To all of our Veteran's, and also my dad. You were so brave and devoted, I hold you high I respect you, I honor you, as high as the sky Please feel my love for everyone of you, and you will live in my heart always so true. with all my love, Angel Bonnie Raphael I. Luedee Served in the Marines for 20 years After he Retired he was a Drill Instructor for the Young Marines. He died 10 years ago in May. He fought in the World War 1, where he lost an eye from an enemy who stuck a bayonette in him. He was allowed to stay in the Marines as a Drill Instructor. He was a proud Veteran. He never met his twin granddaughters, but his memory lives on in them. The first Decoration Day was 30 May 1868, three years after the end of the American Civil War.  Gen. John A. Logan, U.S. Army, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, initiated the day of remembrance.  He ordered that all Army posts decorate the graves of fallen Civil War comrades with flowers and a "suitable ceremony," and that flags be flown at half mast until noon.     Decoration Day later got a new name, Memorial Day.  On this day the nation now honors those killed-in-action from all branches of the armed forces.  This day of honor has been further expanded to include all wars and conflicts in which American servicemen have made the Supreme Sacrifice for their country.  And, in a solemn ceremony, a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (more about that later).       Since the late 1950s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the U.S. Army has placed small American flags at each of the quarter-million-plus graves in Arlington National Cemetery.  The Army also stands guard in the cemetery through Memorial Day to ensure that the flags remain in place.       In 1968 (the height of the hippie and flower power generation), Congress changed the observance date from 30 May to the last Monday in May.  However, in 1999 bills were introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, proposing restoration of 30 May as the day of observance.       According to tradition, Memorial Day is observed by placing flowers or small flags on the graves of American servicemen who have fallen in battle.  Americans are encouraged to visit military memorials and to fly flags at half mast until noon.  They also are asked to fly the relatively new "POW/MIA" flag, per the 1998 Defense Authorization Act.  Further, all Americans are asked to participate in a "Moment of Remembrance" at 3:00 pm and pledge to aid the families of the honored dead.       In some of the southern states, in addition to the national Memorial Day, citizens also observe Confederate Memorial Day.  On this day they honor the Confederate soldiers, sailors, and Marines who died in battle during the Civil War, 1861-1865.  Since this is a state holiday, each state may select its day of observance.  Confederate Memorial Day is observed in Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi on April 26; in South Carolina and North Carolina on May 10; in Alabama on the last Monday in April; in Virginia on May 30; in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana on June 3 (the birthday of Jefferson Davis); and in Texas on January 19 (the birthday of Gen. Robert E. Lee).    Army Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom Remembering the soldiers who died in the service of their country. Harold Sommers, New York 1918-1984 Army WW II Michael Crdeiro Mass.  1924-1986  Army WW II   Narcizo Cordeiro 1918-2002 Army WWII   Duward Davis http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/troopsadopt.php To join The Presidential Prayer Team click here. To learn more about Adopt Our Troops click here. This page was put together with love by Angel Angelic for the Veterans Administration on behalf of Event cloud for Heaven's Angels