Richard C. Michel, Captain U.S. Navy, Retired, Explains the Importance of Memorial Day

Richard C. Michel, Captain U.S. Navy, Retired, EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY

By Pam Malone

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868. It was declared by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, to honor the soldiers who perished in the Civil War. They were honored with flags and flowers on their gravestones. By 1890 it was observed by the entire Union and in 1971, it was standardized as Memorial Day and observed on the last Monday in May.

In 1915, the Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D., Royal Canadian Army, wrote the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” as a eulogy for his fallen comrade, Lieutenant Alexis Hannum Helmer of the Royal Canadian Army.

“In Flanders Fields”

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below
We are the dead; Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
loved and were loved and now we lie in Flanders fields
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from ailing hands we throw
The torch be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields.”

This beautiful poem is recited every year in Canada on Memorial Day. Yet, after writing it, McCrae crumpled it up and threw it out the army ambulance window. Luckily, his buddies ran out and retrieved it, so it could be read at Helmer’s funeral, and was later published in Punch Magazine in 1915.

It is poignant that McCrae died in his field hospital in 1918, and his eulogy for Helmer, became a eulogy for McCrae himself, It was published in Ladies Home Journal.

The poem made an impact on American Professor Moina Michael as well as French Professor Anna Guerin. They got together and went around the world selling the Red Remembrance Poppies they made from silk and paper. They raised funds for War Bonds and War Widows and Orphans, who did not receive pensions.

The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor the dead of all wars since the Revolutionary War. There have been millions who have perished in service to our country while in uniform. Despite our commonly associating Memorial Day with the beginning of Summer, it is a sacred and holy day of Remembrance.

Dick Michel says, “After thirty years of military service, and as a Senior Officer, Retired from the United States Navy, I sincerely hope and pray that you will carefully consider the information in this article. It is my honor to have served and to be able to provide an explanation for this most important, Blessed Holy-Day. God Bless America!”