Memorial Day PHOTOS: May 30, 2011 Around The Country

The tradition of Memorial Day began on May 30, 1868 to honor fallen soldiers during the Civil War. It was originally known as "Decoration Day" as graves were decorated.

Today, 143 years later, that tradition continues. Parades and special ceremonies are among the festivities taking place throughout the United States this extended weekend. For some, Memorial Day is a more private occasion, a time for reflection and remembrance.

Take a look at how some are celebrating Memorial Day with the pictures below, from the D.C. area to San Francisco. Don't forget to let us know how you're spending the day in the comments and share your Memorial Day photos.

 

How are you spending Memorial Day? Share a picture or two from your day with the HuffPost community.

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Memorial Day, Virginia

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A boy holds up at American flag in the crowded amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery as all await the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama to speak at a Memorial Day ceremony in Arlington,Va. Monday, May 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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A boy holds up at American flag in the crowded amphitheater of Arlington National Cemetery as all await the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama to speak at a Memorial Day ceremony in Arlington,Va. Monday, May 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Cunningham said on 30 Monday 2011 pm31 10:25 pm: Memorial Day, Pennsylvania - pic #2 The guy holding the US flag is about to fire one up. Wow

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Comments

[Fina Biscotti]

01:31 AM on 06/10/2011

This is the First Year that Obama ever visited - or placed a wreath at Ground Zero -

only when he was trying to get applause for killing Osama bin Laden.

Obama is so disconnected - from America - he cannot imagine why President Bush would refuse his invitation.

The Democrat Party's Flash Mob antics - at The White House - to celebrate the killing of Osama bin Laden - was disgraceful - enough.

[This American]

02:19 AM on 06/10/2011

That flash mob event was a little on the creepy side.

[Fina Biscotti]

03:15 AM on 06/10/2011

The Democrat Party was checking the temperature - to see what could be drawn out - like the flash mob action in Egypt.........and Wisconsin and Ohio.

[GailRubin]

03:35 PM on 06/01/2011

Memorial Day pictures taken in cemeteries can win a $500 Grand Prize in the Funeralwise.com Fan-tastic Photo Contest. Photo images need to be submitted by June 15. All the details are at http://www.funeralwise.com/photo_contest and the competition is open to both amateurs and professionals. Hope you'll share your pictures there too!

[posttheist]

11:03 AM on 05/31/2011

Kansas City, MO celebration

http://blog.ericbowersphoto.com/2011/05/celebration-at-the-station-2011-symphony-concert/

[JackRusselTerrier]

06:21 AM on 05/31/2011

Endless Wars
by JRT

Said the little girl at her grandfather's grave...
I never met you Grandpa. I have only heard stories.
You fought in a great war. You earned your glory.
Daddy told me, you were his hero.
You shot down Japanese zeros.

Said the girl at her father's grave...
I will miss you Daddy. I can't stop crying.
Why did you have to go and take up flying?
You died in the jungle. In a far away place.
Life won't be the same without you. There is an empty space.

Said the wife at her husband's grave...
You fought for your country and gave your life.
You're gone now. It cuts like a knife.
I will raise our two sons and make you proud.
If they become half the man you were, they will stand out from the crowd.

Said the mother at her eldest son's grave...
They put you on a plane and took you away.
You were my ray of sunshine. Now the sky is grey.
You were so much like your father. So brave and kind.
It was just like you, paying danger no mind.

Said the mother at her youngest son's grave...
This flag won't do, nor the excuse they gave.
The war will be over soon, so we were told.
You were my baby, fierce and bold.
But endless war took you from my fold.

[Fi]

04:39 AM on 05/31/2011

Great Pics.
A few weeks ago, when OBL was despatched, there was a thread about the dogs that are used in war, and someone I was talking to here on HP, was saying these dogs also need to be interred at Arlington Cemetery, when they to die.
I agreed, in the UK, we already have a cemetery for animals who gave their lives in war.

[NebDem78]

04:52 AM on 05/31/2011

Q'Plah! I read that article. It was a very good piece. How are you doing today?

[Fi]

04:57 AM on 05/31/2011

Q'Plah!
I'm just fine thanks, are you?
Have you read my latest screech, over at the other place?

[On My Way 58]

04:35 AM on 05/31/2011

Hopefully we learned from Viet Nam that whether we agree or disagree with war, we MUST support those who fight for our freedom.

