Help Restore The Traditional Day Of Observance for U.S. Memorial Day

Over the years the meaning of Memorial Day has faded too much from the
public consciousness. From a solemn day of mourning, remembrance, and
honor to our departed loved ones, it has degenerated into a weekend of
Bar B Q's, shopping bargains and beaches where only token nods toward
our honored dead is given, if at all. Too many don't know what the day
stands for.

"Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined
the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to
the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day." -- VFW
2002 Memorial Day address

Memorial Day used to be a sacred day that was reserved for the
remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen,
the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where
Memorial Day speeches were then given. People took the time that day
to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those the
fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time
testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have
forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." --
General Logan - May 5, 1868

Wonderful people in other nations sometimes show more of the true
spirit and mission of the U.S. Memorial Day than we do here. For
example, a 2001 USMemorialDay.org Guestbook entry from a citizen of
the Netherlands states:

"In 1999 I laid flowers at the grave of a young U.S. fighter pilot
who was KIA in my village in 1945. In the Netherlands I know of
schools 'adopting' graves of Allied servicemen, keeping those graves
in excellent condition! Does anybody know of adopting graves in the
U.S. by schools?

Sincerely,
Paul Patist
Castricum, The Netherlands - Tue May 15 04:50:29 2001"

When Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in with the
National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363), it made it all the
easier for us to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day.

"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be
a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our
home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the
year are our holidays." -- F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February
26, 2000

On 17 of March 1989 Senator Inouye [HI] introduced a bill to the
Senate which called for the restoration of the traditional day of
observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th. Every new Congress since
then (every two years), Mr. Inouye has faithfully re-introduced the
bill. Several times a companion bill was introduced to the House.

As eloquently stated by Mr. Inouye in his introductory remarks to the
bill he introduced in 1999:

"Mr. President, in our effort to accommodate many Americans by
making the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, we have lost sight of the
significance of this day to our nation. Instead of using Memorial Day
as a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in
combat, many Americans use the day as a celebration of the beginning
of summer. My bill would restore Memorial Day to May 30 and authorize
our flag to fly at half mast on that day. In addition, this
legislation would authorize the President to issue a proclamation
designating Memorial Day and Veterans Day as days for prayer and
ceremonies honoring American veterans. This legislation would help
restore the recognition our veterans deserve for the sacrifices they
have made on behalf of our nation." (1999 Congressional Record, page
S621)

On 4 January 2007, Mr. Inouye [HI] again re-introduced the bill, this
time as S 70, to the Senate. At present there are no co-sponsors. On
the same day it was introduced, the bill was read referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary. As of today, no further major action has
been taken by the Committee on this bill.

To keep the number of three day Federal Holidays the same, Armed
Forces day, the third weekend of every May, could easily become a
three-day holiday. On that holiday we can go out and enjoy and
celebrate the freedoms won and maintained by our Armed Forces and show
our active duty men and women in uniform that we support them; on
Memorial Day we can solemnly reflect upon the high cost of that
freedom.

Do you think Memorial Day should have it's traditional day of
observance restored? Then please visit <http://www.usmemorialday.org/
act.html> and sign the petition.

.

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