Many years ago, on Memorial Day, our children would march in the local parade in New Jersey.
The weather was always suspect. The kids would be wearing their soccer or band uniforms, or the official attire of whatever club they represented that year. The parade began at 10 AM and would last an hour or so. The fire department always had their engines in the parade. The local schools would send their marching bands. We would stand on the sidewalk and applaud as the kids went by. But everyone looked cold and a bit uncomfortable in the cloudy, often almost rainy weather.
The weather today reminds me so much of those days.
The thermometer reads 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The sky is overcast with almost a yellowish hue. And there is intermittent wind that adds a bluster to the morning. It rained overnight, and the Wunderground weather forecast is for rain to start up again and continue until dark..
I saw this blurb about Memorial Day.
The last Monday in May is Memorial Day — a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the US military. Initially known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Growing up, it seemed we always celebrated Memorial Day with a picnic or a visit to see my cousins.
It never occurred to me that Memorial Day was only an official Federal holiday beginning in 1971. That was the year I started high school. Before that, there must have been some recognition of the day, for I remember it being a big deal.
Today we will visit with family and most likely have our picnic inside.
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