Happy Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday and gets away from worrying about money and finance! I always use occasions like this for an excuse to read up on the event or holiday.
It was started as a memorial to those that had died in the Civil War and was later expanded after WWI to include all wars and military action. Many cities started their own memorial day after the Civil War such as Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia. It was officially recognized as a holiday in 1868, with Waterloo, New York getting the title of birthplace. Interestingly, many of the southern states continued to celebrate their own memorial day to remember the soldiers of the Confederacy who died.
OK, the history lesson is over. Last week I was in a book store while waiting on a movie to start and browsed through some books (which I didn’t buy…frugality…I knew I could tie some personal finance in here somehow..) about memorial day.
It was an interesting read. I read one story about the the song taps, the song played at military funerals. It said it was formed when a Union soldier found his son among the dead after a battle and wanted this song played at his funeral. His son had went to college in the South and apparently had joined the confederate army. Well, I was dissapointed to discover yesterday, while reading up on memorial day, that that story was really an urban legend and had no verifiable evidence. Oh, well, so much for the accuracy of books!
I will be spending time with some friends and family. If your feeling patriotic you can always listen to the Star Spangled Banner. Whatever you do, remember all those who have died or suffered in wars. Even if you don’t always agree with the reason they are fighting, many have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families will never be the same. Well, I’m out for the day. Enjoy the holiday.