Although Memorial Day is the first holiday of the summer season, it is much more than an excuse for a cookout and a three day weekend. The holiday was created in 1868 by Illinois Senator John Alexander Logan who issued a proclamation that May 30th would be set aside to honor the Civil War Union soldiers who had died during the conflict. Graves were decorated with flowers and flags. The day became known as “Decoration Day.” Following WWI, remembrance was extended to include the many American men and women who gave their lives in the service of the country. 

Waterloo, NY was one of the first communities to honor this day in 1868 and in 1966 

was formally recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1967 the name was changed to Memorial Day and takes place on the last Monday in May.

 

There are 26 American National Cemeteries world wide. Margraten of the Netherlands is one of them. In 2019 my husband, Tom, and I visited Margraten for very personal reasons. His father, PFC Michael DiBagio, attached to the 32nd Armored Regiment, died in battle near the Holland Belgium border in 1945. At that time, as battlefields were cleared of the dead, bodies were sent home or placed in American cemeteries that were being established. Michael’s family determined that he should be placed with 8000 comrades in the Margraten cemetery. To be honest we wondered about this decision. We contacted Margraten Cemetery and received a visitation. It was a beautiful fall day as we drove from Amsterdam to Margraten. Our mood was somber. Tom had never known his father. How would we react? Margraten is a small village nestled in the Netherland hills near the German border. As we drove into the village we noticed the American flag raised alongside the Netherland flag in thevillage square.. A curator met us at the cemetery office with all of Michael’s paperwork in place. As we walked to the gravesite through rows of pristine white crosses,  I realized we were walking on hallowed ground. At the grave site,the curator rubbed sand from Normandy on the cross to enhance the stone etching. It was a defining moment. We knew that Michael’s final resting place was where it should be. We spent the rest of the day touring the cemetery, visiting the chapel, the reflecting pool and the wall where 8000 names are carved.The cemetery is unique as local families help maintain the graves. That evening we ate dinner at the local restaurant. QThe jovial owner sat with us for awhile. We remarked about the two flags flying together in the town square. He became serious, and said “We will never forget what America did for us. Thank you.”

We would like to thank American Legion Post 239  for the Skaneateles Memorial Day remembrance: the poppy sale, the parade with remembrance at both cemeteries and Shotwell Park. We too should never forget.