Posted on 05/29/2017 11:43:41 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Southern women scattered spring flowers on graves of both northern Union and southern Confederate soldiers of the Civil War in which over a half-million died.
Many places claimed to have held the original Memorial Day, such as:
-Warrenton, Virginia; -Columbus, Georgia; -Savannah, Georgia; -Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; -Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; -Waterloo, New York.
One such place was Charleston, South Carolina, where a mass grave was uncovered of 257 Union soldiers who had died in a prison camp.
On May 1, 1865, former slaves organized a parade, led by 2,800 singing Black children, and reburied the soldiers with honor as an act of reparation and gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice which gave slaves freedom.
In 1868, General John A. Logan, commander of the Civil War veterans' organization "The Grand Army of the Republic," called for a Decoration Day to be observed annually on May 30.
President James Garfield's only executive order was in 1881 where he gave government workers May 30 off so they could decorate the graves of those who died in the Civil War.
During World War I, a Canadian Expeditionary gunner and medical officer, John McCrae, fought in the Second Battle of Ypres near Flanders, Belgium.
Describing the battle as a "nightmare," as the enemy made one of the first chlorine gas attacks, John McCrae wrote:
"For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots even, except occasionally. In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds ...
And behind it all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way."
Finding one of his friends killed, John McCrae helped bury him along with the other dead in a field.
Noticing the field covered with poppy flowers, he composed the famous Memorial Day poem, "In Flanders Fields":
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields."
Notables who fought in World War I include:
-John J. Pershing, General of the Armies; -Douglas MacArthur, Brigadier General; -George S. Patton, tank commander; -Leonard Wood, future Army Chief of Staff; -Harry S Truman, artillery officer and future 33rd President; -Eddie Rickenbacker, commander of 94th Aero Squadron; -Quentin Roosevelt, shot down, son of President Theodore Roosevelt; -Alvin York, took out 35 machine guns and captured 132 enemy; -Charles Whittlesey, commander of the "Lost Battalion" behind lines; -Frank Luke -"balloon buster"; -Edouard Izac, naval office captured on U-Boat, who escaped; -Henry Johnson of the "Harlem Hellfighters"; -Dan Daly, Marine Sergeant charged and captured machine gun nests; -Ernest Hemingway, author of A Farewell to Arms; -J.R.R. Tolken, British author of The Lord of the Rings; -C.S. Lewis, British author of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Also, Orval William Epperson, born on a rugged Ozark farm near Anderson, Missouri, fought in France during World War I, assigned to the 338th Machine Gun Battalion 88th Division. He is the grandfather of the author of this article.
After World War I, in 1921, President Warren Harding had the remains of an unknown soldier killed in France buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.
Inscribed on the Tomb is the phrase:
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD."
Since 1921, it has been the tradition for Presidents to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The number 21 being the highest salute, the sentry takes 21 steps, faces the tomb for 21 seconds, turns and pauses 21 seconds, then retraces his steps.
Memorial Day grew to honor all who gave their lives defending America's freedom in every war, including:
-Revolutionary War: 1775-1783 - 25,000; -War of 1812: - 20,000; -Mexican-American War: 1846-1848 - 13,283; -Civil War: 1861-1865 - 625,000; -Spanish-American War: 1898 - 2,446; -World War 1: 1917-1918 - 116,516; -World War 2: 1941-1945 - 405,399; -Korean War: 1950-1953 - 36,516; -Vietnam War: 1955-1975 - 58,209; -Persian Gulf War: 1990-1991 - 258; -Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan): 2001-2014 - 2,356; -Operation Iraqi Freedom: 2003-2012 - 4,489; and -ongoing wars against Islamic terrorism and extremism.
In 1968, Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday in May.
At the Memorial Day Ceremony, May 31, 1993, President Bill Clinton remarked:
"The inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier says that he is 'Known only to God.'
