Memorial Day (2012) will take place on Monday, May 28th. We normally celebrate the holiday here in America with parades, backyard BBQ’s, and consider the holiday a way to kickoff our summer each year! However, we remember there is much more to the holiday that we can never forget. The meaning is the most important of all.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Officially proclaimed on May 51868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Memorial Day was first observed May 30, 1868 as flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873.
Here are some of the best Memorial Day quotes and sayings that I have for you to share with loved ones and honor those who have gone before us. . .
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They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation. -Henry Ward Beecher |
Who kept the faith and fought the fight; The glory theirs, the duty ours. – Wallace Bruce |
| A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. – Joseph Campbell | The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree. – Thomas Campbell |
| For love of country they accepted death… – James A. Garfield | Is their monument to-day, and for aye. – Thomas Dunn English |
| Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody. – Ralph Waldo Emerson |
But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children. – William Havard |
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For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. – William Penn |
We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. -Francis A. Walker |
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On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation! – Thomas William Parsons |
The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men. -Minot J. Savage |
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The dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem. – Aaron Kilbourn |
The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example. – Benjamin Disraeli |
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Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. – Billy Graham |
Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back. – Publilius Syrus |
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True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. – Arthur Ashe |
Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it till the test comes. And those having it in one test never know for sure if they will have it when the next test comes. – Napoleon Bonaparte |
And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
- Lee Greenwood
About Nicole
Nicole is a stay-at-home mom living on the outskirts of Manhattan with her husband and their 3-year-old son. She is also expecting a second child in January 2013.
My favorite of those:
A prayer for the day we don’t have new names to mourn.
USAF vet 1973-1981
I really like all of these quotes. The on that really stood out to be as a parent is “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. – Billy Graham” I am always telling my kids to stand up to bullys. This quote really hit home for me.
You always manage to find interesting things about any holiday. Thanks for the great quotes. We all should remember our veterans
Thanks for the quotes. There are some great ones. I also like this one –
“Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.”
Otto von Bismarck
Thank you for posting this. I really like that JFK quote. They are all great though. I need to type up a few Memorial Day posts as well. I am glad I stopped by, it is great reminder to remember those who died to help us be free. God bless America!