Remember and Honor: Vintage Memorial Day Greetings and Images

As we move into the long weekend and the ending of May, here is a collection of images of remembrance and respect for Memorial Day. Did you know it was once known as "Decoration Day"? In the 1800's it was to be an occasion for honoring fallen soldiers and heroes, a time when local townspeople were encouraged to place flowers and flags at cemeteries and gravesites.

"Memorial Day, as we know, is far from a macabre or morbid tradition. For more than a century, the ritual of visiting cemeteries, memorials and gravesites was the real start of summer. It was an annual act of remembrance, clearing away the dirt and grime from those hallowed markers. It's a time to decorate those personal memorials." Source: How 'Decoration Day' Became Memorial Day

"On the first official Decoration Day -- May 30, 1868 -- Ohio Rep. James A. Garfield, a former general and future U.S. president, addressed a crowd of 5,000 gathered at Arlington National Cemetery:

"Hither our children's children shall come to pay their tribute of grateful homage. For this are we met to-day. By the happy suggestion of a great society, assemblies like this are gathering at this hour in every State in the Union. Thousands of soldiers are to-day turning aside in the march of life to visit the silent encampments of dead comrades who once fought by their side. From many thousand homes, whose light was put out when a soldier fell, there go forth to-day to join these solemn processions loving kindred and friends, from whose heart the shadow of grief will never be lifted till the light of the eternal world dawns upon them."

After Garfield spoke, the 5,000 visitors made their way into the cemetery to visit the tens of thousands of graves in the newly formed cemetery." Source: How 'Decoration Day' Became Memorial Day

In 1971, the annual observation was officially renamed Memorial Day. It is unfortunate that many Americans fail to understand the gravity of this date, forgetting the reason behind it, and celebrate the holiday with cookouts and sales, parties and vacations - all of which are well and good - as long as these things do not overshadow the true meaning. Here is a simple explanation for anyone who may not know the differences between various occasions which honor military members and their service.

To save any of these pictures, just tap on it to open a new window with the larger version, then right click and save to your device.

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