The Real Memorial Day

Post #47 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

On May 25 -27, Americans celebrated Memorial Day with a three-day long weekend. Memorial Day has become our unofficial start of summer. Backyard barbecues are fired up, retailers tantalize customers with sales, children start counting the days until school is out, and the owners of seasonal businesses pray for warm, sunny weather.

But lest we forget, Memorial Day has far more serious roots. Its origins, while a little cloudy, seem to lie with women in the south spontaneously decorating the graves of their Civil War fallen–hence what was first known as Decoration Day. In 1868, General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed the day. And on May 30 of that year, they decorated the graves of soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery (both Union and Confederate). Within a few years, states were joining in, honoring all American soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

By 1882, Memorial Day began to creep into the language although it didn’t become common until after the Second World War. Also in the twentieth century, that remembrance expanded to include the fallen of all American wars. After World War I, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th to be Veterans Day to honor all who have served, reserving Memorial Day for those who gave the “last full measure of devotion,” a phrase that comes to us from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Incidentally, November 11th is significant because in 1918 World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

But our officials were not finished. On May 26, 1966, President Johnson named Waterloo, New York, to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, also making Memorial Day the official name. And the following year, as part of legislation to make several long weekends of Federal holidays, Congress moved the date from May 30th to the last Monday in May…although Waterloo, New York, still celebrates Memorial Day on May 30th.

Not everyone is happy with the decision to move Memorial Day, and from time to time resolutions and petitions are presented in an effort to return Memorial Day to its original date. But these are mostly symbolic efforts.

This year, Danville Paint & Decorating in Danville, California, posted a series of four articles on its Facebook page. Along with a sale of Benjamin Moore paint, the owners DeWayne and Barbara Ryan honored the fallen but also made reference to Rosie the Riveter. You’ll find a couple interesting posts about the role of Rosie serving on the California home front. It’s interesting to note that with World War II coming on the heels of The Great Depression, the gearing up to manufacture planes, boats, vehicles and ammunition is often seen as a Second Gold Rush for the state.

And there’s another interesting tidbit in these posts. Apparently Ryan’s father who had been 4-F and didn’t serve on the front lines signed up to work at the San Diego plant of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation. There he trained the Rosies to rivet. Vern Ryan, who is now 95, said that among his crew of hard-working women was a team of riveter and bucker who were faster than any other.

This all serves as a reminder. It doesn’t matter if we celebrate with hamburgers on the grill, a beach holiday or a trip to the mall to cash in on bargains…as long as we take a moment to remember the men and women who gave their lives to protect our freedom. And if you want to include a nod to Rosie the Riveter, well that’s okay too. Just as long as you know the real meaning of Memorial Day and never forget.