Update: Rawhide Travel and Tours Holiday Tree

The little tree is back from vacation and is ready to celebrate Memorial Day. The tree wants to help honor all the men and women who gave their all for the defense of our country and is all decked out in red, white and blue.

Did you know,  that Memorial Day was formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

The practice of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers is an ancient custom. Soldiers' graves were decorated in the U.S. before and during the American Civil War. A claim was made in 1906 that the first Civil War soldier's grave ever decorated was in Warrenton, Virginia on June 3, 1861, implying the first Memorial Day occurred there. There is authentic documentation that women in Savannah, Georgia decorated soldiers' graves in 1862. In 1863, the cemetery dedication at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was a ceremony of commemoration at the graves of dead soldiers. Local historians in Boalsburg, PA, claim that ladies there decorated soldiers' graves on July 4, 1864. As a result, Boalsburg promotes itself as the birthplace of Memorial Day. The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day", which was first used in 1882. It did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967.

On Memorial Day the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

This is a follow-up on Ron's Las Vegas 5k Run on May 11 and we thought you might enjoy the photo that was taken.

Here what Ron said. "93 seconds off my run time but hey, what the heck. Was worth it and I might even use it for my Christmas card picture this year. Anyway, I did the run at 30:31 so my "normal" 10 minute mile. Was a total blast, had NEVER ran on the Las Vegas Strip before so that, for me, was awesome. Very strange running on one of the most famous roads in the world with no traffic. Anyway, it was fun fun fun. Running my next race June 08 in Las Vegas, followed by another run on Father's Day right here in Arizona. I hope to see some of you there?"

Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.  Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend.

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Road # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com