Showing posts with label Memorial Day Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memorial Day Holiday. Show all posts

Monday, 31 May 2010

Behind the Holiday, Memorial Day, By Stephanie Burkhart


Memorial Day has always meant something a little deeper for me. My grandfather served in World War II. My Uncle Harold also served in World War II in the European theatre. My husband's grandfather served in World War II in the Pacific Theatre in the Navy. I, myself, served in the Army between 1986-1997. I understand what it's like to give oneself up to protecting the concepts of freedom and democracy. It's personally rewarding but can also be very lonely. When I work on the Memorial Day holiday, I usually bring in my awards, decorations, pictures, coins, and MP Brassard to share with others. Being the military is not an easy life. Thank you to all who have served and who have had relatives who have served. Your sacrifices have not been in vain.

Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day," and was established as a day of rememberance for those who died in service to the U.S. Nation during the Civil War. It was first proclaimed on 5 May 1868 in Waterloo, NY. (Now, I have conflicting reports on the date, also given as 1866, most sources I've found, however, give the 1868 date.)

18th MP Bridage Patch


The south refused to recoginze it until World War I. In 1915, Moina Michael wrote a poem called "In Flander's Field" which inspired the idea of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who died during "The Great War."

In 1971, Congress passed the Holiday Act moving Memorial Day from it's traditional observance of 30 May to the last Monday in May to make it a three day holiday weekend. It used to be known for parades, but nowadays few are held. This year, President Obama is visiting the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary just outside of Chicago.

Being the military is not an easy life. Thank you to all who have served and who have had relatives who have served. Your sacrifices have not been in vain.

Friday, 21 May 2010

What Memorial Day means to Desert Breeze Author K Dawn Byrd


Memorial Day is the United States holiday that commemorates the men and women who have died while in the military. WWII is near and dear to my heart because my grandfather fought for our country in this war. I am honored that he served, but also humbled. You see, he suffered from what they called "shell shock" and what we call PTSD for the rest of his life. He served, but it cost him and his immediate family dearly. Do we stop to think about how much those who have served have truly paid?

I enjoyed writing Queen of Hearts, the WWII era romantic suspense novel that released in April. My heroine, Daphne Dean, comes from a very patriotic family. So much so that she refuses to take her ex-boyfriend back when he becomes a draft dodger and a seller of black market goods. She could have taken advantage of the goods he sold. Heaven knows, she loves shoes, but she refuses to do so, knowing full well that items were rationed because the supplies were needed for soldiers.



Daphne, like most others, is tired of rationing and would like more meat, butter, and cheese. At one point, she's envious of a group of elderly women who have stockings, which are in short supply because the material is needed to manufacture parachutes. When the items are offered to her later by her ex-boyfriend, she voices her displeasure with him for racketeering.

This Memorial Day will be even more special to me after writing Queen of Hearts and becoming familiar with what people sacrificed in order to bring our boys home safely during WWII. I'd like to send out a personal "thank you" to everyone who has ever served or who is serving our wonderful country today. We are free because of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God bless you always.

"Queen of Hearts" is available at the Desert Breeze Website, Amazon for Kindle, All Romance Books and Books on Board.