Memorial Day, Decoration Day, red poppies, grave flags, taps, mattress sales, shoe sales, car sales.
Wait, those last three don’t belong, do they?
Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 30, the traditional date before Congress opted in 1971 to convert it into a three-day weekend for federal employees. That conversion over 30 years ago is still a sore spot for veterans organizations as they feel the switch to a three-day weekend took away from the spirit and meaning of the day.
I can’t say that I disagree.
Memorial Day was set aside as a day of remembrance for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s service. Some communities, not as many as there once were, hold services or mark military graves with small flags.
Since the late 1950’s, 1200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry blanket Arlington National Cemetery to place flags at over 260,000 headstones in Arlington. The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in 1951 and continue to do so today. Volunteers and scouts near Fredericksburg National Cemetery place luminaria at over 15,000 graves while taps is played.
It's time to focus on what's good about our world and recognize those who make it so. Kudos are in order…
To the phenomenal volunteers of the Beach School PTO, who put together another fantastic Golf Tourney on May 7th, along with a Cinco de Mayo Party and Silent Auction earlier in the same week. As the major fund-raiser for the group, they pull out all the stops and everyone has a great time-and the kids at Beach School benefit.
To Eve Haverfield and Turtle Time, who walk the beach at dawn each day to check for turtle nests. This is especially critical now as beach renourishment proceeds on the north end.
To all the Firefighters, Paramedics and Law Enforcement personnel who work hard to be constantly ready to help all the rest of us. Often we don't even think of them until we need them, but they are thinking of us all the time. Thanks!
To all the U.S. Postal Service carriers and volunteers who worked last Saturday to collect food donations for the hungry. And to everyone who put food by their mailbox last weekend for pick-up.
To the many volunteers for the Chamber Foundation Easter Egg Hunt last month, who may not want to see another plastic egg for a while after stuffing thousands. The kids appreciate your efforts!
Do you ever feel like no one cares what you think?
Do you ever mutter, If I was in charge of the world, I’d….?
How often do you say things like, What this town needs is….?
Well, your time has come!
We are big promoters of the participatory democracy process here at the Sand Paper. We cover all Town Council and Lee County Commissioner meetings. We’re at just about every LPA, Fire District and Library meeting.
We attend these meetings because we think you deserve to know what goes on at them. We think that every citizen should be able to easily learn what is said and done at public meetings without having to sit through each one themselves.
However, there’s one meeting that will be held on June 2 that you need to attend yourself! As part of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) process to evaluate and improve the Comprehensive Plan, the Town is hosting a Community Visioning Workshop on June 2 beginning at 5:30pm at Bay Oaks.
Go and put it on your calendar right now!
This weekend marks an American tradition. Restaurants will be full and flower shops will do a brisk business. The folks at Hallmark will have big smiles. Ahhh, it must be Mother’s Day.
We, who are fortunate enough to have our mothers still with us, will travel to be with Mom or call or at the very least, send a card. (Word to the wise, do not skip the phone call because you sent a card.) Those who have lost mothers will spend time remembering them.
The American version of Mother’s Day first appeared in 1870 with a proclamation from Julia Ward Howe. Though she was the author of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic,” she grew distraught over the carnage of the Civil War and proposed that a day be set aside to honor mothers and promote the cause of peace. While her initial effort failed, it did inspire a West Virginia women’s group to later establish a day honoring mothers. The movement to honor mothers on the second Sunday in May grew and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made it a national observance.