Carter’s Garden Blog

A day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May. By act of congress Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. Many still call the day ‘Decoration Day’… Today we honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. “All gave some. Some gave all”.

Decoration Day

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentry’s shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannon’s sudden roar,
Or the drum’s redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow