Memorial Day -- originally Decoration Day

I love learning about American History. I really enjoy the little things about some of our traditions and where some of our holidays came from. I've been doing some reading on the origin of Memorial Day, and I found out it was originally called Decoration Day.  It was originally May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May" as it is now. It was a day set aside to remember those who have died while in the service to our Nation.

There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, and from what I've read so far there are over two dozen cities and towns that claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South during the Civil War between 1861 and 1865 were decorating the graves of their fallen.

But all in all, I don't think it's important where it started because I feel it's more important that we understand why it was started. It is more than likely that it started in many different places when our Nation was torn apart by Civil War.

It may began as someone simply deciding that the graves of their town's dead needed recognition and remembrance. It may have been planned or maybe it was just a spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's.

We should remember that many of the early Cowboys were men coming West to get away from the destruction that was left after the Civil War.  Observences of special dates was a way of keeping a connection for the home they left behind.

I'm thinking that it started with our basic need to honor our dead. It may have been more than once a year. It may have been started with a single flag and flower on a single grave. It was a day that took on a life of its own and culminated in an official proclamation in 1868.

It is not important what town was the very first, but instead what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation. It is not about pride in some cause. It is about us, all of America, coming together to honor those who gave all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed a day of remembrance on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. In his General Order No. 11, it was a day first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. And yes, the tradition spread West as well. With the Cowboys and the Pioneers coming West came the traditions and values that are the glue that holds a Nation together. It is a part of our identity.

Some folks might find it odd to think that Americans in Cow towns, in Rail heads, at Ports, in Gold Camps, and across the West would take the time to observe Memorial Day. Most don't think of the Old West as having celebrations and such. But in fact, even when California was just an isolated State in the West.

Folks out in what was called the "Far West" were celebrating the 4th of July, Christmas, and yes Memorial Day.

Yes, the Cowboy who worked all day in the hot sun, the Miner who prayed as he dug for gold and silver, the Teamster who hauled everything that everyone needed with his team of mules or oxen, as well as all others in the West took the time to stop on Memorial Day in observance of those who have fought and died defending nation during the Civil War.

In the West, where the Civil War did not play out so dramatically as it did in the East, Memorial Day was a day to also recognize those who fought to help them settle the land, keep their homes, and keep them free.

Some folks don't realize that in the West, there were churches actually everywhere. Some were Missions dotted throughout California left over from the Spanish. Some were Chapels built in new towns. Some took the shape of tents in Mining Camps, while others were make-shift alters made out of stacked rocks.

Like in many parts of the Country, out in the Old West, Memorial Day was a time of prayer and worship. It was a time to thank and remember.

By 1890, Memorial Day was recognized by all of the States except for those in the South. The South refused to acknowledge the day, and instead decided to honor their dead on separate days. That separation lasted until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring all American Servicemen and women who have died while serving our Country.

It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May, which was passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal workers. And of course, knowing how "Southern Pride" runs deep, many Southern States have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate Civil War dead still to this day.

Unlike in the Old West, today we have a problem!

Traditional observances of Memorial Day has greatly diminished over the last 30 years. Believe it or not, many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. Some even confuse Memorial Day, which is set aside as a day of remembrance of those who have died, with Veterans Day which is a day set aside so that we can thank veterans for their service to our nation.

As shameful as it is, at many cemeteries with graves of the fallen servicemen and women, more and more of those fallen are being ignored and neglected. Some believe that most Americans no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for Memorial Day of lowering our flag to Half Mast.

While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many are not and haven't in years. And unfortunately, some Americans actually think that Memorial Day is for honoring any and all who've died and not just those fallen in service to our country. It's not. It is specific to those who have served our nation in uniform.

My friends, we need to educate and remind our children that Memorial Day is not just another day off. It's not just another 3 day holiday.  We need to return to the days when all Americans set aside one day out of the year to remember and honor those who have died.

