What do you think of when you hear “Memorial Day Weekend?”
Do you think of:
- Barbecue with extended family and friends
- A day off from work
- Appliance and mattress sales
According to the Associated Press, “The holiday stems from the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members — both Union and Confederate — between 1861 and 1865.”
David Blight, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History, and history professor at Yale, marks the beginning of America’s remembrance day as May 1, 1865. On this date approximately 10,000 formerly enslaved people held a parade, heard speeches, and decorated the graves of Union soldiers in Charleston, South Carolina.
As time progressed and America engaged in additional wars, the holiday was expanded to include all armed men and women who gave their lives for the United States during WW1, WW2, and the Korean, Vietnam, Gulf, and Afghanistan wars.
After much thought and research on the subject regarding the meaning of Memorial Day, Simone Bouyer (President of HAVarts Board of Directors) and I landed on “reverence and permanent rest for the men and women who sacrificed their lives for the United States of America.”
To commemorate this year’s holiday we are showcasing three artists recognized for their work related to military service and the theater of war: Winslow Homer, Horace Pippin, and Marcus Jansen.
If you are interested in the history of Memorial Day, and how the holiday was first celebrated by African Americans, read Simone’s article, “The First Decoration Day,” at TheUrbanNews.com/national-news/2024/the-first-decoration-day.