Happy 4th of July to everyone.  Here in NE  Ohio we have the most gorgeous weather today.  Clear blue skies, perfect temperatures.  Just right for parades, picnics, fireworks or whatever your family does to celebrate our independence.  We attended our city's annual parade complete with high school marching bands, politicians, antique cars and tractors, civic groups and most of the town firetrucks.  As I watched all the people line the street, the children dressed in red, white and blue and grabbing candy as it flew towards the spectators; how many of them on this day take a few minutes to think about what the day means.  Is it important to them ?  Do they understand the struggle, the sacrifices made in the past 238 years and are they aware and grateful for the life they have because of it ?  I certainly hope so.

the history of Memorial Day

The custom of setting aside a day to honor those who have fallen defending our country had it's beginnings in the late 1860's.  It is likely that in towns in both North and South, memorials and gatherings were planned to honor those lost in the great Civil War.  It would grow out of a need to remember those lost, to honor those who gave the final measure of devotion.  All of these contributed to a growing movement which came together in an official proclamation in 1868.  Colonel John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic declared an official Memorial Day on May 5, 1868 and the first observance of this holiday was on May 30, 1868.  The south refused to honor the day until the end of World War I, when it became a day to honor all those who died not just the Civil War  By 1890 it was recognized in all the northern states and became an official national holiday in 1971.
The observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years.  Many Americans fail to see it as a day of observance and no longer adhere to the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.  It is an excuse for a day off of work, a trip to the amusement park or picnic and barbecue.  Many towns no longer hold parades or services for the fallen.  We need to get back to the original meaning of Memorial Day and while we are boating or camping or barbecuing, take a moment and remember and honor those who died for our freedom.
I

Just finished this great Civil War fiction.  Tells the story of real life spy Elizabeth Van Lew.  A 43 yr old woman who lived with her widowed mother and was a member of the Richmond elite, Elizabeth was a staunch supporter of the Union and worked to see that union prisoners were given food and medicine beginning with the battle of Manassas in 1861 with men being thrown in the what is now known as libby prison.   While doing this she had the bravery and the opportunity to get information out and back to the forces in the north all the while keeping up the appearance of a loyal confederate.  She was considered the most effective Union spy.
The book was very well written and I enjoyed it very much

family history gem

I have become the repository of family history, a fact that pleases and humbles me.  I am honored that my husband's family sees me as a historian and have entrusted me with several wonderful links to the past.  We have been given articles that belonged to my husband's father after he passed, including birth and wedding certificates, honorable discharge papers from the US Air Force and wonderful old pictures.  I do love old pictures.  Two gems I was given were these... a German service medal that was originally given to my husband's grandmother, Martha Berger, for her work in a German factory during WWI.  This was accompanied by a letter, written in German, where she requested a replacement for a lost medal.  I found this fascinating.  The company still exits and it opens a small window into the life of Martha, whom I never met.
But me favorite gift was a hand written letter dated 1863.  I was soo excited to hold this precious letter.  This young man was writing while with Grant's forces at the battle of Vicksburg.  He wrote of camp life and his health, the gunboats on the river and the upcoming battle.  Such a wonderful primary source and a glimpse into the life of an infantryman.
So I thank those who entrust our family history to me.  It thrills me to dig into the past and uncover gems like these.