But that is only partly true. While the soldier's name is known only to God, we know a lot about him.
We know he served his country, honored his community, and died for the cause of freedom.
And we know that no higher praise can be assigned to any human being than those simple words ...
In the presence of those buried all around us, we ask the support of all Americans in the aid and blessing of God Almighty."
In 1958, President Eisenhower placed soldiers in the tomb from WWII and the Korean War.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan placed a soldier from the Vietnam War in the tomb.
DNA test later identified him as pilot Michael Blassie, a graduate of St. Louis University High School, 1966 and the U.S. Air Force Academy, 1970, whose A-37B Dragonfly was shot down near An Loc, South Vietnam.
In 1998, Michael Blassie was reburied at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.
In his 1923 Memorial Address, President Calvin Coolidge stated:
"There can be no peace with the forces of evil. Peace comes only through the establishment of the supremacy of the forces of good.
That way lies through sacrifice ... 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"
Charles Michael Province, U.S. Army, wrote the poem:
It is the Soldier, not the minister Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
In his Memorial Day Address, May 31, 1923, President Calvin Coolidge said:
"Settlers came here from mixed motives ... Generally defined, they were seeking a broader freedom.
They were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance to the principle of self-government ...
It has been said that God sifted the nations that He might send choice grain into the wilderness ..."
Coolidge continued:
"They had a genius for organized society on the foundations of piety, righteousness, liberty, and obedience of the law ...
Who can fail to see in it the hand of destiny? Who can doubt that it has been guided by a Divine Providence?"
A little known incident during the Civil War involved anti-slavery politician William H. Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State.
The same night Lincoln was shot, an accomplice of John Wilkes Booth broke into Seward's home and wounded him in an attempted assassination.
William Henry Seward had been Governor of the State of New York, 1839-43; and U.S. Senator 1849-61.
Seward was Secretary of State during the War between the States, 1861-65, and during reconstruction under President Andrew Johnson, 1865-69.
William Henry Seward stated:
"I do not believe human society, including not merely a few persons in any state, but whole masses of men, ever have attained, or ever can attain, a high state of intelligence, virtue, security, liberty, or happiness without the Holy Scriptures;
even the whole hope of human progress is suspended on the ever-growing influence of the Bible."
Seward stated in his oration, 'The Destiny of America':
"Shall we look to the sacred desk? Yes, indeed; for it is of Divine institution, and is approved by human experience.
The ministers of Christ, inculcating Divine morals, under Divine authority, with Divine sanction, and sustained and aided by special cooperating influences of the Divine Spirit,
are now carrying further and broadly onward the great work of the renewal of the civilization of the world, and its emancipation from superstition and despotism."
Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia, which would not have happened had it not been for the Crimean War near the Black Sea.
A British memorial poem was written after the Crimean War by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, titled "The Charge of the Light Brigade" to memorialize when a mistaken command sent British cavalry riding directly into Russian cannons.
"Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 'Forward, the Light Brigade! 'Charge for the guns!' he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!' Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred ..."
After a half-million deaths, the Crimean War ended with the British alliance defeating the Russians in 1856.
Rising to prominence during the Crimean War was a woman who cared for wounded soldiers.
Her name was Florence Nightingale -- the pioneer of the modern nursing profession.
Known as "The Lady with the Lamp," Florence Nightingale made her rounds at night to check on injured soldiers.
After losing Crimea, Russia feared Britain would expand British Columbia by claiming Russian Alaska.
To preempt Britain, Russia sold 586,412 square miles to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million -- about two cents per acre.
Alaska was the second largest land purchase in history.
The largest was the Louisiana Purchase of 828,000 square miles in 1803, followed by the third largest - the Mexican Cession of 520,000 square miles in 1848.
As Alaska was thought to be of no value, it was called Seward's Folly.
Later, when Alaska was found to be rich in natural resources, was appreciation shown.
