I was going to be attending and helping with the Memorial Day Ceremony in Franklin, Tn at the War Memorial but instead I will standing in respect with Patriot Guard Riders at the military funeral for PFC Travis Haslip of Ooltewah, Tn. Please think about and remember what this day is all about and tell your children so they grow up understanding and cherishing what their freedom has cost those before them.

The Significance of the “Buddy Poppy”
Inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, Moina Michaels replied with her own poem:

Ms. Michaels then had the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later, a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom. When she returned to France, she had artificial poppies made to benefit war orphaned children and widowed women. In 1921, Madam Guerin approached the Veterans of Foreign Wars for help in carrying on this tradition. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922, the VFW became the first organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later, their “Buddy Poppy” program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

After World War I, the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting the Civil War, to honoring all Americans who died fighting in any war.

Battle Deaths:
**American Revolution - 4,435
**War of 1812 -  2,260
**Indian Wars - 1,000
**Mexican War - 1,733
**Civil War - 214,938
**Spanish-American War - 385
**World War I - 53,402
**World War II - 291,557
**Korean War - 33,741
**Vietnam - 47,424
**Gulf War (’90-’91) - 147
**Operation Iraqi Freedom(to date) - 3,454
**Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan(to date) - 390

“Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan…”
- John A. Logan, 1868

The Flags Our Heroes Served

We remember those who died in service to our country, with these flags:

*The American Flag

*The flags of the branches of the modern day armed services;

-The Army flag

-The Navy flag

-The Marines flag

-The Coast Guard flag

-The Air Force flag

*The official flag symbolizing Prisoners-of-War and Missing-In-Action.

This flag reminds us that many have died who have not returned to our shores. Their sacrifice and the special loss of their families, who do not have a grave to honor, are remembered this day.

*The 34-Star American Flag

The 33-star Garrison Flag that flew over Fort Sumter has been called “the flag tat started a war.” In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, the U.S. Flag had a field of 33 stars representing 33 states. By the third month of the war until 1863m the 34-star Union flag was flown, now including Kansas as the 34th state. President Lincoln raised this flag over Independence Hall as an act of faith, that the nation created by our forefathers would be preserved.

* The First Confederate National Flag, “Stars and Bars”

The original flag of the Confederate States of America, commonly known as the “Stars and Bars” was firsat hoisted over the Capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama on March 4, 1861. The seven stars of the flag displayed here represented the first seven states to secede.

*The Grand Union Flag of the Revolutionary War

Known as the Congress flag, and the Continental Colors, this flag is traditionally considered to be the first national flag of the United States. Authorized by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, and used by General George Washington, it was the official flag of the 13 American Colonies on July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence from England was signed. It was the official flag through the first year of the Revolutionary War.

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