“All gave some, some gave all”
Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day. While the holiday was originally celebrated on May 30, in 1970, the U. S. Government declared that this holiday would be observed on the fourth Monday in May. It is the unofficial kickoff to the summer holiday (ending on Labor Day) and is a day not for sales on mattresses, furniture and cars, but, rather, for remembering and honoring our fallen servicemen and servicewomen.
But it’s the same as Veterans Day, right?
The answer to this is a resounding NO. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, whereas Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.
What’s with those red flowers?
They are poppies. According to the Old Farmers Almanac, “The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day. In war-torn battlefields, the red field poppy was one of the first plants to grow. Its seeds scattered in the wind and sat dormant in the ground, only germinating when the ground is disturbed—as it was by the very brutal fighting during World War 1.
The practice of wearing of poppies was further inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by Canadian soldier John McCrae. He saw the poppies in burials around his artillery position in Belgium.
Today, poppies are both the symbol of loss of life as a symbol of recovery and new life, especially in support of those servicemen who were damaged physically or emotionally.”
So how can I celebrate?
Here are a few things you can do:
- First, remember the meaning of the holiday. Don’t be the first one at the local retail sales event.
- Take a moment to stop by a military cemetery to pay tribute to a fallen servicemember, even if you didn’t know him or her. Thank someone who is visiting that grave for his or her sacrifice.
- If your town has a memorial statue on the square, lay a wreath of remembrance at the base.
- Wear a cloth poppy on your lapel or put it in the visor of your car to show you remember.
- Display the flag outside your home.
The TUNG Brush and Gel team is proud that our product is Made in the U. S.A. We remember the sacrifices made by so many to allow us to enjoy the freedoms we all have today. And we ask that you remember every day, but certainly on Memorial Day, that “for those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know”.
Take this Monday to reflect on your freedom and remember the fallen.
