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May 20, 2024
Remember Why on Memorial Day
By Susan Junker
Commander, Bandera American Legion Post 157
There is much confusion about when the hotdog was invented. Was it in Vienna 500 years before Columbus sailed, or in 1811 by a German immigrant?
There is much confusion about the hamburger, too. Was it the Texan Fletcher Davis in the 1880s, or Louis Lassen in New York who put the meat between bread? Hamburgers and hotdogs are a Memorial Day staple, but before you pull out the grill, take a moment to honor those who died to preserve that opportunity to freely celebrate.
There is no confusion on when Memorial Day officially started or its purpose. It is our most solemn holiday. It honors America’s military men and women who lost their lives in service to their country.
Memorial Day was designated a federal holiday on the last Monday in May in 1971. It had been celebrated as Decoration Day in various forms since just after the end of the Civil War in 1865. The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of our nation’s first federal cemeteries.
Waterloo, New York, first celebrated the day in 1866. It was chosen because it hosted an annual community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Memorial Day evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Do not wish anyone a “Happy Memorial Day.” Do not thank a current service member. Do not forget about the purpose of the holiday or disregard its importance. Don’t let politics keep you from rendering respect.
The Bandera American Legion Post 157 invites everyone to join them in placing flags at the graves of veterans throughout the county. Flags will be available at the Bandera City Cemetery and the Medina Oak Rest Cemetery with placement instructions on Thursday, May 23, starting at 9 a.m. Teams will be dispersed to cover St. Stanislaus I and II and West Prong cemetery. The flags will remain in place until May 28, and retrieval begins at 9 a.m., when all flags will be returned to Post 157, at 205 12th Street for cleaning and storage.
Everyone is welcome to pay tribute during the parade and look for the Bandera American Legion Unit 157 members providing poppies as a reminder of our service members’ ultimate sacrifice. For more information, email [email protected].
There is much confusion about the hamburger, too. Was it the Texan Fletcher Davis in the 1880s, or Louis Lassen in New York who put the meat between bread? Hamburgers and hotdogs are a Memorial Day staple, but before you pull out the grill, take a moment to honor those who died to preserve that opportunity to freely celebrate.
There is no confusion on when Memorial Day officially started or its purpose. It is our most solemn holiday. It honors America’s military men and women who lost their lives in service to their country.
Memorial Day was designated a federal holiday on the last Monday in May in 1971. It had been celebrated as Decoration Day in various forms since just after the end of the Civil War in 1865. The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of our nation’s first federal cemeteries.
Waterloo, New York, first celebrated the day in 1866. It was chosen because it hosted an annual community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Memorial Day evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Do not wish anyone a “Happy Memorial Day.” Do not thank a current service member. Do not forget about the purpose of the holiday or disregard its importance. Don’t let politics keep you from rendering respect.
The Bandera American Legion Post 157 invites everyone to join them in placing flags at the graves of veterans throughout the county. Flags will be available at the Bandera City Cemetery and the Medina Oak Rest Cemetery with placement instructions on Thursday, May 23, starting at 9 a.m. Teams will be dispersed to cover St. Stanislaus I and II and West Prong cemetery. The flags will remain in place until May 28, and retrieval begins at 9 a.m., when all flags will be returned to Post 157, at 205 12th Street for cleaning and storage.
Everyone is welcome to pay tribute during the parade and look for the Bandera American Legion Unit 157 members providing poppies as a reminder of our service members’ ultimate sacrifice. For more information, email [email protected].