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Memorial Day: Memorial Day Parade
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(HOST) This Memorial Day commentator Peter Gilbert will be in his family's hometown of Dorset. Each year, there's a brief ceremony in the church before the parade to the cemetery, where the honor guard's three-volley salute and the playing of taps - literally brings home the meaning of the day.
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The first documented observance of Memorial Day occurred in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866. The purpose of the day was to honor those who fought in the Civil War. The day has now expanded to honor those who died during each of the wars in which the United States fought. Typical activities include placing flowers on the graves of soldiers and many communities have parades as tributes to the soldiers who died.
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Memorial Day is marked by parades, speeches, and the decoration of graves. Traditionally, the president or vice president places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, and small flags are placed on all the graves. Ceremonies ... are held at Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and at Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Many people choose to visit family graves on Memorial Day.
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In 1971, along with other holidays, President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday on the last Monday in May. Cities all around the United States hold their own ceremonies on the last Monday in May to pay respect to the men and women who have died in wars or in the service of their country. In many communities, special ceremonies are held in cemeteries or at monuments for the war dead by veterans of military services. Some hold parades and others hold memorial services or special programs in churches, schools or other public meeting places. Memorial Day is not limited to honor only those Americans from the armed forces. It is ... a day for personal remembrance.
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According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.
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Parades are practically mandatory on Memorial Day. Or, they should be. Show your appreciation for local veterans, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, police and fire departments by cheering them on and clapping along to the marching band.
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Memorial Day Parade