Seward was vice-president of the American Bible Society, stating in 1836:
"I know not how long a republican government can flourish among a great people who have not the Bible; the experiment has never been tried;
but this I do know: that the existing government of this country never could have had existence but for the Bible.
And, further, I do, in my conscience, believe that if at every decade of years a copy of the Bible could be found in every family in the land its republican institutions would be perpetuated."
(Brought to you by AmericanMinute.com)
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Thank you. That was a great read.
"I know not how long a republican government can flourish among a great people who have not the Bible; the experiment has never been tried; but this I do know: that the existing government of this country never could have had existence but for the Bible. And, further, I do, in my conscience, believe that if at every decade of years a copy of the Bible could be found in every family in the land its republican institutions would be perpetuated."
Amen.
Thanks Jim
Thank you, Jim.
Thanks for the perfect thing to read today.
Our "progressive" politicians display their great ignorance of America's history, and overlook the written documents which refute their claims.
The following paragraph is excerpted from the CENTENNIAL Thanksgiving Sermon, DELIVERED BY REV. B. W. ARNETT, B. D., AT ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, URBANA, OHIO 1876 - available in the "Library of Congress - Historical Collections" - "African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection," 1820-1920; American Memory, Washington, DC. Dr. Arnett was a Black Ohio Legislator and A.M.E. Bishop.
This historical treasure is one which should be prominent in our national discussions, especially now, when our philosophical foundations are being challenged, and when the views of a learned man like Dr. Arnett might shed light on centuries-old ideas about America's history. His theme:
Righteousness Exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to any People."
"Withdraw from Christendom the Bible, the Church with its sacraments and ministry, and Christian morality and hopes, and aspirations for time and eternity; repeal all the laws that are founded in the Christian Scriptures; remove the Christian humanities in the form of hospitals and asylums, and reformatories and institutions of mercy utterly unknown to unchristian countries; destroy the literature, the culture, the institutions of learning, the art, the refinement, the place of woman in her home and in society, which owe their origin and power to Christianity; blot out all faith in Divine Providence, love, and righteousness; turn back every believer in Christ to his former state; remove all thought or hope of the forgiveness of sins by a just but gracious God; erase the name of Christ from every register it sanctifies—in a word annihilate all the legitimate and logical effects of Christianity in Christendom—just accomplish in fact what multitudes of gifted and learned minds are wishing and trying to accomplish by their science, philosophy, and criticism, and what multitudes of the common people desire and seek, and not only would all progress toward and unto perfection cease, but not one of the shining lights of infidelity would shine much longer. Yes, the bitterest enemies of this holy and blessed religion, owe their ability to be enemies to its sacred revelations - to the inspiration and sublimity of that faith which reflects its glories on their hostile natures. They live in the strength of that which they would destroy. They are raised to their seats of opportunity and power by the grace of Him they would crucify afresh; and is it to be thought that they are stronger than that which gives them strength? Can it be supposed that a religion which civilizes and subdues, and elevates and blesses will succumb to the enmities it may arouse and quicken in its onward march? Are we to tremble for the ark of God when God is its upholder, and protector, and preserver?” - Dr. Benjaming W. Arnett, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Urbana, Ohio, Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon, November 1876
And yet, there can be peace with God.
Don’t let the chaos of those bent on evil become our personal chaos too.
Thank-you and God Bless.
Trump has been caught up in a whirlwind of activity for weeks now. I would be quite tired. He seems to be going strong.
Today he has taken time to meet with some families visiting the graves of their loved ones.
You know, we don’t pause enough to remember, think of the sacrifices made, and lives surrendered on behalf of our nation. This was all done for you and I folks, our families, communities, and nation.
At this moment thinking of Trump’s actions today, I want to salute and thank all our Veterans here on Free Republic.
I appreciate your service to our nation folks.
Thank you very much.
Agreed. A free republic is not the troubler of the world, it is the home of truth.
Thanks JimRob
Amen
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