Memorial Day
“And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.” Genesis 35:19 KJV
Decoration Day was a day that was set aside to visit cemeteries and place flowers on the graves of the soldiers who lost their lives in the battles fought in the Civil War. In 1882, people started calling it Memorial Day. After World War I and World War II it became more of a day to honor all the men and women who lost their lives in battle, no matter which war they fought in. Originally it was on May 30, because there were no notable Civil War battles fought that day and because most flowers were in full bloom that day.
Close to Civil War Battlefields popped up several National Cemeteries. By 1870, there were 73 such National Cemeteries. Gettysburg and Arlington National Cemetery are two of the more famous ones. Many rituals are performed on this day at many of the National Cemeteries. For example, at Arlington National Cemetery more than 260,000 flags are placed exactly one boot length and center on the headstones of every grave.
In 1971, Congress passed a law moving Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May. This was so most people could have a three day holiday. Many would argue that this has taken away from the real meaning of the holiday and turned it into a three-day mini vacation, where very few people participate in any activity to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.
The address is 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the location of Crown Hill Cemetery. The first 236 acres of this cemetery were purchased in 1863 from three farmers for $51,000. The first burial took place in June of the following year. In 1866 the US Government purchased land for a National Cemetery here and the first 707 soldiers were moved here. The first “Memorial Day” was celebrated here on May 30, 1868. In 1872, Crown Hill gets what you might call its first celebrity. His name was Edward Black and at 8-1/2 years old he was a drummer boy in the US Army and the youngest soldier. There are 1600 Confederate POWs buried here.
Crown Hill also is the final resting place of several other “celebrities.” Among them are three Vice Presidents: Thomas A. Hendricks (VP in 1885), Charles Fairbanks (VP in 1918 and who Fairbanks, Alaska is named for), and Thomas Marshall (VP from 1913-1921). Also buried here are: Dr. John S. Bobbs (performed the first Gall Bladder surgery in the country), Kin Hubbard (a newspaper cartoonist), Booth Tarkington (author/playwright who won two Pulitzer Prizes), Dr. Richard Gatling (inventor of the Gatling Gun), Edward “Cannonball” Baker (drove in the first Indianapolis 500), Robert Irsay (the NFL owner who many in Baltimore have still not forgiven for moving the Colts to Indianapolis), 14 Governors of Indiana, and many politicians. But probably the most famous to lie here is the one given the nickname: Public Enemy at Crown Hill.
By some Jewish traditions, she is referred to as the “Eternal Mother.” It is said many believe she cares for children when they are distressed. She is the mother of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. One tradition says Joseph was the first person to pray at his mother’s tomb. Another legend says that when Joseph was taken away, after being sold into slavery, he broke away and returned to his mother’s grave. He shouted: “Mother! Mother! Wake up. Arise and see my suffering.” He heard his mom’s calm voice say, “Do not fear. Go with them and God will be with you.” I’m not sure if these events really happened, but many find comfort by visiting Rachel’s Tomb in a little town they call Bethlehem.
The Public Enemy at Crown Hill was probably the most notorious gangster in American history. He robbed twenty-four banks and four police stations. In one bank robbery he jumped into a car outside the bank and it wasn’t until he opened the glove box and noticed the pair of handcuffs that he realized it was a police car. He also escaped from jail twice. He was betrayed by the “Woman in Red” outside a theater in Chicago. Ana Cumpanas, aka Anna Sage, agreed to cooperate in return for not being deported back to her native land of Romania. She was deported anyway. His name was John Herbert Dillinger. He has been portrayed in at least twelve movies. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Rachel’s Tomb is located in a Muslim cemetery, even though it is the third holiest in Judaism. As Jacob’s wife and Joseph’s mother, she is of course mentioned in the Jewish and Christian Old Testament. But she is also mentioned in Muslim literature. The domed structure that currently surrounds it dates back to the Muslim Ottoman Empire. The most interesting part of the burial of Rachel, in my opinion, is that this is the first time Bethlehem is mentioned in the Bible. Today, one of the most visited sites in Bethlehem doesn’t honor the death of Rachael, but the birth of Jesus, one of her descendants.
Oh, I forgot to tell you about another resident of Crown Hill Cemetery. I pretty sure there haven’t been 12 movies about him. There probably isn’t that much excitement in those who visit his grave. Since Crown Hill Cemetery list its “Notable Persons” in alphabetical order, he falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. His listing simply states: “Benjamin Harrison 1833-1901 Section 13, Lot 57 US Senator, 23rd President 1889-1893.” Maybe he should have invented something or robbed a bank.
Prayer: Father, Memorial Day is a very special day for us. Often we get caught in the excitement of the three-day weekend and we forgot to take a moment to remember those who gave so much so we can have the freedoms we experience today. Like our own lives, we often take more notice in the things that excite us and we forget about those who have truly made it possible. Thank you for those who gave so much. Amen.
