Memorial Weekend...

I started out my chores early today. Did a lot of client calls and follow up on leads and learning that either the project was put hold or worse we lost on the bid. Tsk tsk tsk...Oh well, gotta keep hanging on...

In my opening conversation a client-friend, I greeted him happy long weekend because of the Memorial Day celebration on Monday. By the way, how do you greet somebody about this holiday? Do you say “Happy Memorial Day”? Halika nga. Himayin natin itong holiday na ito ng mga Kano.

“This holiday originated in 1866 after the long and bloody Civil War between the North and the Southern States of America. Waterloo, NY drugstore owner Henry Welles got an idea when surviving soldiers came home with missing limbs and stories to tell. He suggested that all the shops in town close for one day to honor the soldiers who died in the Civil War and were buried in the local cemetery. On May 5, people brought flowers and wreath and crossed to decorate the graves of the Northern Soldiers. Major General Jonathan Logan on the other hand, planned another ceremony, this time honoring the surviving soldiers. They, too, went to the cemetery to decorate their comrades’ graves with flags thus giving birth to what they call “Decoration Day”. It was declared then by General Logan that the 30th of May 1868 be designated for the purpose decorating the graves of the fallen soldiers in defense of their country and whose bodies now lie in almost every city.”

“The two ceremonies were joined in the same year and the northern states commemorated it on the 30th of May. In 1882, “Decoration Day” was changed to “Memorial Day” and soldiers who died in the previous wars where honored as well. At first, it was designated a public holiday only in the northern United States. President Nixon, in 1971, declared the last Monday of May, as Memorial Day which is now a federal holiday and celebrated by the whole nation.”
-rephrased from Beverly Hernandez, About.com, “Celebrate Memorial Day” article



We Pinoys have a similar holiday in the Philippines. It is called “Araw ng Kagitingan” which falls on April 9. We too celebrate the bravery of Pinoy, Chinoy and American soldiers who endured while a lot died during the 90-mile walk called Bataan Death March. I remember this very well because of the war stories my father told us. My father, the late Ramon Bergonia, was a member of USAFFE during WWII and was with that death march. He was able to escape when, one of their rest stop, something grab the attention of the Japanese guards. With the Jap Soldiers distracted, my father escaped by jumping into a ravine, running and rolling with bullets whizzing left and right. An old couple found him later in the bottom of the ravine and nursed him back to health. He was suffering from malaria during the march.

We all celebrate the Memorial Day one way or another. We probably have love one/s that died in the service or are presently in the service. Or just love ones who passed away already. Let’s keep praying for safety for those who still alive and relive the wonderful memories left behind by those who have passed on.

Have a wonderful weekend. I will be back on Tuesday with another dish for you to try. Godspeed!