This is a friendly reminder that there will be NO ROTARY CLUB MEETING MONDAY MAY 27th in recognition of the Memorial Day Holiday. 

History of Memorial Day

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:

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.

To date, there has been no further developments on the bill. Please write your Representative and your Senators, urging them to support these bills. You can also contact Mr. Inouye to let him know of your support.

Visit our Help Restore the Traditional Day of Observance page for more information on this issue, and for more ways you can help.

To see what day Memorial Day falls on for the next 10 years, visit the Memorial Day Calendar page.

CRIMESTOPPERS of Northeast Florida

The Daytona Beach Rotary Club continued its ongoing annual support of CrimeStoppers.  Attending this year's event were President Susan Perry and Scretary Bill Seitz. Fellow Rotarian Joie Alexander is the President-Elect.

President Nancy Epps thanked those who support Crimestoppers  and their volunteer board.   As most of you know, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida is comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors that includes both citizen volunteers and Law Enforcement Liaisons who represent Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. John counties. Board members share a mutual desire to become involved in the efforts of stopping and preventing crime. Our goal is to fight criminal activity by utilizing an anonymous tips system to assist in locating and apprehending those who are responsible for criminal activity. 

The Board members and Executive Director are dedicated and committed and it is they who make this organization so successful in "taking a bite out of crime". I believe the following statistics demonstrate the effectiveness of our organization. In the past year, the efforts of our organization have brought 2,725 anonymous tips that have resulted in:

254 Arrests

Recovery of over $1,000,000 in property value

Removal of over $310,000 worth of drugs from the community

All of this for payment of only a little over $15,000 in rewards - paid anonymously.

The key to accomplishing these gains in crime prevention is obtaining vital information in a completely anonymous manner.

Pictured Above:  President Susan Perry and Chief Gary Getchell of Palatka.

Pictured from Left to Right:  Sergeant Jason Shaw and his wife were our guests at the Rotary table and he won Officer of the Year. Pictured with Bill Seitz and Dr. Rick Lentz.

Pictured Above:  Our very own Bob Lloyd, original founder of our area Crimestoppers and fellow Rotarian Joie Alexander, president-elect.

 Pictured Above:  Bill Seitz and his friend Nancy.

CLUB MEMBER NEWS

BOB LLOYD - NAMED 6x PAUL HARRIS FELLOW

Pictured above:  Bob Lloyd with President Susan Perry

Rotarian Bob Lloyd was recognized with a ruby Paul Harris Pin in recognition of his 6x Paul Harris giving level.  Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary as a way to show appreciation for contributions to the Foundation's charitable and educational program. A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 or in whose name that amount is contributed. Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin, medallion and a certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow. This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding.

A sustaining member is an individual who contributes or in whose name is contributed a minimum of $100 with the commitment to contribute $1,000 within a ten-year period.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$117.9 million contributed in 2004-05. Its event-filled history is a story of Rotarians learning the value of service to humanity.

The Foundation's Humanitarian Programs fund international Rotary club and district projects to improve the quality of life, providing health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs primarily in the developing world. One of the major Humanitarian Programs is PolioPlus, which seeks to eradicate the poliovirus worldwide. Through its Educational Programs, the Foundation provides funding for some 1,200 students to study abroad each year. Grants are also awarded to university teachers to teach in developing countries and for exchanges of business and professional people. Former participants in the Foundation's programs have the opportunity to continue their affiliation with Rotary as Foundation Alumni.

Bob Weber named Honorary Rotarian

President Susan Perry presented Bob Weber, 50 years of service to the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach with his honory membership certificate.  Bob is a Paul Harris Fellow.  Thank you Bob for your years of faithful service to our club. 

Pictured Above:  President Susan Perry, Bob Weber and Secretary Bill Seitz

Pictured above:  Rotarian Bob Weber

Mainland Rotaract Club - Taylor and Taylor to attend RYLA

Pictured Above:  Front: Taylor Wall, and  Taylor Crider, President Susan Perry. Back:  Secretary Bill Seitz, Rotaract President Marquise Edwards, Student Advisor: Coach Michael Burtonand Michael Johnson.

The Mainland Rotaract Club has been in existence for 20 years and remain very active in our community.   They maintain a mile of our beachfront by cleaning it once a month, mentor second grade students and collect donations to feed a family at Christmas, as well as buying them holiday gifts.  Marquise Edwards is the current president and the Rotaract Club is in good hands with incoming co-presidents  Taylor Crider and Taylor Wall.    Taylor and Taylor will be attending RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.) with the help of our Club. Their student advisor is Coach Michael Burton. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

Officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service. Each year, thousands of young people take part in the program worldwide. The impact spreads further as the program influences other young people, and RYLA programs often lead to the formation or strengthening of Rotaract and Interact clubs.

Leadership, Citizenship & Personal Development - RYLA is an intensive training program for community youth leaders.  Each spring, 10th - graders chosen for their past service to the community and leadership potential are awarded an all-expenses-paid campto discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice.

RYLA AIMS:

1.  Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth
2.  Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
3.  Encourage leadership of youth by youth
4.  Publicly recognize young people who are providing service to their communities

RYLA Seminars:

Awardees attending the RYLA seminars can expect to further develop their personal and leadership skills in the following key areas:

1.  Communication Skills: Participants will have the opportunity to: develop interpersonal skills; communicate, listen and write more effectively; engage in some form of public speaking in a warm, supportive environment
2.  Personal Qualities: Participants will have the opportunities to: identify the various types of personality; help people to get along with each other; manage their own time more effectively; avoid stressful situations; plan for healthier living
3.  Leadership: Participants will have the opportunity to: identify the characteristics of effective leaders; become aware of the various styles of leadership; observe effective leaders operating in a meeting situation

• Problem Solving Strategies: Participants will have the opportunity to: brainstorm and think creatively; engage in practical problem solving and decision making activities; use a problem solving model in a practical situation
  
  

Father Lopez Girls Basketball - STATE CHamps!

The Father Lopez Girls Championship Basketball Team will be at the Rotary Club Meeting on May 20th to be presented their Championship rings, donated by the Daytona Beach Rotary Club.