CITY BEAT: MEMORIAL DAY IS FOR HONORING THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR US

 

 

     MONDAY, May 27th, is Memorial Day.
     Memorial Day is a federal holiday for honoring and mourning the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces and protecting our nation.
     As indicated in this week’s “Scrapbook” about the history of Memorial Day (see pages 4 and 5 of print and online editions), back in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create the convenient three-day weekend. The holidays included Washington’s Birthday, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30th date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.
     In 1978, Veterans Day was changed back to its traditional date on November 11, but Memorial Day did not receive the same respect. For the past half century attempts have been made to change Memorial Day back to May 30th for every year, but those attempts have not been successful.
     Americans have to get in that long weekend and, it is apparent, that many do not know why the holiday exists — except for a day off to grill, etc., for their “convenience”.

 

     • BYE BYE BIRDIE! When I arrived early to the newspaper office one morning last week, I heard what I thought was the beginning of the Cicada swarm outside one of my office windows.
     I opened the curtains and there, looking right at me and chirping away was a bird!
     Usually, when a bird lands on an office windowsill, the moment that he sees me he immediately flies away! (I hope I’m not that scary looking.)
     However the young Robin on the windowsill looking in at me was fearless.
     I tapped the window with my hand and he ignored the sound. I even put my face down close to where he was standing, thinking that should scare him way.
     No response.
     My new bird friend appeared to be healthy but apparently had an “attitude” instead of an “altitude” problem.
     He wasn’t going anywhere!
     So, all day long he stayed on the windowsill, chirping his little heart out. (I’m surprised he didn’t lose his voice…or chirp.)
I think he may have seen his reflection in the office window and was chirp-talking to his reflection.
Either that, or he was trying to tell me that he disagreed with my last column.
     Anyhooo, members of my staff, when they arrived at the office, enjoyed seeing the bird on the windowsill and wondered why he was staying there for so long.
     Do you ever have the feeling that when a bird hangs around for a long time that maybe, he or she, is trying to deliver a message from someone who has passed on? That thought briefly, only briefly, crossed my mind because the bird was so insistent in chirping away from early morning until about 3:00 in the afternoon.
     Although the bird didn’t distract from my work that day, he did provide the background chirping noise all day long.
     However, at about 3:00 in the afternoon, Birdie, was briefly joined by a sparrow who may have been there to tell him his wife or mother was looking for him.
     As soon as the sparrow saw me, that bird took off immediately!
     Within a few minutes, Birdie left the window and has never returned!
     That was really a strange experience — for a bird to stay on the windowsill and chirp for about nine hours straight!
I wonder what Birdie was trying to tell me?

     • I RECEIVED the following email recently from Bob Price, who reads the Tribune in Sellersville, Pennsylvania:
“Hi Paul, I always enjoy the Tribune. The article about the odd-shaped corner lot near the RR stations provided an insight about the Levee district my Dad, Vern Price would tell stories about. I now know the location of the Levee.     

     “It was enjoyable to read your ‘Be Kind to Those Who are Rude To You’. Where I worked, I would call out to the person getting on the elevator to ‘Hold the Door’ as I approached. It worked every time.
     “You shared a great story, a ‘teachable moment’ where you acted like you hit your head like you ran into the door because they let it shut. Your story brought back a memory of my junior high youth.
     “The story is set outside the back door of the Raycrafts Drug Store on the corner of West Main and Oakland St. My friend and I would face the back door from Raycrafts with our hands full of empty cigar boxes waiting for the door to open. An elderly man opens the door and one of us would strike the door with a closed hand causing a thud. We both would launch the cigar boxes and they would scatter on the sidewalk causing a noisy ruckus.
     “The commotion startled the man and he saw my friend rubbing his forehead. He put his arm around my friend’s shoulder and asked if he was going to be alright. He stayed with him for a while, but eventually realized he was alright and went on his way. We had a good laugh.”
     Thanks, Bob, for sharing with us. Isn’t it amazing what kids (including me) did for entertainment before the internet came along?

     • FORMER Decatur City Councilman — and longtime friend — Larry Foster, sent me an email from where he now lives out-of-state: “I have told you before, but I thoroughly enjoy your weekly publication and thoroughly read it each week.
“I’m enjoying a book right now with the title ‘The Demon of Unrest’ (by Erik Larson) which has much coverage of the time that Lincoln was elected president. There is a section in the book that discusses the various stops that Lincoln made after the election on his way to Washington. One of his stops on the way on the train ride was in Decatur. There was a large crowd that welcomed him and I thought that would be something that would be of interest to you.”
     Thanks, Larry. There have been several positive reviews of Larson’s book by major newspapers during the past few weeks.
It is primarily about the lead-up to the Civil War.
     Abraham Lincoln’s connection to Decatur is an important, but very underpublicized (in my opinion), aspect of our local history.
     I can look out my office windows and see Lincoln Square where he practiced law in our city’s first two courthouses and where he gave his first political speech.
     A half block north of my office is where he was first nominated for President.
     These are a few of several Lincoln connections to our downtown area, which, for people like Larry Foster and myself, make reading about Abraham Lincoln in Decatur and Macon County close to our hearts.

     • TURN THEM ON! — I have a message for more than a few drivers I see on Route 51 South on my way into the office when it is still pretty dark out there: TURN ON YOUR VEHICLE’S LIGHTS!!!
     I’m somewhat shocked by the number of cars I observe early in the morning without their headlights  turned on.
     That’s dangerous — especially for dark-colored cars which are harder to see traveling in the darkness for drivers turning on Route 51 from side roads.
     And, if I may be so bold to suggest to some drivers who do have their car’s headlights on — dim your lights when approaching oncoming traffic!!

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co. every Thursday morning at 7:00 for the “City Hall Insider”.
We’ve been discussing the issues and the people who impact our area each Thursday for 22 years.

     • YOU CAN subscribe to the print and/or online editions of the Decatur Tribune at the “Subscribe” prompt at the top of the home page.  The cost for 52 weeks is $50 for the paper edition, or $30 for the online edition, or $65.00 for both.  You can subscribe at the “Subscribe” prompt with your credit card or send a check  to: Decatur Tribune, P. O. Box 1490, Decatur, Illinois 62525-1490.