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Remember Memorial Day Monday May 26, 2008

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy redThat grows on fields where valor led,It seems to signal to the skiesThat blood of heroes never dies.She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.
To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."
The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.
But what may be needed to return the solemn, and even sacred, spirit back to Memorial Day is for a return to its traditional day of observance. Many feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971, it made it all the easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."
On January 19, 1999 Senator Inouye introduced bill S 189 to the Senate which proposes to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th instead of "the last Monday in May". On April 19, 1999 Representative Gibbons introduced the bill to the House (H.R. 1474). The bills were referred the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform.

May is Stroke Awareness Month

http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOME

National Stroke Awareness Month The National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the United States that focuses 100% of its efforts on stroke. NSA achieves its mission to lower the incidence and impact of stroke by developing compelling community outreach programs, calling for continued improvement in the quality of stroke patient care, and educating both healthcare professionals and the general public about stroke.

Stroke Symptoms
If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:
Act F.A.S.T.
FACE
Ask the person to smile.Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS
Ask the person to raise both arms.Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
TIME
If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Stroke Symptoms include:
SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these symptoms

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Saturday May 10, 2008

The National Association of Letter Carriers, in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, Will be collecting non-perishable food items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice on Saturday, May 10th to help families in need in our community.

helpstampouthunger.com

It is Easy to Help:

1. Put some non-perishable food items in a bag and place it by your mailbox.

2. Your letter carrier will pick it up and deliver to local food banks!



Thanks for the support see how easy that act of volunteering was and can be!

Earth Day April 22, 2008

April 22, 2008

About Earth Day Network
Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.
Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and have an impact on their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. EDN's international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year. Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a half billion people participate in our campaigns every year.
Our mission is to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. We pursue our mission through education, politics, events, and consumer activism.
Earth Day Network’s Mission Statement
EDN seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. We pursue these goals through education, politics, events, and consumer activism.

How to Go Green at Home

Step 1:Use less electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs each time you replace an old incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescents save 75 percent in energy use and last up to 10 times longer. As a bonus, you'll save money on your electric bill.
Step 2:Run the washer, dryer and dishwasher only with full loads. You reduce both electricity and water usage by only running these appliances when necessary.
Step 3:Install a low-flow shower head. The newest models still produce strong water pressure while using much less water.
Step 4:Retrofit your hot-water system with a hot-water recirculation pump. These pumps recirculate cold water back to the water heater and only release water when it is hot. Go green and quit wasting water waiting for the cold water to get hot.
Step 5:Choose Zero VOC paints for your next home decorating project. Most paints contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air when you paint. VOCs can cause short and long term health problems.
Step 6:Look for furnishings made without glue or formaldehyde. This will green your home by improving your indoor air-quality.
Step 7:Recycle, reuse and compost. Reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill. Find out about recycling programs in your community. Find new uses for items. Compost yard waste and kitchen scraps.
Step 8:Properly dispose of hazardous waste. Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage; they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community. Contact your city government or the EPA to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK
National Volunteer Week April 27 – May 3, 2008

Causes That InspireNational Volunteer Week

Compassion, service, empathy, understanding...combine these words with privilege, talent, skill, energy...and you have a composite picture of the heart and soul of many volunteers. These elements tell us much more than a head shot or group photo ever could.
Volunteers come in every age, size, shape, and race. They're impossible to profile; crossing boundaries of geographic location, income level, educational attainment, philosophical mindset, and religious persuasion. Some sort through e-mail databases to keep donors abreast of charitable developments. Others provide their legal, financial, promotional, management and training skills on a pro-bono basis. Still more change sickbeds, lend an ear, hold anxious hands, and yes, ladle soup and prepare sandwiches in "soup kitchens" across the country.
National Volunteer Week celebrates a myriad of vastly different individuals with two things in common: a concern for others and the tenacity to turn their concern into proactive volunteerism. "Volunteers Inspire by Example," is a fitting theme for this year's National Volunteer Week, happening in April. Event organizers feel the theme, "reflects the power volunteers have to inspire not only other people to volunteer but also the people they serve."
National Volunteer Week was created by President Richard Nixon's executive order in 1974. Three decades of subsequent Presidents have continued the tradition of "celebrating and recognizing the power and spirit volunteers give back to this country."

National Volunteer Week was created by President Richard Nixon's executive order in 1974. Three decades of subsequent Presidents have continued the tradition of "celebrating and recognizing the power and spirit volunteers give back to this country."
White House Photo by Eric Draper
President George W. Bush's Council on Service and Civic Participation instituted a new recognition award to coincide with National Volunteer Week in 2004. The award is intended to honor sustained commitments and significant achievements by American volunteers. In addition, such national recognition is expected to inspire others and encourage more individuals to assist neighbors with urgent needs and those in dire circumstances.
The President's Volunteer Service Award is available to kids, young adults, adults and families/groups. Recipients of the award receive: An official President's Volunteer Service Award pin; a personalized certificate of achievement; a note of congratulations from the President of the United States and a letter from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

American Heart Association - National Start! Waking Day

Dear Janice,
April 16th is the 2nd annual National Start! Walking Day, a day devoted to helping Americans improve our health by adopting a healthy lifestyle and passing the message along.
This year we are striving to get people in cities and towns across the country to take 1 million+ steps and help us raise $1 million+ dollars online. Aetna and Del Monte foods are joining forces with national Start! sponsors, SUBWAY Restaurants, Healthy Choice and AstraZeneca to make this day a success by matching a portion of dollars raised this day.
Go to www.startwithamillion.org to pledge your support and your commitment to Start! a healthier lifestyle! Wear your sneakers to work on April 16th and check back at www.startwithamillion.org to see how your town or city is doing with steps taken and dollars raised!
To support the effort, click the "Make a Pledge" button and fill in your information. In the Heart Walk Information section, please include the following information:> The Heart Walk you are supporting: > The Name of the Company Team with which you will be participating.
For every hour of regular, vigorous exercise we do -- like brisk walking -- we can add two hours to our lives. Start! walking today and make this year’s National Start! Walking Day a success!
Walk more. Eat well. Live longer. Start today!







Visit us at www.startwithamillion.org today!