Memorial Day, Past and Present

* Orange County has enjoyed the distinction of being hometown oriented as well as fiercely patriotic. That was before malls, before businesses remained opened 24 hours and before we forgot what we owed to the “fallen.”

Decoration Day was always a big event in my hometown in Nebraska. We may call it Memorial Day now, but either way, the idea is the same: to honor the fallen in the service of their country. Businesses closed so everyone could celebrate the grand parade. Weeks before the big event, boys at school would talk about what they would do in the parade: decorate their wagons, carry and wave a flag or march alongside their father or grandfather.

Our parents taught us that this was a “solemn” day but also a happy one. There was a commonalty which drew everyone together. Most families had lost a father, brother, uncle, grandfather or had someone who had served in the war.

Brea in the 1930s was the same as Grand Island, Neb.; Cody, Wyo.; Brigham, Utah; or Fullerton. People were united with the same determination to keep alive the memories.

Schools championed the goal of Decoration Day. Today, schools promote “Earth Day,” “Save the Whales Day,” “Aids Awareness,” but not one tribute for the fallen.

Still, in 1996, Brea and other communities will continue to keep the spirit alive with the “Avenue of Flags” presentation at Memory Gardens on Central Avenue, supported by the American Legion, Sons of the Legion, Gold Star Mothers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts of America, the Richard Nixon Legion Post and many others.

On this Memorial Day (Decoration Day) may we turn our hearts to our fathers, and may God bless America.

WADE A. MANSUR

Brea