Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day - a time set aside to honor fallen soldiers of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. The first Decoration Day was observed on May 30, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. On that day, the largest known ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, across the river from Washington D.C. Read More
This Memorial Day weekend, we honor and thank all of the men and women who have served our country.
Source: whitehouse.gov
Before they were Presidents -
During World War II, George Bush became a decorated naval pilot who flew torpedo bombers. In 1944, he was shot down over the island of Chi Chi Jima and rescued.
Pictured here is Navy Pilot George Bush in a VT-51 “Avenger,” 1944; and World War II aircraft and ships.
Source: bushlibrary.tamu.edu
On May 15, 1942, Lieutenant Ronald Reagan requested a transfer to the Army Air Force. As part of the transfer, Reagan was assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit. There, he worked on, and eventually starred in, film shorts to promote World War II efforts.
This movie still of Ronald Reagan in a P-40 airplane is from the Army Air Force training film “Identification of a Japanese Zero.” 1943
Source: reagan.utexas.edu
Orders for Gerald R. Ford to report for military duty in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
5/13/42
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
“The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945.
EISENHOWER”
Top secret document sent by General Eisenhower to his superior officers to inform them that his mission was fulfilled - Germany was defeated and the war in Europe was over.
-from the Eisenhower Library
The Unconditional Surrender of German
On May 7, 1945, the European conflict of World War II ended when Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France.
In this photo, Colonel General Gustaf Jodl, German Chief of Staff signs the documents of unconditional surrender, under which all remaining forces of German Army are bound to lay down their arms.
On Jodl’s left is General Admiral Von Friedeburg of the German Navy, on his right is Major Wilhelm Oxenius of the German General Staff.
-from the FDR Library
Vice President George Bush’s Notes Regarding the Assassination Attempt on President Ronald Reagan, 03/30/1981
This item is a Flight Information Card produced by the 89th Military Airlift Group for use aboard Air Force Two. In addition to information about a flight from Austin, Texas to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, there are notes handwritten by Vice President George H. W. Bush during the flight. These notes record the Vice President’s thoughts after being notified that there had been an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Source: research.archives.gov
For the first time in 12 years, no American military forces are in Vietnam.
President Richard Nixon
March 29, 1973, Address to the Nation on the final withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Vietnam.
Source: presidency.ucsb.edu
President Dwight D. Eisenhower died on March 28, 1969 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Memorial services for the former president and general were held at Washington National Cathedral and at the U.S. Capitol, shown here.
The funeral procession moved down Constitution Avenue to the Capitol for ceremony, musical honors and a 21-gun salute. Inside the Capitol rotunda, the eulogy was delivered by President Richard Nixon.
The final resting place of Dwight D. Eisenhower is on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library, just across from his boyhood home.
Source: research.archives.gov
Marines raising the flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle for Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945.
Source: research.archives.gov
