Memorial Day In USA and In Israel and What It Means

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                   

            Soldier from World War II The United States officially entered World War II on December 7, 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The formal surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, marked the end of the war for the US, though the formal end of World War II came on September 2, 1945. Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 8, 1945. 

Today (5/26/25) a Monday  is Memorial Day.  That is the American holiday remembering, honoring and mourning the US military personnel who died while serving in the US Armed Forces.   Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States.   It is observed on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.  

Memorial Day was first recognized in 1868, with the first national observance on May 30th. It was initially called "Decoration Day" and was established to honor the Union soldiers who died during the Civil War. In 1971, it was formally recognized as a federal holiday.                        

The American Civil War, a conflict fought between 1861 and 1865, resulted in a Union victory that preserved the United States as a single nation and abolished slavery. The war's origins lie in deep-seated sectional tensions, primarily stemming from disagreements over slavery's expansion into new territories. The conflict also involved significant political and military considerations, ultimately leading to a devastating loss of life and a reshaping of American society. 

Union soldiers, who fought for the North in the Civil War, wore a variety of uniforms, primarily blue. The ideal uniform was a dark blue coat with lighter pants, and a black hat, but variations in supply and cost often led to different looks. Many Union soldiers are pictured in their uniforms, particularly in portraits taken during the war. 

The war fought by the United States before the Civil War was the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). This war resulted in the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain.

People who have ancestors who contributed to the American Revolution can belong to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The DAR is a lineage society that focuses on preserving the memory of those who aided in American independence, and women must prove their lineal descent from a Revolutionary War patriot to become members.    It's quite the privilege to belong.  People working on their Genealogy family treemight find someone who fought in the Revolutionary War.

                               

In Israel, Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day) is the holiday that is most similar to American Memorial Day. It is a solemn day of remembrance dedicated to the soldiers and victims of terrorism who have lost their lives defending Israel.  It fell on the evening of Tuesday, April 29, 2025, and ended on the evening of Wednesday, April 30, 2025. It was remembered by cities in the USA as well at their Jewish community centers.                           

                                  An Israeli soldier on duty, not my husband

My husband, Danny Eskow of Brooklyn and Miami, Florida, served 4 years in the USA AirForce, and had a rare heart problem afterwards.  Yet he went through the physicalin Israel at age 42, ready to serve.  We both wound up with our German shepherddoing Civil Guard duty.  We saw units of soldiers with white hair and some with whitebeards marching up our street guarding us.   This holiday had a siren blow thatalerted all people to stand quietly for so many minutes.  My memory goes back to 1981, our first Remembrance Day in Israel.