[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.]

Memorial Day. What is it besides the last Monday of May?

Ah, yes it has the sweet memory of the first day of summer adventures. The aroma of rib-eye burgers and all-beef smoked sausage with Louisiana spices roasting over a hardwood barbecue is enough to stir the palate. Throw alongside Lesser Evil cassava curl chips with jalapeno crazy feta and hummus to have an international fete suitable for an Oklahoma lake or a farm pond picnic. Follow-up with traditional watermelon in the afternoon, and you are blessed indeed.

Our family does an annual campout around the big pond on the ranch. This year, we have created a new, serene place of respite around an ancient pond that has been cleaned out, enlarged, and the forest pushed back to yield a pristine landscape designed for easy access to the fly fishermen looking for lurking lunkers under the lily pads.

Alas, this year campout is not to be, except in the big, beautiful guest room overlooking the Arkansas River to the east, with views of the downtown skyline far to the north, and the ridge-line of Conjada Mountain across the valley of Mountain Creek. I have heard little complaint by those over 25. Seems the older of the crowd prefer a regular bed, air-conditioning, and indoor plumbing with bugs left outside.

Travis’ team has very accurately forecast massive amounts of turbulent Spring weather. Last night, winds were to 73 mph tearing off the young extensions to tree limbs and pushing over a 14-inch cottonwood that was well over 30-feet tall. Up to 5-inches of rain are scheduled through Monday.

Is the contemporary interpretation the only reason for Memorial Day? Nay, nay. Harken to the War between the States. On 5 May 1868, General John Logan with General Order No. 11 outlined, “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.” The general called it Decoration Day.

On the first commemoration, General and future President James Garfield made his speech before 5500 living who decorated 20,000 graves of Confederate and Union soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery on the former home and plantation of General Robert E. Lee.

After World War I, the day became in remembrance of soldiers who had fallen in all wars.

In response to the 1915 poem, “In Flanders Field,” Moina Michael penned a new poem with the words, “We cherish too, the Poppy red; That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies; That blood of heroes never dies.”

By this, she started the practice of wearing a red poppy on Memorial day to honor those who died in war. She sold poppies to raise money to help former servicemen in financial straits. Before Memorial Day 1922, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) began selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

Growing up in a small town, I recall the widespread practice of red poppies being sold on Main Street by VFW men wearing a military looking garrison cap. The garrison cap could conveniently be folded flat and tucked under the belt when inside. Interestingly, it is one of the few military apparel items not adapted commonly into civilian use. In the co-author’s grade school, those that brought a donation, received a poppy to wear.

Although the poppy is still sold and promoted, the nostalgia of main street has long past. Subtle remembrance takes other forms. The local Evergreen amateur radio group, www.EvergreenCG.org, has a field of  red poppies on its masthead. Always remember.

To create more three-day weekends, in 1971Congress passed the National Holiday Act making Memorial Day on the last Monday of May. That leads back to the beginning of summer holiday capped by Labor Day on the other end.

Memorial Day does not carry the somberness of earlier years. How many people do you recall personally who have died in war? Fortunately, at least for our country, we have not participated in an up-close and personal war that has resulted in large numbers of battlefield fatalities, in a long time.

There is a shift in attitudes about the military this year, under a new patriotic President and warrior Secretary of Defense. Warriors are respected again with young adults eagerly desiring to join a warrior military. The prior administrations’ folly of social experimentation drove away youngsters of integrity, loyalty, and honor. Now the attitude is to be the best military we can be to protect the country, so that we do not have to go to war.

Think about it. There are those who have and those who are willing to give their all for the protection of a society, culture, and way of life. Remember them and hold them high in esteem.