BRADFORD High School KENOSHA WISCONSIN
CLASS OF 1975

MEMORIAL DAY 2021

We often tend to forget what

Memorial Day

is all about.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed on May 30, 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.

Memorial Day is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, as passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays.

Scroll down and remember some of the major wars and conflicts.

Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 4,435

The War of 1812  1812-1815
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 2,260

Mexican American War 1846-1848
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 13,283

U.S. Civil War 1861-1865
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 618,000-700,000

Spanish American War 1898
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 2,446

World War I 1917-1918
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 116,708

World War II 1941-1945
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 407,316

Korean War 1950-1953
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 53,686

Nearly 8,000 Americans are listed as MIA in Korea, and are not included in the death totals, although by now, they probably all should be considered dead.

Vietnam War 1964-1973
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 58,209

The numbers of Vietnam dead changes periodically as more remains are found in Sourheast Asia and are identified. Approximately 2,500 U.S. service personnel were iisted as MIA after the war.

 Grenada 1983
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 19

Invasion of Panama 1989
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 40

Persian Gulf War 1990-1991
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 382

Intervention in Bosnia & Herzegovina 1995-1996
Estimated U.S.A. deaths: 12

 Afghanistan 2001-Continuing
Estimated U.S.A. deaths to date: 2,219

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003-Continuing
Estimated U.S.A deaths to date: 4,488

God Bless the United States of America
and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice!

 

A poem often read at Memorial Day services:

 

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In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. John McCrae   Inspiration for the poem — In Flanders Fields  During the Second Battle of Ypres,a Canadian artillery officer,Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915 by an exploding shell. He was a friend of the Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae. John was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplain being called away on duty elsewhere. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'. The History of Memorial Day... (click on link) www.history.com/video.do

 

The following is from Rocco! Thanks, Rocco! It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. It is theVETERAN who salutes the Flag,  It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag. And it is the Veteran whose coffin is draped with the flag. The Tomb of the Unknown www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tombofun.htm   Whatever your plans are for the weekend, May it be a significant, safe and happy one for you and yours!