VFW still sells Buddy Poppies Ted MizScarlettNY@aol.com wrote: > Perhaps I am showing my age, when I recall my elderly family calling today > Decoration Day. But, it wasn't until 1967, that President Lyndon Johnson > officially named May 30th Memorial Day and declared Waterloo, N.Y. the > birthplace of this tradition. Families and military groups "decorated" graves of > deceased Americans with flowers and American flags. > > After the American Civil War, the union based Grand Army of the Republic > began Decoration Day. However, with the continuing North-South stress, small > towns across America honored their own U.S. soldiers, who died while in > military service, > on various dates. Establishing May 30th as a federal holiday, became a way > to distract Americans from the focus on our past differences, while honoring > our fallen. > > Do you recall the crepe paper poppies people wore? The VFW began selling > them as a fund raising project, that became identified with Memorial Day. I > wonder how many of our children and grandchildren will recall this in the > future. > > Part of genealogy is perpetuating history, so you may want to share these > details with your descendant, or even make your own poppies! > Directions: > http://www.awm.gov.au/education/programs/prepost/PRIM_makePoppy.pdf > > To sum up Memorial Day, which was officially changed, with much the > consternation of U.S. military groups, to the last Monday of May, only to create a > long weekend. > > Here are Irving Berlin's lyrics to "God Bless America." Will you sing > along with Dublin born, medical physician, Ronan Tynan? I've included two > versions: one up close of Tynan, and the other on 2 September 2008, during the > last game played at Yankee Stadium~ "The House that Ruth Built." > > May you be blessed today. > Barb > N of NYC > @ BSL 5/25/09 > > God Bless America > > Words and music by Irving Berlin > © Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin > > While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, > Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, > Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, > As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. > > God Bless America, > Land that I love. > Stand beside her, and guide her > Thru the night with a light from above. > From the mountains, to the prairies, > To the oceans, white with foam > God bless America, My home sweet home. > > Ronan Tynan sings at Yankee Stadium: > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVYu76s86eM&feature=related > & > Ronan Tynan sings, headshot: > http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdPQfJHZdd8&feature=related > > > > ************** > We found the real ‘Hotel California’ and the ‘Seinfeld’ > diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. > (http://www.whereitsat.com/?ncid=emlwenew00000004) > ====NY-Irish Mailing List==== > Don't forget to check out the NY-Irish mailing list website. Also, check/add your NY-Irish surnames on the Surname Registry: http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/NYIrishList/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NY-IRISH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message