STATE REPRESENTATIVE

SUE ENTLICHER
128TH DISTRICT

Chairman House Elections Committee

Committees Agriculture Policy Local Government May 24, 2013
QUICK LINKS:

www.state.mo.us www.house.mo.gov www.modot.org

For love of country they accepted death.

James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States

Memorial Day
Memorial Day weekend . . . a time to enjoy the beautiful weather . . . a time to shop Memorial Weekend sales, or, perhaps, a special time to spend with family at a barbeque or pool party! Its the weekend that kicks off Summer. The weekend we have been waiting all year to enjoy! But, wait! What is Memorial Day really all about? Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service . Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. By 1890, Memorial Day was recognized by all of the northern states; however, the South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May. (www.usmemorialday.org) Each Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives to protect all we hold so dear. Throughout the history of the United States brave men and women have fought to maintain the many freedoms that we enjoy but, far too often, take for granted. Many have died in service to our country, fighting to protect our nation and helping to free people from tyranny worldwide. We will never be able to convey the deep debt of gratitude we owe these brave men and women for their love of country and for giving their lives to protect us and our freedoms. They have honored our nation with their sacrifice and we must, if only for this one day each year, take time to honor them as our nations heroes.

It was Ronald Reagan who said it best in his 1982 Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them -- not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice. (http://www.usmemorialday.org/Speeches/President/may3182.htm)

A veteran- whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' (unknown)

On this Memorial Day, may we take time to honor our fallen heroes who BOLDLY signed a blank check, made the ultimate sacrifice, and paid with their lives.

THE STORY OF THE MEMORIAL DAY POPPY

In WWI, John McCrae was a Canadian who enlisted to help the allies in the war. He was made Medical Officer upon landing in Europe. During a lull in the battle with the nub of a pencil he scratched the following poem on a page of his dispatch book.

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.

The poem found its way into the pages of Punch magazine, and, by 1918 the poem was well known throughout the allied world. Moina Michael, an American woman, then wrote these lines in reply.
We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies

Ms. Michael then adopted the custom of wearing a red poppy in memory of the sacrifices of war and also as a symbol of keeping the faith. A French woman, Madam Guerin, visiting the United States, learned of the custom and took it one step further. When she returned to France she decided to hand make the red poppies and sell them to raise money for the benefit of the orphaned and destitute women and children in war torn areas of France. This tradition spread to Canada, The United States and Australia and is still followed today.
(http://botanical.com/site/column_rita/flanders.html)

The Buddy Poppy (shown above) is the official flower of the VFW. Although, any day is an appropriate day to distribute the poppy, Memorial Day is one of the most popular days to see VFW members at local stores selling these meaningful, symbolic flowers. The money collected from the sale of these poppies goes to fund various Veterans programs.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."
- President George Washington

CONTACT ME As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns.

Capitol Office State Capitol Building 201 W Capitol Ave, Rm 207A Jefferson City, MO 65101
E-Mail sue.entlicher@house.mo.gov

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