Life in the Palmetto State: Memorial Day remembered

The silent echoes ring loudly this time of the year in Arlington National Cemetery. The stories of bravery and heroism linger long after the interments of these brave souls are performed.
Yes, the mere existence of Arlington National Cemetery is synonymous with Memorial Day and its sacred remembrance of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our pursuit of freedom and our precious way of life. It will forever be imprinted on our hearts and minds.
I know you are thinking that title is a bit redundant; well, maybe on the surface, but not in the context in which I espouse. My view on this topic is one of sorrow and regret.
It is unfortunate, but I think as we get older and in this day of the high-tech IQ, we gloss over the institutions of valor and respect of old.
It looks to me like the only significant acknowledgement (as a whole) that we give this special day is the “one-day sales” on Madison Avenue and a long weekend marking the beginning of summer. That is so sad, for it’s the sacrifices these men and women made that allows us to enjoy the freedoms that we take for granted.
History, by all accounts, has fallen by the wayside simply because we have become so busy, uninterested and callous that history is just “old hat.”
Let me remind you of this simple fact: “If you don’t learn history, then you are doomed to repeat it.”
I am 64 years old, and these precious historical facts were part of our curriculum in our school days. They are events etched in my heart and soul, especially for those that solidified the privileges I enjoy today.
For those of you unaware of the reasoning behind Memorial Day, here is a short synopsis of what its original name was and why it was instituted.
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May and is a solemn U.S. holiday dedicated to mourning and honoring of all military personnel who died while serving the country.
Originally known as “Decoration Day,” the tradition began in the aftermath of the Civil War as communities decorated fallen soldiers' graves with spring flowers.
While many towns claimed the birthplace of the holiday, one of the earliest recorded observances occurred in our own city of Charleston in May 1865. It was organized by formerly enslaved Black Americans who gathered to honor fallen Union soldiers.
On May 5, 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, a commander of a Union veteran group, officially established Decoration Day. He chose May 30 because spring flowers would have been in full bloom across the nation.
The first major national observance took place in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, where 5,000 participants decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers.
Initially created to honor 620,000+ casualties of the American Civil War, the holiday's purpose expanded after World War I.
It evolved to honor all military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in any of the nation’s conflicts.
It was officially renamed Memorial Day in 1967 by an act of Congress, and the renaming became mandatory.
While many states honored this holiday tradition, it wasn’t until 1971 that Congress enacted the uniform Monday Holiday act officially designating Memorial Day as a federal holiday and moving the observance from a fixed date of May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend.
So as our 158th Memorial Day celebration comes and goes, let’s not forget those brave individuals who fought gallantly and died tragically for our freedoms that we enjoy today.
As those haunting notes of the bugler’s rendition of "Tap" play in the distance in our minds and as the warm tears flow freely down our faces, I would pray that their memories would be forever etched in our hearts and minds for their bravery and sacrifice.
May God bless you!

Lee Reaves Jr. is president of Clarendon County Historical Society.