Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Calling all with military photos

Have you served your country in the military? Perhaps you have a son, daughter, brother, aunt, cousin or friend who made that sacrifice. Heres an opportunity to show your support for those people.

The front window of the Nevada County Picayune will be dedicated to those military men and women with Nevada County ties.

Photos of anyone who served in the military, whether during war time or peace time, can be featured in the display. Photos should be no larger than 8-inches by 10-inches. Anyone who plans to submit a photo is encouraged to use a copy - originals are too precious for use in a display of this type. Paper copies are acceptable. Remember that photos are going to be taped or tacked to display boards. Please dont submit photos that would be damaged with this type of handling. Anyone who submits photos may pick them up anytime after the Chicken and Egg Festival on June 2.

Photos of anyone with ties to Nevada County may be posted - whether the serviceman or woman lived in the county or had family here.

Memorial Day is on May 29. While many Americans know this only as a day off work, the day was originally a day for decorating the graves of those soldiers who had served in the Civil War. Theres no clear evidence as to where and when exactly the practice started, though several towns and organizations claim to have been instrumental.

Memorial Day became official in 1868, and the first Memorial Day - or Decoration Day, as it was often called - was observed at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, Memorial Day has become a recognized holiday for most workers. Its also the official kick-off for the summer season. Many pools, water parks, camp grounds and other outdoor businesses open their doors to summer tourists beginning on Memorial Day.

One of the traditional events of Memorial Day is the wearing of red poppies. That tradition began with a poem, written by Moina Michael. Michael heard the poem, In Flanders Field, then wrote, We cherish too the poppy red; That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies; The blood of heroes never dies.

For more information about posting a military photo, call the Picayune office at 887-2002.