Back in the day, I was Officer In Charge of a US Navy Unit stationed at Sperry Systems Management in Ronkoma, NY. Our mission was to test and evaluate a new weapon system designed to go aboard the new Oliver Hazard Perry Class FFG-7. One of the enlisted working for me at that time was a first-class petty officer by the name of Robert Shippee. Fire Control Senior Chief Petty Officer (FCCS) Robert Shippee died in the USS Stark (FFG-31) when she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles on 17 May 1987.. My thoughts always go out to him today with wishes of fair winds and following seas. The lead photo is of him.
For those from other countries reading this blog, the below is offered to provide insight into Memorial Day in the USA:
Memorial Day
Federal holiday in the United States
Origins
Originally known as Decoration Day, it marked the remembrance of U.S. military personnel who died in service
First Observance
The first national observance of Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868
Current Date
Observed on the last Monday in May since 1971
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States that honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It originated after the Civil War to commemorate the Union soldiers who perished in that conflict.
Origins and History
The first Memorial Day observance was held on May 30, 1868, originally called “Decoration Day,” when General John A. Logan proclaimed that flowers should be placed on the graves of Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. On that first Decoration Day, General James Garfield delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. While the exact origins are disputed, the practice of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers began in various towns across the country in the years following the Civil War. By 1890, Memorial Day was an official state holiday in all the northern states. After World War I, it became a day to honor all American military personnel who died in any war.
Modern Observances
In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday and changed the observance date to the last Monday in May to create a three-day weekend. On Memorial Day, many Americans visit cemeteries and memorials to honor the fallen soldiers. American flags are placed on graves in national cemeteries, and volunteers often decorate graves with flowers and wreaths. The National Memorial Day Parade is held annually in Washington D.C., and the President or Vice President traditionally lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. A National Moment of Remembrance is observed at 3 pm local time, when all Americans are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence. While Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer for many, it remains an important day of reflection and remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.
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