We hope you are enjoying this Memorial Day and have had a wonderful holiday weekend. This weekend is the unofficial start to the summer season for us here at Sandbridge Blue, and if the beach population is any indication - it will be a great summer!
Memorial Day History
Did you know that Memorial Day has a bit of controversy about it? Depending on whether you are from the North or from the South there is a difference of opinion on the day's origin. There is agreement now that the day is a federal holiday (that became official in 1971), and that the day is also known as decoration day
If you are from the south you may believe that the holiday was started in 1866 when some ladies from Columbus, Georgia laid flowers on the graves of Confederate soldiers.
In the north the holiday has its roots back to 1868 when General John Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, who proclaimed a day of decoration to be held in May.
Why celebrate in May?
This too has some different answers depending on whom you ask. Some say the May date for "Decoration Day" or "Memorial Day" is because there were no major battles over history recorded at that time. That allows the intent of the day not to be muddied. Another explanation of the May date is simply that flowers are in full bloom at that time and it provides a striking time to recognize our war dead.
Regardless of how we got to this point we want to pause and remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice. Particularly here in Virginia Beach, home to one of the largest military presences in the world, it is important for us to give honor to those who Franklin Delano Roosevelt remembered in this statement:
"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy need not forget in time that men have died to win them."
