MEMORIAL DAY 2014 Here is an article in todays Albuquerque Journal, page A6 written by Robert J. Samuelson. I had been wondering what to write for today, but when I read this, I just had to copy it here. So, and I quote from the article: In April 1865, a day to remember... WASHINGTON - The first Memorial Day - then called Decoration Day - was celebrated May 30, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War too honor the Union dead. Compared to a national population of 31.4 million in 1860, the Union dead were estimated at 364,511. Confederate dead totaled at least 159,821, according to Historical Statistics of the United States (Millennial Edition). After World War I, the holiday commemorated all U.S. war dead. In 1971, Memorial Day became an official national holiday. Historical Statistics lists war dead by conflicts as follows; the Revolutionary War, 4,435; the War of 1812, 2,260; the Mexican War, 13,283; the Spanish-American War, 2,446; World War I, 116,516; World War II, 405,399; the Korean War, 36,576; the Vietnam War, 58,200; the Persian Gulf War, 382. In addition, the Pentagon reports 6,809 deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and related combat zones as of May 23. End of quote. The article continues with more and especially a description of Robert E. Lees surrender at Appomattox to Ulysses S. Grant. It comes from Princeton historian James McPhersons Pulitzer Prize - winning account of the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom. That is quoted in the Albuquerque Journal article with permission of the author. You should seek out this if you can. So as we of AVER, Bataan Chapter in Albuquerque, NM along with many other organizations hold a dedication ceremony for the new Inclusive LGBT Veterans Memorial today, we also ask that you take the time to reflect and remember those who gave the ultimate price as mentioned above. That is what Memorial Day is all about.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 17:19:30 +0000
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