Three years after the Civil War ended, on 5 May 1868, the head of an organization of Union Veterans – The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) – established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of those who have died in our nation’s service with flowers.

 

Maj. Gen. John Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30 because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. Gen.

Logan’s order #11 ordered his posts to decorate graves “with the choicest flowers of springtime and raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor” he urged: “We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance… Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.” It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves and Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1915 the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war by a poem by Moina

Michael:

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. In 1924, a poppy factory was built in Pittsburgh, PA, providing a reliable source of poppies and a practical means of assistance to veterans. Today, veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies, which are distributed by veterans service organizations throughout the country. Donations received have helped countless veterans, their widows, widowers and orphans over the years. The poppy itself continues to serve as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their lives for the nation’s freedom.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years.

Many Americans have forgotten the meaning and tradition of Memorial Day.

At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected and most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette of the day.

The Warrior’s Watch Riders did what we do best and honored our motto ‘WE HAVE YOUR BACKS AT HOME” on this Memorial Day 2009 by accepting an invitation from the Washington Crossing Historic Park to be a part of keeping the Traditional Observance of the day going. It was a BEAUTIFUL day from the crack of dawn and as usual our WWR members showed up ready to make this mission one to remember. Some met for breakfast where we picked up a new member “Sponge Bob” and as usual we ate, we laughed, we enjoyed family. We saddled up and met up with several more members at the Park and Ride to bring our total to about 25 bikes, 2 cages and about 35 members. We picked up another new member “Our Gal Sal” who was looking beautiful in her new hat. I went ahead to the mission site of the “Soldiers’ Grave” to get instruction on where we were to park, while Huggy took over as RC to lead the group 8 miles to our destination. We parked just yards from the “Soldiers’ Graves which consisted of 23 headstones representing 40-60 unknown bodies that were actually interred at the Thompson-Neely House during the winter encampment of 1776, which was a temporary military hospital for Washington’s Army. We provided the flag line for the procession of Washington’s Army and guests to enter the gravesite area welcome by George Washington for the Remembrance Ceremony to begin which was consisted of The Pledge of Allegiance, Raising of the Flag to half-staff, Presentation of Wreaths, Setting Flags in Honor of several individual Revolutionary War soldiers and the wars spanning from WWII to the Iraqi War with the last to honor Unknown Soldiers Everywhere. We were honored to have Wayne Lutz present the flag for the Afghanistan War and Jim Mowery for the Iraqi War. The ceremony concluded with a final Salute to all and the playing of TAPS followed by a prayer for all that have fallen and are in harm’s way.

The WWR did our part in trying to preserve and honor this tradition.

Also by having our youngest member with us on this GREAT day, our very own Dannyboy “Youngblood” we will continue to pass this tradition down to our future. I presented Danny with his very own dog tags for the soldier he has been with us on so very many missions engraved with his name and WWR Rider.

Immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony we had the unfortunate mishap of a member from one of the other supporting groups collapsing from the heat. Several WWR members carried this person into the shaded tent area to give water and shade while awaiting the ambulance for further care. Fortunately that person is doing fine.

Even though the ceremony was concluded and our flag line no longer needed the day was not over for our WWR members. It was decided to continue our ride to the Garden of Reflection which was nearby to also honor those lost during 9-11. The Garden of Reflection 9-11 Memorial was created to remember and honor our loved ones and all 2,973 killed on

11 September 2001. It is situated in Memorial Park amid the natural beauty of Historical Bucks County farmland in Lower Makefield Township.

The Memorial invites us on a walking Memorial Journey symbolizing “After Darkness….Light” leading sorrowful reminders of tragedy and grief

towards luminous symbols of Hope, Peace and Celebration of Life. We toured this MAGNIFICENT Memorial with the honor of Ellen Sarancini as our tour guide. Ellen did a wonderful job explaining the intense thought behind the development of the meaningful Memorial.

 

AGAIN, our journey continued beyond this tour now onto lunch with the remaining 7 bikes and 1 cage of diehards who did not want this OUSTANDING day to end. But ALL GREAT THINGS MUST COME TO AND END AT SOME TIME ONLY TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEXT WWR MISSION AHEAD OF US.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT JOINED ME IN SUPPORT OF THIS SOLEMN DAY.

WE SUCCEEDED IN HELPING TO RESTORE THE TRADITIONAL DAY OF OBSERVANCE FOR MEMORIAL DAY BY PAYING WITH SINCERE CONVICTION OUR RESPECTS FOR THOSE WHO DIED PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY, FOR WE OWE THOSE HONORED DEAD MORE THAN WE CAN EVER REPAY !!!!!!

RC: Kim SGMMOM Huggins

 

Photos by Kat

Photos by Shooter