American troops have liberated more cities and have sent more evil back to Hell than any other nation in the world. We have forced dictators and despots to flee and in some case commit suicide. We have given freedom to more than can be counted. And in contrast to every other such powerful nation in the history of man, we have not planted our flag and declared ourselves conquerors. Instead, we have only sought friendship and peace in return. In every case where diplomacy has failed, the American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine has been there to right wrongs and bring about victory.

Yes, indeed. They have given so much to us, and one day of remembrance is not much to ask in return. 

Tom Correa

We Need To Remember - Memorial Day

My Dear Friends,

Tomorrow I will form up a Rifle Squad of 7 American Legion members as an Honor Guard. We will be at the Railroad Flat Cemetery at 10am to practice our salute to the Veterans buried there. We do this because we understand too well that all give some and some give all.

It will be a small gathering, probably like it was last year, maybe only a half dozen or more locals. But even if there was just one who shows up, it is a victory! 

A victory if only one shows up? How is it a victory? Well, if only one person shows up, it shows that someone has not forgotten to honor the sacrifice that was made for them. And friends, to remember is a victory. To forget is a defeat the likes of which America can never recover from.

I believe we possess the blessings of God, the blessings of freedom, by paying a heavy price for it.

We stay vigilant. We stand guard when others sleep. We fight daily in places near and far. We watch our children and pray that they will share in what we have had. And yes, the whole time we do this, we remember those who have paid the ultimate price of giving their lives in defense of our America.

Our lives are richer because we remember those who came before us. We remember those who have died. We remember members of our families who went off the war and never returned. For the families it's sorrow and heartache.

For Veterans, some of us remember friends as if they never passed and are still today cemented in our minds never to have aged. Some are still 18, 19, 20 years old, almost 40 years later. And like the families who lost them, they have kept their youth in our dreams, our thoughts, our hearts.

Yes, we remember those who have passed on. And for me, I still keep in mind that many still suffer daily both physically and emotionally. Yes my friends, some still give daily.

As a young poet once wrote,   

"Wild dogs tease and tear

flesh off the rabbit still in flight.

Not all nights are hunters

Yet sleep makes some the hunted
When dreams are frothing dogs."

To those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who still fight battles long gone and skirmishes unforgotten, I give my heart and my prayers to them just as I do for those who've paid that most ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives for us. 

Memorial Day is a day to remember all who have given so much for us, for America, for you and me, for your family and mine. We should all remember them everyday, and not just one day a year.

May God Bless those who passed, those who still suffer, and their families. And yes, may God Bless America!

Please Remember Me

Respectfully,
Tom Correa

My Older Brother

My older brother has had it rough in many ways, and today he is fighting to stay alive.

The day before yesterday, he had chills and really didn't think much of it.

Then yesterday when he was on the phone with my wife, he was pretty incoherent. So my wife, suspecting something was definitely wrong, immediately called 911 to have him rushed to a local hospital.

That was at 2:30 yesterday afternoon. When I started to write this, it was almost 24 hours since he was admitted and the last word that I got was that he is still in trouble.  

He has been diagnosed with pneumonia, a weakened heart, and something called "sepsis".  I know what pneumonia is, and as for his weakened heart - well he did have a valve replaced a year ago.  But "sepsis" was one that I'd never heard of.

It was explained to me by his Doctor and a Nurse, that sepsis is an infection and an inflammation in his blood. Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state.

After they told me what they suspected, both the down side and the up side as to how they will attack the problem. It was consoling to know that my family has such a wonderful group of people working on his condition.  I felt that he was being attended to by Professionals who wouldn't give up.

The staff there asked me to hold his hand, but I really don't think he knew that I was there. I watched as he fought with the Nurses as they were trying to help him. He was delirious. And yes, I believe he was frightened.

One of the Nurses said that he's as strong as a Bull, and I agreed.

It was strange watching him toss and try to pull his EKG wires and other probes off.  It was strange in the respect that I started remembering certain things. There I was trying with all my heart to give him strength. And yes, I knew how hard headed he has always been.

Most probably remember how we fought with each other when we were kids. But really, it was just a case of two strong willed kids with their own way of looking at things. And really, it was all fairly harmless when you look back at it. What most don't know about, or maybe they've forgotten, are all the good times that we've had. 

