For over a hundred years Memorial Day has been celebrated in the United States. Memorial Day was originally called, Decoration Day and it was meant for people to recognize the veterans for their bravery and sacrifice for our nation. Memorial day became a Federal Holiday in 1971 but it was celebrated since 1890. In 1890 Memorial Day was a day to honor only soldiers who took part in the Civil War but after World War 1 it became a day to remember all of the soldiers who have fought for our country. For Most People Memorial Day is just another meaningless tradition. As years have passed, Americans are losing the ability to understand the sentimental feelings behind why Memorial Day is celebrated. Now Memorial Day is viewed as just another day
The memorial grew out of a need to heal the nation's wounds as America struggled to reconcile different moral and political points of view. In fact, the memorial was conceived and designed to make no political statement whatsoever about the war. The Memorial is a place where everyone, regardless of opinion, can come together and remember and honor those who served. By doing so, the memorial has paved the way towards reconciliation and healing, a process that continues today.
I chose the easy route of interview my grandpa (Dean Randel) who served in World War II as flight deck operator that signaled the aircrafts and got them ready for flight. He was station in San Diego on the USS Wisconsin which was of course a aircraft carrier. As I grew up he always told me stories of the good times he had with buddies and just living the good life. This is a first for me to sit down one on one with him and hear about what went on. Before I could even get a word in my grandpa ask me, “Do you know how Veterans Day was brought about?” I was so shock he was into doing this that I just shut my mouth and listened. He continued by saying in 1921, an American soldier -his name "known but to God "-was buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, DC. The burial site of this unknown World War I soldier in Arlington National Cemetery symbolized dignity and pride for all American veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an "unknown soldier” was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (I later researched and found out it was in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I hostilities at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day.”Armistice Day of...
The Pearl Harbor Remembrance day is observed annually to remember those who lost their lives in the attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. A statement from memorial parades website states the theme of the parade as, "Remembering our past and celebrating our future. The purpose of the parade is to honor and pay respect to the Pearl Harbor Survivors, our veterans, active duty military and their families…" (Pearharborparade.org).
When I was younger, the Fourth of July was a time where the family came from out of town to cook, converse, and watch fireworks. It meant for me a day that you could purchase electronics for cheap via 'Fourth of July ' sales. I only understood the superficial definition, and could only take the holiday at face value. It did not have any meaning to me until I grew older. As I grew older I began to realize one thing, that most people who celebrate this holiday do not understand the meaning behind it. The Fourth of July has turned into a commercial holiday that advertises excessive drinking, reckless behavior and it has completely disregarded the idea of what the Fourth of July actually is, a celebration of our independence from, Britain, the
For the past two decades, roads became more than a medium of transportation. They turned into places that hold symbolic meaning to certain families in the form of roadside memorials. Roadside memorials are stone markers that serve the purpose of honoring the lives of those killed in automobile accidents. They usually take the shape of a Christian cross, whereby the name of the deceased is carved in the cross’s horizontal line. Normally surrounding the memorial are flowers and other gifts to illustrate grief. This stone is situated at the location of the person’s death. Roadside memorials are put there by the family and relatives of the victim as a method of immortalizing their memory. It reassures them that although the person has died, their memory continues to live. However, roadside memorials create a lot of controversy. Some believe they are a noble act keeping drivers reminded of the dangers of reckless driving. Yet others believe they should be banned for being a source of distraction on the road, as well as a violation to laws, specifically the one stating religious symbols should not be in public grounds. However, with the application of some restrictions, roadside memorials should not be banned because of their benefits.
Veteran’s day is a reflection of the peace and the warrior culture in the United States. While peace cultures strive for tolerance and positive peace, warrior cultures focus on aggression and domination and this Day demonstrates how both cultures are engrained in the American society.
The Civil War is one of the turning points in the history of the United States. It was a time when our country was at its lowest point. This event redefined what it means to be an American and even redefined the culture as to how slavery was viewed both morally and politically. It took much sacrifice to pass through this event. It was estimated that more than 750,000 lives were lost in this struggle. At the time this would be an almost entire generation of men that were gone forever. So why is the Civil War so celebrated in reenactments and shows? (McCurry) The reason is that it marked a new way of living. It marked a new age for those who had previously been enslaved. It showed the world that the United State was a country that believed no one is a master of anyone else. It showed that the United States was a country where all men were created equal.
Memorial Scholarship was created for sophomore and junior Athletic Training majors and he was later inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame and Varsity "O" member in 1995 (ohiostate). Bill was the Ohio Athletic Trainers of University and Trainer of the Year in 1988. Hill served as President and was also inducted into the association's hall of fame in 1995, Hill was well respected on the camp(ohio state).
