A Little History About Memorial Day, Previously Called, “Decoration Day”

 

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.

Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

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).

It is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May with Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363). This helped ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19th in Texas; April 26th in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10th in South Carolina; and June 3rd (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

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[Memorial Day image from bingdotcom]

 

At This Time Of Year

 

Remember to reach out to those living with illness and pain especially during this time of the year.  It can be a very lonely and isolated time for them. Give them a call, a smile, a hand, a hug and an encouraging word that shows you care.

I doubt there is no one who could use an extra dose of caring from a friend, a relative and yes, even from a stranger.

Speaking personally, the month of December has proven to be a very difficult month every year.  It is the month when I lost both my husbands who I deeply loved.  December anniversaries and events keep running through my mind.

I don’t look forward to this time of year and wish it would hurry along, so that the new year may begin with feelings of freshness and hope for a better year.

 

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Happy Hallowe’en

A fitting Hallowe’en dedicatory post. Always loved Vincent Price. King of the monsters.

idealisticrebel

Happy Hallowe’en to all my readers and friends.

I’ve decided to be totally not serious, and not deal with reality in honor of it being Hallowe’en.

Some of you may remember these songs; for some of you they may be new.  But they’re some of my favorite “monster” songs, from when I was young.

The first is Vincent Price doing a wonderful cover of the Monster Mash.  For those of you who are too young to know the wonderful Mr. Price, he ruled the Horror films in the 50’s and 60’s, and did the ghoulish rap at end of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Flying Purple Eater is what was called a “novelty song” from the 60’s and it’s always been one of my favorites, never failing to make me laugh!

I have to go now, to chase the Zombies on the River!

Have a ghoulishly good day!

Monsterously yours,
Barbara

Annabel…

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC

Did you know that The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is our country’s oldest and proudest Irish tradition, marching for the first time more than 250 years ago, on March 17, 1762 – fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence?  I had no idea before I did some research, that this tradition was begun so long ago.  It’s also a registered non-profit, and is run by volunteers only.

St. Patrick’s Day festivities are celebrated in many other U.S. cities:  Savannah, GA; Seattle WA; San Diego CA; Los Angelos CA; and Chicago IL, for starters.

The wearin’ of the green is popular with those who not necessarily have the Irish in their background, but who get into the “green” spirit by being “Irish in heart,” just the same.  I personally, have a green boutonniere that I don on my blouse for the day just to get into the spirit.  Maybe it’s because I come from New York (Brooklyn, to be exact), and it was always a major holiday that was celebrated in many ways.  One way was having corned beef and cabbage for dinner!

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Quick, Last Minute Tips For Hosting Holiday Guests

Thanks to my friends from Tower Hill Insurance Group!

 

If you are short on time but still have a long to-do list, try these last-minute tips to make holiday guests feel welcome.

First things first. Make a great first impression by having your porch or entryway well-lit and decorated for the season. If you have a temperamental doorbell, be sure it is repaired before your guests arrive so they are not accidentally left out in the cold.

Home sweet guestroom.  Just a few thoughtful touches will make your guests feel welcome even if the “guest room” is also your home office. Add fresh flowers, comfortable bedding and pillows, plus reading material they may like. Clear space in the closet and use a luggage rack or ottoman for the suitcase.

Guest baskets & trays. In the bathroom include a welcome basket with toiletries that may have been forgotten in the rush of last-minute packing. Ear plugs are great to include, especially if your guests are not accustomed to noisy pets (or kids) or your next-door neighbor who mows the lawn before breakfast.

Not sure if your guests are early birds or night owls? Just in case, add a tray in the kitchen filled with coffee or hot tea, breakfast snacks and holiday goodies.

Pets and kids. If your guests are not used to either two-legged or four-legged little ones, here are some quick fixes before your guests arrive. Wash the dog, clean the kitty-litter box, and pick up everyone’s toys so your guests do not accidentally trip.

I hope these suggestions will come in handy!! 😀

 

Togetherness: Special On This Day

Thanksgiving Day is one filled with many emotions by many people and families.  I start to think back (for me, there are many days and years to think back on), remembering those happy days.  Trying hard to pick out one or two, is not easy.  There are so many.

