Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 25 May 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #21 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, Today is not really "Memorial Day", but it is the weekend we honor those who have served. Those who served. We give credit for this Memorial Day to General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, who in his General Order No. 11, proclaimed on 30 May 1868 an observance to honor those who had died for their country, with flowers placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. However, there are several stories of the beginnings or "the first" Memorial Day. Every American can pay respect to someone who played some part in serving our country. Off the top of my memory, I respect a third great Grandfather, one of several, who took up arms to help gain independence, and two great great Grandfathers who paid the "high" price, giving their lives as a result of the War Between the States. Also, my respect goes to a great grand Uncle who served in the Spanish American War. And an Uncle who enlisted the day before the Armistice in World War II is fondly remembered. Finally, my Father, called up from the U S Marine Corps Reserves, who served a full career encompassing World War II and the Korean Conflict. These are only samples very personal to me, and there are so many more thousands, women and men, who I salute symbolically for also serving my country. Memorial Day Greetings to all readers. Wado, Bill -=- Other sites worth visiting: http://www.rense.com/general32/cxcol.htm http://www.earthsky.com/BBS/Observers-Notebook/19x18.html http://www.earthsky.com/BBS/Observers-Notebook/19x104.html http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html