Holidays are not taken off unless widely observed by man because who would not want to earn extra money or get out of school earlier in the year. Holidays were constructed by our nation’s history including the many great events and people in it. Holidays were meant to instill civic pride, pride in your city, to unite everyone together to ensure nobody was excluded. Holidays are meant to recognize the struggles and achievements of our society. Some people interpret situations differently. For example, some people look at Columbus Day as a day to mourn because they are upset with the past. In other instances, others rejoice because they are glad the past is moved on and over with so better things can happen. Everyone has different morals towards this idea because one thing is not going to satisfy all. A failure could be an achievement to one and vice versa. Mourning of people such as holidays like Veterans Day and Labor Day. Columbus founded a chunk of land that will once be the most immense, important, and lasting of all. Here is to the original Americans for shaping the world and adapting to it for the future ones. October 12th is also known as “Discovery Day” to countries in the
The Arlington National Cemetery is a well known tourist attraction that many people visit to honor people that have died in war and have served our country, also many people like to visit the tomb of the unknown soldier. The Arlington National Cemetery is located in Arlington,Virginia. The national cemetery is approximately 624 acres filled with thousands of fallen soldiers. Many people should visit the Arlington National Cemetery it will teach you to respect the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was built as a tribute to the dead who fought in the unpopular war. The Vietnam War was a long conflict that opposed the communist governor of North Vietnam. In a larger conflict, the war took place in 1955 to 1975, between the United States and the Soviet Union. By 1969, America sent their troops to Vietnam however the U.S. combat units retreated by 1973. During the war more than three million people were killed, including 58,000 Americans. The suffering and loss left America divided, that cannot be changed. The Vietnam War was a war that people were
The reason we have this holiday is to “honor all the military service members who have served during times of peace and of war’ according to the Department of veterans affairs. This day is important because it shows how much we appreciate there service to this country, it also honors all soldiers who died in service. Veterans day started about a hundred years ago on Nov. 11, 1918 this is the year the fighting stopped in WW1 so this is the day that congress decided to set some time apart each year to show our gratefulness to our troops. president Jerald
What is the first thing that goes though your mind when you hear the words Memorial Day? What does it mean to you? What symbolization does it hold in you? Ladies and gentlemen, sadly enough, the true meaning of Memorial Day has been seemingly lost by the majority of Americans today. Many confuse this day for Veterans Day or even Armed Forces Day. Although it is highly appropriate to honor all our veterans, living and dead, and to recognize their immeasurable contributions to our country, this is not the true meaning of Memorial Day. When I asked you what the day means to you…what is symbolized to you, what went through you mind? Did you simply think of it as another federal holiday? A 3-day weekend? The beginning of the 100 days of Summer…a BBQ? Or did you think of a mother running a finger over her son's name on the Vietnam Wall…or possibly the brave marines raising the flag on top of the mountain in Iwo Jima…..or did you simply think of all the sacrifices that have been made by the brave men and women that allow us to enjoy the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today. For those of you who did indeed think of the men and women who paid the ultimate price by giving their life for a cause greater than their own, then I will tell you that you are spot on. For those of you whose initial thought was not that of the sacrifices made, well, sit back and let me remind you why we should embrace this day….to hold this day dear to our hearts. When you leave here today I will hope that you will take with you a new and renewed sense of patriotism for this day. I will ask you to teach our children and reeducate all Americans on its true meaning. I will ask that each of you ENSURE THAT PROPER RESPECT is given to those who have given all they could possibly give in their service to this incredible country. It is through their sacrifice……that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today. CAN ANYONE TELL ME why is it that many Americans are so blind and deaf to the sights and sounds of our fallen patriots? Why do they not let freedom scream in their ears and in their minds and remember? Is it simply human nature? Let’s discuss how human nature can affect our thoughts and examine why our brave men and women choose to fight.
...ay because it was the day that Germany surrendered and the war ended. On this day, there is a minute of silence but no military parade. Another holiday that celebrates an ending of a war is the 8th of May or Victoire 1945, which admires the end of World War II and another victory among the French. People attend parades, sing patriotic songs, hang the national flag all over the country, and sometimes remember the people that died serving France in the war. As a result, of these national days that remember wars, the French can pay a tribute to the dead.
To add on to that, all the holidays are based on historical and cultural events. Memorial Day was created after the Civil War to decorate the graves of the war veterans who had died fighting for our country. It on May 30th because they believed on that day that flowers would bloom all over the United States. Also, there is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This holiday was created after his assassination to celebrate him and all he did for the country by creating equality among the citizens.