Today is Memorial Day in the US. Memorial Day became a US national holiday in 1971 and is celebrated on the last Monday in May. It continues the custom of honoring ancestors by cleaning cemeteries and decorating graves – an ancient and worldwide tradition.
In early rural America, this duty was usually performed in late summer and was an occasion for family reunions and picnics. After the Civil War, America’s need for a secular ceremony to honor its military dead became prominent. Monuments to fallen soldiers were erected and dedicated, and ceremonies centering on the decoration of soldiers’ graves were held in towns and cities throughout the nation.
After World War I, the day expanded to honor those who have died in all America wars.
To celebrate Memorial Day, Amazon Kindle is sponsoring the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee and id offering $10 Off the Kindle for Kids Bundle. Additionally, you can save $50 when you purchase two Fire Kids Edition Tablets. These devices are a perfect accompaniment for Memorial Day road trips.
Seems I’m late everywhere I go lately. Ah, well, I enjoyed reading about Memorial Day. Hope you have a fabulous week, my friend!
Lol – thanks. You did have a very exciting release, so there’s that 🙂
Interesting. I had no idea how Memorial Day came to be. I’m Canadian.
Same here. Not about the Canadian thing, of course 🙂
Interesting history to the holiday. Though, I have to agree with Beetleypete that sales on this day always make me cringe. There’s just something tacky about it to me.
As I told Pete, I totally get what you mean, but… Christmas 🙂
The king of commercialization. They try it with Hanukkah at times, but it never works.
You need a jolly old man. And Cola.
Isn’t Coca Cola the company that invented Santa Claus? I mean there are mythological versions of him around the world, but the one in this country is the soda creation, I think. Need to look that up.
No need to look it up, it’s like you’ve heard. Perhaps Pepsi can work on Hanukkah?
I don’ think they’re kosher. Also, it really isn’t a holiday you can commercialize too well. Not even one of the major holidays, but it gets attention since it happens around Christmas.
Plus, plenty of candles. Very romantic.
Never been a fan of candles for romance. A little too pyromaniac for me. One wrong move and you lose your date to a handsome fireman.
As you know, we have our version of this in November in the UK.
I am not knocking this post, but I am not at all comfortable with Amazon using this solemn occasion to offer discounts on their products on the back of it.
Best wishes, Pete.
I understand what you mean. Then again, Christmas. Need I say more? 🙂
Very true mate!
A lovely post – we have something similar here in New Zealand – it’s called ANZAC Day – celebrated each year on the 25 April. It originally honoured the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who served and died at Gallipoli – in what was then the Ottoman Empire – during WW1. Now, this special day, includes all Wars since that time, as well as UN peace-keeping duties that have been performed by New Zealand and Australian service men and women. Thanks for sharing this important day – it’s a good way to show appreciation for those who play an important role in defending freedom and helping those nations in crisis with their peacekeeing duties 🙂
Thank you, Catherine! Greece has consistently fought on the side of the US in every major war, even before the formation of NATO. Even if it hadn’t, though, there’s something poignant about the appreciation of fallen soldiers.
For sure – my grandfather fought in the Somme and nearly died on the battle-field, having to lie in the mud for several hours before been found. These days, a lot of young people go to ANZAC dawn services wearing the medals of their ancestors – it really chokes me up when I see the resect the youth give to our soldiers – past and present 🙂
That’s wonderful!