Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of summer. (Summer runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day irrespective of the sun's position respective to the earth's rotation.) Summer is the time for vacations, trips to the beach, family cookouts.
When I first moved to the South the people said that Memorial Day is a Yankee holiday. It was started to memorialize the dead of the Grand Army of the Republic. The South had its own Confederate Memorial Day. Now, a generation later, all of that seems forgotten. In our town there will be a wreath laying at the War Memorial attended by a few dozen, mostly veterans. Afterwards a Baptist Church will have a special service attended by the veterans and some church members.. There won't be a parade, or speeches, or little children placing flags on the graves of veterans.
On Memorial Day all that most folks will remember is that there will be no trash pickup, the banks and post office are closed, and summer is here at last.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteYour nephew Troy contacted me in reference to the blog in the Dundalk Patch I wrote (A Somber Sea of Purple and Black). Could you email me?
cyndi.ryan@yahoo.com
Thank you!
Cyndi