Memorial Day –1901, 1913 & 1950

It's Memorial Day – the day we honor the memory of those who gave their lives fighting for our country.

Originally conceived as Decoration Day to honor Civil War dead, the holiday's scope was expanded over the years with the United States' involvement with each additional war. 

This front page of the Lorain Times-Herald from May 31, 1901 (below) reflects that fact with the most recent war included. "With sincere devotion to a noble and patriotic purpose and honest respect for the memory of the dead heroes of the civil and Spanish-American wars was Decoration Day observed in Lorain yesterday," the article notes. "Never before in the history of the city were the exercises of the entire day carried out with so appropriate regard for the sentiment of loyalty and devotion to the memory of those who offered their lives for the preservation of the Union. Business and labor of all kinds were almost entirely suspended. Nearly every residence and business place showed the National colors in some form, and the people entered into the spirit of the day in its best sense. In every way the day was a credit to the community. By all means let us have more of the same kind. They are worth more than they cost."

The illustration of Lady Liberty standing behind the child who is decorating the grave of a fallen soldier is particularly poignant. Lady Liberty's headgear (not unlike what the Smurfs wear) is rather unusual. Here's a color illustration from roughly the same era giving us a better idea of what it looked like.

Courtesy The Graphics Fairy

Here's the front page of the Lorain Daily News for May 29, 1913 – just before the holiday. There's a nice photo composition of a soldier's memorial in a cemetery with an inset of a Civil War battle. Lorain's Decoration Day parade plans are detailed.

Fast forward to 1950. Here's the front page of the Lorain Sunday News of May 28, 1950. 

It includes an editorial encouraging attendance at the 19th Annual Lorain Memorial Community Service held in the high school auditorium. The editorial is accompanied by a nice illustration with representations of all U.S. soldiers from the Revolution War on. (The World War I soldier looks like Gary Cooper – Sergeant York of the movies – to me.

Anyway, here's hoping you have a great and meaningful Memorial Day.