VETERANS CORNER
Submitted By: Jeffery Mead
Susquehanna County Director of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Service Officer
Memorial Day is Monday, May 30th this year. Memorial Day commemorates and memorializes the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day following the Civil War. The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs recognizes that approximately 25 places claim to have originated the holiday. Decoration Day only recognized fallen soldiers of the Civil War until World War I. The name "Memorial Day", which was first attested in 1882, gradually became more common than "Decoration Day" after World War II, but was not declared the official name by federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. This law took effect at the federal level in 1971.
On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. In December 2000, Congress passed a law requiring Americans to pause at 3:00 pm local time on Memorial Day to remember and honor the fallen. (Wikipedia)
This year Susquehanna County Veterans Affairs plans to distribute approximately 9,500 flags to local Veterans organizations and cemeteries to be placed in honor, at every Susquehanna County Veteran’s grave. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Many elected county officials will be participating in the numerous Memorial Day Observances honoring our fallen brave throughout the county. On Sunday, May 29th there is a parade in Thompson. All other parades are on Monday, May 30th. Montrose parade starts at Pump and Pantry at 10:00 am, ending at Memorial Green where there will be a memorial service, Veteran-Captain Michael Koscelnak PA Army National Guard (Retired) speaking. The other Memorial Day parades are at: Hallstead American Legion at 9:00 am; New Milford mid-town at 10:00 am; Susquehanna 11:00 am; and Forest City Franceski Lumber Yard at 11:00 am.
On this solemn holiday, we express our gratitude for the brave who have died protecting this great nation. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived” -General George S. Patton.