Published May 1995 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Day, 1995
From its humble beginnings during the Civil War, Memorial Day has grown to serve as our nation's official holiday to honor the patriotic men and women who have fought for our principles and freedoms. Memorial Day -- or "Decoration Day" as it is often called -- was originally observed on May 30, a date that may have been chosen to correspond with France's "Day of the Ashes," which commemorates the return of Napoleon Bonaparte's remains to French soil. In its earliest years, Memorial Day was an occasion to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead -- both Union and Confederate -- with flowers. Memorial Day is now officially celebrated on the last Monday of May, serving as one of the "holiday bookends" that mark the unofficial beginning and end of summer and characterized by flags, parades, and the flowers of springtime. As we prepare to observe yet another Memorial Day, it is worth noting that on numerous occasions in the 20th Century, America's military might has been tapped to restore peace to the world or to save mankind from cruel tyrannies -- against German Imperialism in World War I, against Nazism in World War II, and against militant communism from 1945 until this decade, for instance. In fact, 1995 marks the 50th Anniversary of V-E Day -- the day that commemorates "Victory in Europe" and the end of the Second World War. During that war -- as they had done in World War I and as they continued to do in subsequent world conflicts, thousands of West Virginians answered the call to duty. West Virginians are a peace-loving people, but they stand tall when called upon to defend our country's rights and freedoms and to preserve the principles upon which America was founded. They know, as do I, that a strong national defense is essential to maintaining our liberties -- a fact that has underscored my work in the United States Congress on behalf of a strong, viable defense. On Memorial Day 1995, then, I join all West Virginians in paying tribute to the contributions of all of the loyal men and women who have served our state and nation with distinction. May 10, 1995