May 2014 More than just Mother’s Day!

Five years ago, I hated the Month of May, not only because of losing my Mom and not having our Mother’s Day tradition but also because it is her Birthday month.  I was losing out on two my favorite gift giving dates in my personal life, Mother’s Day and Mom’s Birthday so to say the least May was not a good month in my opinion.

No matter how you remember your MOM this Mother’s Day, taking her out to a special dinner or sending an unique gift for her to remember for years, the most important thing is to be in her life every day.

We also want to honor our brothers and sisters that are in the armed forces this month.  Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of May to salute all the men and women in all branches of the service who protect our country and you. They can be called upon at a moment's notice to perform a risky and perilous mission for freedom and country. They train diligently both physically and mentally so they will be prepared to prevail in any mission they face.

So how did this special day start to honor those in the services. Well, each branch of the military had their own day of celebration. But, on August 31, 1949 then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day. President Harry Truman also announced the holiday in a presidential proclamation on February 20, 1950. All branches of the military were asked to celebrate on this day and they complied on the first Armed Forces Day which was held the following year on May 20, 1950.  Now you know!  So if you have a loved one currently serving in the service let them know you are thinking of them and proud of what they are doing for you and the country.

Also the month of May ends with Memorial Day. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead". While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in General Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971.

So even though the Month of May was not one of my favorite a five years ago. I have regained what the different Holidays truly mean during this Month.  Honoring those that have served you and your country. Mothers to Soldiers all are due our respect.

Keep Dancin’ Larry B