiting some European cemeteries where many young Americans are honoured. But they are so far from families in North America. What makes things different this year is the experience of visiting grave sites and a memorial in England of family members who I can no longer greet. I can appreciate mo...

Heroes and Memorial Day

Hero is a word often used nowadays, but in this extraordinary year there is a convergence of historic events giving many thoughtful people pause for reflection. I am writing this on Memorial Day in the USA, so it is natural to think about those warriors who died in service to a nation whose defenders made a significant difference in two global wars in the first half of the last century. Cemeteries in the US and on foreign soil are eternal reminders of the sacrifice of young Americans. We do well to honor them and their families. How we honor those who died fighting for us says as much about us and our values as it does about those who died. I hold these Americans in high esteem because of their tremendous contribution to ending the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi regime on my family and nation. So, this Memorial Day takes on more importance as we celebrated the 75 th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day just a couple of weeks ago (8 May). It is the very horror of t...

150th ANNIVERSARY OF MEMORIAL DAY

May 2016 represents the 150th anniversary of Memorial Day celebrations in the United States. According to history.com , 50-years ago the federal government designated Waterloo , New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Source, waterloony.com Previously, the day was known as Decoration Day—a day when people decorated the graves of soldiers with flags and flowers. It is a sad irony that the defense of freedom from aggression too often involves the loss of personal freedom when soldiers lose their lives.   Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery Belgium, G Sutton 2007 Parades include veterans who offer a living memorial of those no longer among us. Today we also remember others who have died. Amidst the celebrations and parties, it’s good to remember that freedom adds meaning to life and death. In the U.S., 3:00 p.m. local time is the official time of remembrance. My website www.suttong.com