A day of remembrance for the nation’s heroes
The first Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was initially called, was started by a group of Union veterans a few years after the end of the Civil War. It is believed that the date of May 30 was chosen because the flowers would be in bloom and available to decorate the graves of the fallen. The name may have been changed in 1966 to Memorial Day, but the sentiment was not.
Since its conception as a nation, the United States has been in over 100 wars, police actions or conflicts, from the 1798 Quasi-War to today’s War on Terror. Of these, 36 have been major conflicts resulting in over 1 million combat deaths and untold numbers of other war-related deaths.
Although we do not know all of them by name, each left their city, their town, their farm or other rural homestead as well as their families to march into the unknown where they gave their lives for our freedom. Unknown as they may be to us individually, they are a collective body of heroes that deserve a special day filled with blooming flowers, honor and remembrance.
I also urge you to commemorate all of our men and women who have answered the call to arms, those who never came home as well as those who left parts of their lives scattered over the blood-stained grounds of Europe, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan.
Never forget that some may yet make that ultimate sacrifice; don’t wait until that day to remember them.
Our flag … So many are willing to salute it; so few are willing to carry it!
— Chuck Hughes
Salisbury
Step forward for schools
Recently the Rowan-Salisbury school board approved sexually oriented clubs to operate in the county’s schools.
I commend Dr. Lynn Moody and the school board for taking a stand for our students in this landmark step forward. The opportunity for these young people to come together in a safe, non-judgmental environment far exceeds our wildest dreams.
If only the Salisbury City Council would take advantage of this decision and proceed forward also regarding gay rights, oh what wonderful place this would be.
— Mark Williams
Salisbury