I opened the front door and this boy was on our welcome mat. I ran inside to grab my phone, and we stared at each other in our courtyard. It’s thrilling to see bobcats.
As we’re enjoying a relaxing three-day weekend with friends and family, I wanted to find out how Memorial Day began. This is from the History.com website:
History of Memorial Day
The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries.
By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.
It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. And some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day.
Waterloo—which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.
Did you know? Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history
Thank you to all who have served, are serving and especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Here are a few views from my week:
Our friends held a 60th birthday pool party for a sister. This is the stunning view from their backyard. Good food, friends and perfect weather! Most of the people at the party were Vets.
How are you celebrating Memorial Day?
What family members do you have who served our country?
I couldn’t watch the videos you posted but the bobcat is awesome. We don’t celebrate Memorial Day
I’m sorry you couldn’t see the video. I wonder if other people can see them?
Most probably they can. We have some government interference in the video we can watch. ☹️
That’s amazing to me.
They want us to be kept in dark regarding many of their activities and the protests from opposition.
Interesting. I’m sure that happens in other places around the world too.
Especially in underdeveloped, third world countries.
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I think we belong to that generation that either knows or has many people close to us who have served, maybe even multiple times.
Yes, I agree. I think it was more common to serve than it is today. I know in my parents generation, most men served.
I think much more in the past there was a sense of duty to serve whereas that might be true for some families who carry on a tradition of service but many join the military now for things like the education benefits.
I believe you’re right. I was speaking to a woman at the pool party whose two kids are in the military. She said that in every generation of her family, people had served.
All the animals are out this time of year. I love the videos! My cousin is in the special forces, but other than that it’s just those from my grandparents’ generation who participated in WWII.
In my family, my dad and uncle served. My dad was in the Korean War and my uncle in Vietnam. After that, nobody has served. I’m glad you enjoyed the videos. We have seen so much wildlife the past few weeks.
Loved this history. Thank you, Elizabeth.
And your wildlife is so amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I didn’t know that Memorial Day began because of the Civil War, but it makes sense. I’m loving the wildlife. We are wondering if we’re seeing so much wildlife because of the fire so close. Maybe they wandered into our neighborhood to get out of the fire.
A quiet evening. I did enjoy breakfast at Ikea with an old friend from Grad school but Mike and I will have a quiet evening at home. We are good with that. I wonder what that bobcat is eating….
In the video he was yawning. I see bobcats eat bunnies and birds in out backyard. I think this guy attracted to traps with bait in them for pack rats that are near our front door. They are black boxes that vermin can enter but not get out.
That pool is something else! Beautiful in ways I don’t see around here. My father and my father-in-law both were in the Army, survived unscathed, and lived to old age. Both are long gone now so Memorial Day doesn’t seem as personal as it once did.
Our friends do have a beautiful pool. It’s fun to hang out there. Thanks to your father and father-in-law for their service!
Lovely videos and photos. Thanks for posting them!
I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Memorial Day is for the dead soldiers and thankfully, none of the vets in my family have ever died in service. My late dad (Marine), one grandfather (Army), late husband (Coast Guard), nephews (Marine and Navy) and current boyfriend (Air Force) served although none of them in war. My mom’s birthday is traditional Memorial Day, May 30th. She enjoys telling everyone the history of Memorial/Decoration Day! 🙂
That’s so awesome. Thank you for the service of your family.
We went to brunch and my daughter and I saw a movie. It was quiet
A lovely tribute to Memorial Day, Elizabeth. I’m behind on reading blogs, so sorry for the delay now that June has arrived. 🙂 The bobcat is awesome, and I’ve never seen one ‘in person’ before. Stunning pool too! And yes to showing gratitude for all those who have served and are currently serving. Have a great week ahead!
Thank you for your kind words 😊
You’re welcome! 🙂
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