It's funny that while standing there with him in the ER, I tried making him look a little better so I reached up and put my hand on his head and pulled back his hair. 

It was funny because at that very moment, I remembered him helping me comb my hair in our bathroom at our old house in Kaimuki when I was a little kid. He was there when I couldn't comb it myself. But then again, I guess that's what older brothers do.

A Doctor walked in and asked me if I was his friend or if I was related to him. After I told him that I'm his brother, the Doctor started asking me all sorts of questions about his medications, the date of his heart surgery, that sort of thing. 

They asked me to leave the room because they were going to do a procedure. Then after returning to the waiting room and talking with my family, I left thinking that he was stable.

After I came home, I had to go to the American Legion for our monthly meeting and yearly election.  While there, I was talking with some friends about my brother's condition.  Then I told them about a story that he and I love to laugh about.

Toward the end of my way through Boot Camp, I was selected for Sea Duty which was a premiere assignment in the Marine Corps in those days. Well, I came out third in my Class in Sea School. And because of my coming in as one of the top 3, I was given my pick of ships to be stationed on.

In those days, most of the Sea Going Marines who finished in the top of their class automatically picked the USS Enterprise. She was still under 20 years old in those days. She was modern in compared to the rest of the Fleet in those days. She was also well known for going to all sorts of Ports of Call that other ships would never go to.

I remember how shocked my First Sergeant was when I picked the caircraft carrier USS Hancock CVA-19.  He told me that that ship was one of the oldest left over from World War II.  He went on to tell me how the ship's crew had cock-roach killing contests, salt water showers, reconstituted milk, and even food rationing.

In fact, I remember my First Sergeant saying, "Marine, she still carries lumber to fix her wooden flight deck! She has a wooden flight deck!"

Then he asked, "Give me one reason, good or bad, as to why you would want to be stationed on such an old scow as the Hancock?"

"My older brother is a Petty Officer stationed on the Hancock!" I replied.

I can still remember the First Sergeant nodding his approval as a small smile swept across his face.

He must have know what I was in for. I was sent to the Hancock. And once there, I found out that everything the First Sergeant said was true. No matter really. You see the one thing that happens when you're stationed aboard ship is that no matter how bad things are, you still find affection for her.

And honestly all in all, it was great that I was on the same ship with my brother. The Hana as she was known was a great ship, and my brother helped me more than anyone ever knew. Since he was already a Petty Officer and had been aboard her for almost 2 years when I showed up, he knew that ship inside and out. And yes, that was a big help!

Over the years he and I have actually grown closer. In fact he calls every few days to shot the bull and catch me up on things like what's going on with his son Steven and his daughter Jessica. And of course, yes, he loves talking about his love of NASCAR and the Oakland Raiders Football Team.

In the last few years, he's had a desire to take up target shooting. One day he was here visiting when he asked me about shooting. He wanted my recommendation as to what kind of pistol to buy.

I remember thinking about it for a moment, then I told him to wait right there while I went inside the house to get a pistol that he might like to shoot.  When I returned to my small shooting range on the side of my house, I loaded the pistol for him and let him have at it.

He loved it. His eyes lit up and he smiled and laughed. He loved how that pistol felt. Then he asked how much would one cost and so on. Since I could see that he really liked it, I gave it to him! 

And lately, well we've both been looking forward to him coming out and shooting again. I figure that most likely next week he'll come out and we'll shoot up the steel plates that I use for targets. He's always fun to shoot with. 

Love is so different in so many different ways. Of course, there is the love between a Mom and her children. That is definitely different than the love a Dad feels for his kids, similar but different. The love for Mom and Dad is always there and only God knows those ties bind tight.

And of course, there is that love a husband feels for his wife. And yes, vice-versa. Compassion and respect and trust are the corner stones of this love. It is an emotional bond that envelopes your heart and seals it forever.

And yes, there is the love that I have for my horses and my dog. It is vastly different from the love that I had for my job before I retired. And like my older brother who has a love for NASCAR and the Oakland Raiders, I've had a love of fishing and shooting and riding the back country.

