Decoration Day

On Tuesday, May 30, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sunshine. "Decoration Day". Arose 8 a.m. Shaved. Aunt Annah's goods came to house. Papa came down. Ate lunch at Mrs. Raines. Went up street to get things for Mary. Met Papa, Everett, Skin, Mr. Thompson and Capt. Rowan. Col. Jno. S. Mosby died in Washington. Ate supper over home. Mrs. R came down. Dr. J.C. Burks called me on phone. On Wednesday, May 31, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cool-Pleasant. Arose 7:15 a.m. Got to work at 8:30. Wrote up 2 deeds (cys.) Mary began "treatment" today. Paid off. Talked to Howard Fisher, Carter Thompson, Jack Bowdell, Mr. Steffey. Worked until 5:30. Paid some bills. Got ice cream. Mary feeling "blue". Ate supper 7 p.m. Mrs. R. down. End of month note: This has been a beautiful month. A few severely hot days. We had one holiday, "Memorial Day" in May. I was ill for a week this month. Laid off at home 2 days. Two or three electrical storms. Interesting that Bonnie wrote about Memorial Day as "Decoration Day". If I have my stuff straight, Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and was a day for remembering all those who have gone before us, not just our military and the custom was to go and decorate their graves, thus, Decoration Day. It was also apparently on May 30 and not the last Monday in May. Still apparently it was a day off for Bonnie and a time to get together with family and friends. I wonder what kind of treatment Mary was receiving? We have had some strong storms here in May 2010 as well. We had a great Memorial Day, as my family surprised me with an early Father's Day present and we traveled to Charlotte, NC after church on Sunday to go to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. It was great and Caleb and I really enjoyed ourselves while the ladies shopped. Incidentally, I looked up Col. John S. Mosby and discovered that he was also known as the "Gray Ghost". Col. Mosby was a Confederate calvary batallion commander during the Civil War. His men, "Mosby's Raiders", were known for their lightning quick raids and their ability to elude their Union pursuers, by blending in with local farmers and towns people. Mosby was born in Powhatan, VA and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College. I love the history that is Bonnie's diary as well as the history that he notes IN the diary. Fitting that this note was on Memorial Day. Ironic that Col. Mosby died on Memorial Day.