One Thanksgiving Day, I remember, while living in Hicksville LI, NY (there really is a town by that name), we gathered ’round the big pine trestle-style table, held hands, and said a prayer of thanks for having the fortune of being there together that day, and hoping for more happy days of togetherness in the future.

Another Thanksgiving Day I can remember was celebrated right here in South Florida, in my new home that I shared with my late husband, Bob.  Bob did all the cooking.  He was a good cook, and got so much enjoyment when we all found his efforts to be greatly pleasing to the palette (and also to the stomach!).

Today, that trestle table is long gone; several of the people with whom I held hands in Hicksville have passed; and some of those with whom I shared the Thanksgiving meal in South Florida, are not with us anymore, having gone to a better place, also.  But, not all is lost:  I am going to be together with my sister and brother-in-law in their home and we will share a lovely dinner; but, most important, we will be together.

Good Morning on Labor Day, 2014!!

For your viewing and listening pleasure, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson for Sammy Davis Jr’s 60th Anniversary celebration:

 

 

A Small Tribute

A small tribute to our fallen heroes, thanking them and remembering them for their service to make sure we are kept safe to enjoy the freedoms we have because of their sacrifices.

A small tribute, because there isn’t one great enough to honor them as they should be honored, in my opinion.

 

Observing National Nurses’ Week – May 6-12, 2014

When I was a young woman, I wanted to study to become a nurse, but, at the time, my health thwarted that dream; however, I never lost my interest in all things medical.  I am so glad that nurses are being recognized for the stupendous job they do.

Observing 2014 National Nurses Week:

“Nurses: Leading the Way”
A statement by the Secretary Of Health and Human Services

“It is only fitting that the theme for this year’s National Nurses Week is “Nurses: Leading the Way.” After all, nurses lead the way in showing an elderly patient how to manage his or her diabetes. They lead the way in making sure their patients – children and adults – get the vaccinations they need. They lead the way in helping our young moms learn how to care for their infants. And they lead the way in conducting research to promote high-quality life for those with chronic illnesses, and to help all of us stay healthy across the lifespan.

And nurses, our trusted advisers on health issues, led the way in reaching out to their patients, neighbors, and families to make sure they enrolled in health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Nurses, who are on the front lines of health care, know firsthand how important coverage can be to their patients: to their health, their peace of mind, and their financial security.

We’re continuing to rely on nurses to help educate patients, some of whom had never had health insurance before, on how to use their newly acquired coverage to get the vital preventive and primary care they need. Nurses are also helping patients use new health information technology tools to manage their own care and ultimately improve their health.

That is why this Administration invests in workforce development, education, and training for nurses.

As a result of funding through the Affordable Care Act and other investments, the Administration has greatly expanded the National Health Service Corps and the NURSE Corps, two initiatives that provide educational loan repayment and scholarships in return for practice in the nation’s medically under-served communities. More than 3,680 National Health Service Corps and NURSE Corps nurses – including 1,889 nurse practitioners and 1,475 registered nurses – are providing care across the country to those who need it most.

In addition, during the 2012-2013 academic year, the Administration funded the training of 10,600 nursing students through advanced nursing education initiatives. These are just a few of the initiatives that support the education and training of nurses.

National Nurses Week culminates on May 12, the anniversary of the birthday of perhaps the most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale, the original nurse leader.  Please join me this week and all the weeks that follow in recognizing nurses across the country for following in Florence’s footsteps and thanking them for the critical work they do in bringing better care and better health to all Americans.”

Earth Day Celebration

LET THE SUN SHINE THROUGH!!

Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.  This was later sanctioned in a Proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations.

A month later, a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970.  Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in recognition of his work.

Earth Day is Worldwide

 

While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. 

Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, with an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.

We Mean Green

The First U. S. Earth Day in April 1970

It may be hard to imagine that before 1970, a factory could spew black clouds of toxic into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and that was perfectly legal. They could not be taken to court to stop it.

How was that possible? Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment.

In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, and it worked!

In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Download a pdf 12-page coloring book for children so they can appreciate Earth Day and how to help keep our neighborhoods clean.

 

Credits:  epa dot gov; wikipedia; bing dot com