Stephens Co. Marks Memorial Day

Stephens County marks Memorial Day.

The annual Memorial Day observance took place on Saturday at the VFW Post in Toccoa.

The guest speaker for this year’s observance was VFW Department of Georgia Commander Al Lipphardt.

Lipphardt spoke first about the history of Memorial Day.

He said it started as Decoration Day in the 1800s and was held on May 30 each year.

“May 30th was chosen because there was no other major battle or anniversary on that particular date, so the White House decided May 30th was an optimal date because it was Spring and many, many flowers were in bloom,” said Lipphardt.

Over the years, the name was changed to Memorial Day and Lipphardt said that in the late 1960s, Congress changed Memorial Day to a Monday each year to make it a convenient three-day weekend.

Citing a VFW address from the 2000s, Lipphardt said the organization feels that moving Memorial Day to a Monday for convenience is completely inappropriate.

“Changing the date merely to create a three-day weekend has undermined the very meaning of the day,” said Lipphardt. “No doubt this has contributed a lot to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day. Those that perished, they were called home at very inconvenient times and so it is really too bad that Congress felt the public should not be inconvenienced to take the time to remember those who gave their last full measure of devotion to this nation.”

Lipphardt also talked about how veterans are treated by Washington, D.C.

He said that veterans put their lives on the line and need to be taken care of when they return home.

“I am sorry that it is inconvenient,” said Lipphardt, pointing at Congress. “I am sorry that you have mismanaged the money, the budget, so badly you do not think you can afford it. I got news. You could not afford to send us either, but you did. Now it is time to step up. Entitlement is not a nasty word. The benefits that veterans are receiving or should receive, they earned.”

He said veterans need to come together to join veterans’ organizations, like the VFW, and make their voices heard to Washington, D.C. on topics like that.

Saturday’s observance of Memorial Day in Toccoa also included a laying of wreaths to honor those service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice; a reading of the poem, “In Flanders Field,”; a 21-gun salute, and the playing of “Taps.”