Must just be a Utah thing (Bountiful: sales, live, military)

[Katzpur]

Last night my husband and I went out to dinner with a couple we met a few months back. He's originally from Philly, and she's originally from New York City. They met in Florida, returned to Philly and got married. They've been here in Salt Lake for five years. So, we were getting caught up on stuff and I mentioned that I'd spent most of the day with my sister driving up to the cemetery in Bountiful and then back to one in Salt Lake, just decorating graves. They both looked at me like I had just landed here from another planet. "You do what?" they asked, incredulous expressions on their faces. "Well, that's where our parents and grandparents are buried," I explained. They were still absolutely baffled. They had no idea in the world that this is what people do on Memorial Day (or at least the Memorial Day weekend). I had to explain how we cleaned the headstones and got rid of any dead grass, leaves, etc. that were covering them, how we went about getting the flowers and arranging them, how we put flags by the graves of the ones who's served in the armed forces, and would return to the cemetery in a week to pick up the vases and flags so that we could use them next year. They had never heard of such a strange custom! It blew my sheltered little mind!

[old fed]

no, it's not.

[elcee499]

Wow. Decorating graves for Memorial Day is most definitely not just a Utah thing.

My family is scattered through out several nearby states, and we have always done the type of things as you to remember those who are no longer with us. When people move away, it is common to send money back to others to make sure that the graves are kept up and decorated. I would have thought that it was customary through out most of the United States, so I am equally surprised by the reaction of your dinner companions.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

It's done all across the South.

[kletter1mann]

I can't ever recall anybody doing this, maybe more like something you'd see in a movie. Must not be a northeast thing.

[irman]

I wrote the following on another forum and got some weird replies ... ! Similar to what Katz experienced!

______
With Memorial Day coming up in the USA, do *you* know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Memorial Day is always commemorated on the last Monday in May, and Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11.

Memorial Day is *remembered* because of all the Fallen Soldiers of present and past wars.
Veterans day is *celebrated" to give recognition to all Military personnel who "have" served. Hence the term Veteran.

Not to leave the active Soldiers behind, you can also honour all active military personnel. At any time!

So there should be, at least, two heroes in your life. The one who died to save your soul and the one who died to save your Freedom!

So keep in mind that Memorial day is really NOT a day of celebration but a day of reflection.
Too many people "celebrate" Memorial Day because they have forgotten what that day was really created for.
Kind of sad huh? Oh well ...
_______________________

If you also want to memorialise *your* ancestors by decorating (paying respect to them) *their* graves, you are free to do so!



All the way across the globe is a small country where they Memorialise (remember) all the Fallen Soldiers (thousands of Canadians died there) on the 4th of May. They do that by having a nation-wide 2-minute silence, people stop in their tracks, take their hats off if they have one on, and even (where possible) stop traffic for that period.

No picnics, special sales or parades!

However, the next day, they "celebrate" the day of happiness when the war ended for them and were liberated from the German occupation.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

I can't ever recall anybody doing this, maybe more like something you'd see in a movie. Must not be a northeast thing.

Yeah, it's gotta be. I honestly wish you could have seen the expressions on their faces.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Last night my husband and I went out to dinner with a couple we met a few months back. He's originally from Philly, and she's originally from New York City. They met in Florida, returned to Philly and got married. They've been here in Salt Lake for five years. So, we were getting caught up on stuff and I mentioned that I'd spent most of the day with my sister driving up to the cemetery in Bountiful and then back to one in Salt Lake, just decorating graves. They both looked at me like I had just landed here from another planet. "You do what?" they asked, incredulous expressions on their faces. "Well, that's where our parents and grandparents are buried," I explained. They were still absolutely baffled. They had no idea in the world that this is what people do on Memorial Day (or at least the Memorial Day weekend). I had to explain how we cleaned the headstones and got rid of any dead grass, leaves, etc. that were covering them, how we went about getting the flowers and arranging them, how we put flags by the graves of the ones who's served in the armed forces, and would return to the cemetery in a week to pick up the vases and flags so that we could use them next year. They had never heard of such a strange custom! It blew my sheltered little mind!

This is done all over the country and the English-speaking world on Memorial Day and Remembrance Day. Your friends are just being bizarre.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

This is done all over the country and the English-speaking world on Memorial Day and Remembrance Day. Your friends are just being bizarre.

False. It may be done by some people all over the country, but it's not widely practiced everywhere.

[MtDreamer16]

I remember it being called Decoration Day by my mom, who was from the South. Memorial Day was originally Decoration Day shortly after the Civil War. It was called that for a long time, and didn't officially become a holiday until 1971 I believe. I think a lot of folks from the South still refer to it as Decoration Day, but it's for all those who have died in all American wars.

Growing up in the Midwest it was definitely a really big thing. It got to where we couldn't even go to the national cemetery, Jefferson Barracks, where my dad and mom are buried because the crowds are huge. Boy Scouts start a couple of days before putting flags on every grave - thousands of them. It's really beautiful to see. Now, there are bands and speeches by politicians and stuff, and they have to bus people to the cemetery.

One of the things we like about SLC is how graves are attended to. We live across from a cemetery, and it's been loaded with flowers and flags for days. Just waves of them. But, cemeteries here are regularly decorated and attended, which I appreciate as a sign of respect and remembrance.