[WhatWhat1]

03:14 AM on 05/31/2011

When the Traveling Vietnam Memorial made a stop nearby, I went to see it with several friends. We talked and caught up with each other on the way there, but once we arrived, we quieted down matching the early evening mood. At the site, a few children were running around, there were tears, some hugs, solace and general peacefulness.
I slowly read name after name pondering on each one, realizing that each represented a soldier, an American, a human. Some of the columns of names had flowers gently placed on the ground below them and some had hand written or typed notes describing the loved one they had lost. One note that affected me the most was of a young man who died in the fall at age 18. I realized that he was likely drafted right out of high school, trained and sent 8,000 miles away, and was killed shortly thereafter.
He never really had a chance in this life. He never got up and running and never really had an opportunity to fly. His family never got to see him be the man he might have been, the wife he may have chosen or the children he might have fathered and the father and grandfather that he might have been.
Twice as many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide after returning than died in the conflict.
Today we remember all of our fallen soldiers, as well as their families.

[ligligl]

01:57 AM on 05/31/2011

Is this a Memorial Day for America, too?

[Thomas Sheridan]

11:32 AM on 05/31/2011

yes, it is. clown!

[Diogenesememel]

01:37 AM on 05/31/2011

I'm so glad Obama finally got the message that Memorial Day is very special to U.S. citizens and we expect the Commander-In-Chief to place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetary.....not take your wife on a "date night" in Chicago or go to some other cemetary at the last minute to save face. It sure shows that he wasn't raised in the U.S. and not familiar with our customs. I think he finally realizes it is not "corpesman" but "corpsman," the proper name for a Navy medic. Guess that is to be expected from someone who never served in our military. A totally unqualified Commander-In-Chief. How scary is that? Clinton was no prize either.

[ligligl]

01:59 AM on 05/31/2011

You have obviously lost your lamp and looking into your mirror certainly won't cujt ijt...

[WhatWhat1]

02:45 AM on 05/31/2011

I'm sure it was on oversight, but you somehow managed to skip over George W. Bush as commander in chief. Does "Mission Accomplished" ring a bell? Does a trillion dollars spent in Iraq ring a bell? (Remember, once we're out, we will still be paying 50 years or more).

[Diogenesememel]

06:08 PM on 05/31/2011

You're right. I forgot to mention George W. Bush. However, at least he remembered to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetary on Memorial Day, as did Bill Clinton. That was the point I was trying to make. They at least followed protocol and our nation's customs.

[Justin Stamper]

11:51 PM on 05/30/2011

FLAG FEST USA USA USA A FLAG FOR YOU A FLAG FOR ME A FLAG UP MY BUM OH YEAH!!

[Marianne Mondt]

10:51 PM on 05/30/2011

Why was Rep. Bachmann in NH celebrating heroes and not in her own home state? Oh, yea, because she doesn't actually care about her constituency since they're not first up in the primaries.

[rini1946]

11:22 PM on 05/30/2011

this is not a place for you stupid campaining

[Thomas Sheridan]

05:04 PM on 05/31/2011

shut up, you flaggit!

[ncconcernedcitizen]

10:48 PM on 05/30/2011

It was my hope to see the photos and make a smart-alec comment, but they seriously touched my heart.

[dglowicki]

10:41 PM on 05/30/2011

I wish that one of these Memorial Days someone on the national scene would go to Streator, IL and witness what that town does. Memorial Day starts out with a gathering on the bridge over the Vermillion river where a prayer is said and a representative of the Navy Mothers tosses a wreath into the river. The high school band plays a song there. Then, they go to the City park, where there are monuments to every foreign war. There is a ceremony with representatives from the VFW, combined Jr and high school bands, speakers, etc. A wreath is placed by the WW2 display (I believe) and there is a gun salute. The VFW does a flag lowering. A very moving tribute. And, of course, flags on display.

[Cunningham]

10:25 PM on 05/30/2011

Memorial Day, Pennsylvania - pic #2

The guy holding the US flag is about to fire one up. Wow

[s2at25]

10:23 PM on 05/30/2011

Memorial Day is to honor the people that did the job required by men of limited honor. This isn't the time or place to run down anyone but to say thanks to men and women who, sometimes against their own interests followed orders and did what needed to be done. I hope every generation has such people but that we spend them with more common sense.