PATRIOT WEEK: Remember - And Act - The True Meaning of Memorial Day

Renewing the American Spirit

Patriot Week begins on 9/11 and ends on 9/17 (the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution (Constitution Day)) and renews America’s spirit by celebrating the First Principles, Founding Fathers and other Patriots, vital documents and speeches, and flags that make America the greatest nation in world history. Many of current holidays have become overly commercialized or have lost their deeper meaning. We need to invigorate our appreciation and understanding of America’s spirit. This blog is dedicated to keeping the spirit of Patriot Week - and America - alive all year long.....

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Remember - And Act - The True Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day should not be about barbecues, the start of summer, wearing white, or sales.

Memorial Day is intended to honor our sacred dead. Over the past week I heard least a dozen people say “Happy Memorial Day.” That butchers the point.

On May 5, 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand

Army of the Republic, promulgated General Order No. 11, which was the

first official promulgation of Memorial Day. General Order No. 11 provided

that flowers would be placed on the graves of Union and Confederate

soldiers on May 30, 1868. (Order No. 11 is below.) In the Order, General

Logan reflected he hoped it would become an annual tradition, and it did.

With World War I, that tradition expanded to include all war dead; eventually it became a recognized holiday. All too soon, it became commercialized.

General Logan's Order stated, "Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify

to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people

the cost of a free and undivided republic." Indeed.

That Memorial Day will ever entirely recover its nature is a hopeless cause - the commercialization and habits of generations have undermined it too much. That is why my daughter Leah and I created Patriot Week - with hope of establishing a new civic calendar to renew the spirit of America.

Still, it is worth the effort to embrace the spirit of Memorial Day. Its fine to do the barbecue and wear white (I prefer Red White & Blue), so long as your heart is in the right place, and you impress upon your family that we are free only because of the sacrifices of generations of Americans.

Remember the cause of freedom, and ACT. Do something to ensure our liberty. Make sure you vote; express your views; learn about the issues of the day; petition the government; protest; counter-protest. Don't just sit there. ACT. Freedom is a precious blessing, and its slipping away. ACT.

God bless you, the sacred dead, and America.

Very truly yours,

Hon. Michael Warren

For more, visit www.PatriotWeek.org and www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.