DCVA Memorial Day Services: May 25 & 30, 2015

When/Where: Monday, May 25, 2015 @ 11:00 am. Memorial Day Service being held at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE 19701.

When/Where: Saturday, May 30, 2015 @ 10:30 am. Memorial Day Service will be conducted at the War Memorial Plaza, Delaware Memorial Bridge, New Castle, DE 19721.

The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs will be honoring all the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. Military. We would like to extend this invitation to our fellow Delawareans and our neighboring states in paying tribute to all our deceased veterans on this most solemn day. The service held on May 25th will be hosted by the Military Officers Association of America-MOAA. The next service held on May 30th will be hosted by American Veterans- AMVETS.

Did you know that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day? It originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries, memorials and participating in parades.

Also, look out for all the Buddy Poppy distributions during this holiday. “To honor the dead by helping the living,” as stated by VFW’s Buddy Poppy Program. On that note, we would like to share this following poem by John McCrae, In Flander’s Field: 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 failing 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.