Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.

During the first national celebration, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried there. This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years since the Civil War. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities had begun to observe Memorial Day, and after World War I, it became a occasion for honoring those who had died in all America’s wars.

Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday of May. Several southern states, however, 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 in Louisiana and Tennessee.

We must never forget and always honor those who have sacrificed their lives for the FREEDOM we enjoy today in our lives and our YTB/ZamZuu business.

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Most know that the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade held in the United States is in the Big Apple.

Care to take a guess at where the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held?

Would you believe Savannah, Georgia?

No kidding! Anywhere from 300,000 to 700,000 people pack the streets of Savannah for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration. (And you thought Savannah’s biggest claim to fame was “Forrest Gump“…)

Most wouldn’t think of Savannah as a huge Irish Catholic town, and you’d be right. It was actually a Protestant group known as the Hibernian Society who held the first parade in 1824 to raise money for immigrants. (Savannah is still the 4th busiest port in the U.S., but today its containers, not people.) The biggest influx of Irish came between 1845 and 1850 during the Great Famine and new immigrants found work in the port there. It wasn’t until 1860 that over 20 percent of Savannah’s population was Irish.

True, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah begins with mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, but the crowds start to line the parade route hours before mass even starts. Loyal fans can start forming along River Street as early as 6:00am. Believe it or not, they use to camp out days before hand. Too many started to “celebrate” early however and the city had to crack down due to all the complaints from local residents who actually live there year round.

Part of the attraction for hundreds of thousands is Savannah’s city ordnance which allows for open drinking in the area with “to-go cups” that are 16 ounces or smaller in the downtown area. Just remain inside Jones Street and, and River Street. That’s not just for St. Patrick’s Day, that’s all year long by the way.

Just thinking out loud here: Would it be wrong to think that’s an Irish Catholic’s dream?

I’ve heard Savannah’s St. Patrick’s festivities being called “Mardi Gras gone Irish” minus the “flashing”. (Although some still attempt to expose themselves, anyone who does will most likely be arrested.) But like Mardi Gras, the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Savannah go on for days. It’s a great excuse to throw a week long party.

So, if you’re Irish, and even if you’re not and just want a change of pace in a quaint little town that plans all year long for this one party, try Savannah, Georgia. You’ll quickly find out that it’s one of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations you’ve probably never heard of.

It’s so big and so well planned with festivities, it makes most cities “green” with envy.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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With the way some get so easily offended these days, I felt an asterisk here was appropriate. Fact is, your actual time of merriment may vary. (I’ve heard typical results are an average of 1.39 hours.) Others would consider the word “Christmas” offensive, so instead please replace this word with “non-denominational period of celebration”.

Heaven forbid I am accused of misleading or offending anyone on a day like today.

We’re having a wonderful time in Pittsburgh with the family. The drive up on Monday through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia was one of the most beautiful we had ever seen. (It’s a shame the camera on the iPhone stinks – otherwise we’d have some great pictures to share.)

A delay of just two days, was well worth it based on the number of stranded cars in medians and ditches. By the time we passed through, the roads were very clear and very passable.

By the time you read this, my bet is that all the Christmas presents have been opened and I am now attempting to disassemble the packaging and inserting batteries. (You need an engineering degree to unpack some of these toys!)

Oh the joy of parenthood!

The kids and I created this little “ditty” for you in hopes it puts a smile on your face.

It just may bump the national average of merriment up to 1.40 hours!

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I’ve noticed a big change in our society in recent years. I was watching the news one afternoon at lunch and CNN mentioned the lighting of Nations “Holiday Tree”. I looked up to find that this object looked very much like a “Christmas Tree”. In this day and age of Political Correctness the main stream media over the years has made a distinct change in the way they report this wonderful season we use to call “Christmas”. Make no mistake; it’s a conscious effort on their part.

That evening, I went to my daughter’s school for a Christmas Recital and listened to her sing with her classmates “Happy Birthday Jesus” and am thankful that my wife and I are able to surround her with the true meaning of Christmas. I love hearing her talk about the birth of baby Jesus. But at the same time, I wonder what kind of world she will be growing up in, one that finds it safer not to offend anyone, and will put others beliefs ahead of their own.

By the way…I took a very unscientific poll later that afternoon as well. One that asked the question, what kind of tree people have in their home this year. Not a single person called it a “Holiday Tree”, so I guess our common man has more sense than our journalists on CNN and NBC News. We too, have a “Christmas Tree” in our home.

Growing up, my father had very simple Christmas lights on the house. It was three letters made of wood that he cut out of plywood stapled lights to himself. It spelled JOY. Now that I’m an adult, I have just a little more elaborate lighting system on the house, one that’s actually automated to come on every night and every morning. I have a spotlight that can project images up on our garage door. I change out the images throughout the season, starting with Happy Thanksgiving and ending with Happy New Year. In the middle of those two images however are those same three little letters that I am proud to display…JOY.

May the Christmas Season and the New Year bring you and your family JOY.

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