But than there is the love between brothers and sisters. It is in most cases just accepted as it is. There is never a question that I love my older brother. Just as there's no question that I love my sisters and my other brothers. It just is. And yes, it is forgiving.

My older brother certainly has done some things that has made me shake my head in the past. But in the long run, it just doesn't matter.

I know that some aren't into forgiveness, and honestly I think that that is a shame. Those who can't forgive should realize that there's only so much penance that a person should have to pay for their screw ups.

For me, I'm glad that over the years that we have actually grown closer. And yes, I know he can still be a as pessimistic as the day is long. But honestly, when he's here and relaxed and he allows himself to just let go of his pessimism, it's always great.

We laugh and talk story about where we came from, and yes we even laugh about some of the craziness that comes with a big family. Yes, it's always great.

Earlier I wrote that I left the hospital yesterday thinking that he was stable, well I was wrong. In fact what I didn't know was that the worse was yet to come.

Today when I got to the hospital, I learned that we almost lost him last night. He had stop breathing and the hospital had to put in a ventalator to keep him alive.

And now he's slowly recovering. Slowly, but I'll take anything right now. Today he looks a lot better than he did yesterday. I figure his recovery will be slow but steady. Pneumonia takes a while to heal.

In the next few days, I'll print this out and let him read this. I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it. And honestly, I'm willing to bet that he'll be surprised that I remember him helping me comb my hair when I was a little kid more than 50 years ago.


Story by Tom Correa

A COW HORSE NAMED MURPHY

A Poem by Tom Correa

My bay’s registration's with the American Quarter Horse Association.
He’s got great bloodlines and real nice conformation,
Yet at first, I swore I bought a cold-blooded clown
Who was so darn cinchy he’d simply throw himself down.

Sure he doctor’s easy and he’ll trailer OK, and sure both’s a benefit,
But with his crow hop’n starts, teeth jar’n gait, and the way he throws a fit,
I started to wonder if later I’d have a few regrets.

Now since I was raised around ol’ cowboys, a lot’a kids and cattle,
And over the years moved a few cows for folks,
I wasn’t completely blind to see I needed my son under saddle
And maybe some round pen work with a lunge line and rope.

Of course having things go right is always my hope,
But I know real well some things just won’t.

Allow me to try to elaborate and maybe make a few things straight:
You see Murphy still ain’t trained to head or heel, or sit in a box and wait,
And crossing water and opening gates are still among the things he hates.

Though at times he can go from easy keeper to bronc with no holds barred,
I did hook on to a bay want’n to respond with a great second wind and heart.

He's a horse that saved my life when I saved his.
And I don’t care if others laugh about my treat’n him as if he were my kid.

Some say I shouldn’t spoil my boy Murphy, and yes he can be a knot-head.
But simply put, he has done all that I've asked and to his credit
He simply doesn’t understand the word quit.

You see, he’ll move cows all day through any terrain, and that’s just a start.
He’ll go anywhere, do no matter what, and work real hard.

So folks can think or say what they may,
And yes some find it strange to treat stock my way,
But they’ll probably never understand how a horse like my bay
Can truly sneak into a life and steal your heart away.

In fact it wasn’t that long ago at a local auction, I think it was in late May,
That I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my friend’s ol’ Uncle say,
“You should sell that horse of yours, and buy yourself a good horse today!”

Now I’ve only known the ol’ Timer a short while, and he’s likable of course,
But I figured he’d lost his mind by the way he talked about my horse.

Being respectful, I only replied, “No thanks, Murphy suits me just fine.”
Then days later, my friend and his ol’ Uncle asked me if I had some time
To help them go into the hills and look for a few strays they couldn’t find.

Now we worked all day and only stopped a few minutes to get out of the sun,
I’d say my friend's ol’ Uncle was purely amazed, I’d even say he was stunned,
See’n the way Murphy works for me, and that he just ain’t as bad as some!

And later when our day had ended and it was awful close to sundown,
I tried not to give him too hard a time as I figured the time had come around,
So I just sort’a brought up a fact to his attention and mentioned mostly in fun,
“Yes Sir, Uncle Louie, to sell ‘em would be pretty dumb!”