(Photo taken by Carol Kaliff)
We all know and respect Memorial Day, much less its origins. It began as a way to honor the fallen soldiers who died during the Civil War and has since evolved into a day to respect all soldiers who have been killed in service to our nation. As such, it also became a custom to visit and decorate the graves of the fallen to honor them. The following Memorial Day celebrations also serve as an unofficial kick-off to summer.
On May 27th, the parade on Main Street lasted around an hour with several local groups marching to honor fallen or injured soldiers. Memorial Day parades often feature numerous floats depicting acts of soldiers being injured or in a hospital setting.
It has been a tradition to wear poppies to honor fallen veterans as an enduring symbol of remembrance. According to the American Legion Auxiliary, Congress has designated every Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day. Their website states, “On the Friday before Memorial Day, wear a red poppy to honor the fallen and support the living who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
Many people often confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and to be fair, it’s a common misconception. Memorial Day is to honor those who have lost their lives in service to the country, and Veterans Day is a day where veterans, whether still with us or not, are respected and celebrated for their bravery.
The Parades usually have the same themes of “Remembering Our Deceased Veterans, Honoring the Men and Women who served Our Country, and displaying the American Flag”. The things that do change in the Parade are the other people who join in on the Parade and the vendors who serve the people in those areas during the parade hours.
