In spite of the threat of rain, the annual Memorial Day Ceremony took place Monday, May 26 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Franklin.
Memorial Day is a United States holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Taking part in the ceremony were the American Legion Post and Auxiliary 108, Veterans of Foreign Wars post and Auxiliary 7339, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 994 and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Guest speaker was LTC John A. VanHook, a Franklin native and a managing partner in the Law Firm of Sloan and VanHook in Franklin.
History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day began in Europe as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I. The United States began marking Decoration Day in May shortly after the Civil War, decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. After World War I, Decoration Day gradually became Memorial Day in the United States to honor all those who sacrificed everything for our freedoms.
Inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field,” in 1915 Moina Michael came up with the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day to honor those who died in World War I. She sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to soldiers in need. Today, the American Legion continues to sell red poppies to benefit veterans associations and fund many charities and veterans causes.
Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday 1971. As a show of respect, flags are to be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day then raised to full-staff.