Remembering: Memorial Day

It began as a tradition during the Civil War, with the first unofficial events taking place on both sides of the war. The memorial days gained military recognition shortly after national military cemeteries began being created. After the war, and Abraham Lincoln's death, official occasions of the holiday began.
On May 1, 1865, black residents of Charleston, South Carolina, held a memorial to remember Union prisoners of war who had died at a prison camp there. That memorial was spread across the country by the newspapers, who called it "Decoration Day".

In the southern states "Confederate Memorial Day" began as a remembrance of Confederate war dead, in 1866. Most places chose April 26 as the day for the holiday, as it marked the day CS General Johnston surrendered to US General Sherman. Other areas chose to recognize various other auspicious dates, such as the death of CS General Jackson. Many of the southern states continue to recognize the day as a day to remember those who died for the South's cause, during the Civil War.

Then in 1868, a decree was issued, by the veterans' organization for Union Civil War veterans, The Grand Army of The Republic, for the holiday to be recognized nationally and annually. They copied much of their ceremonies from that of the southern states, and chose May 30 as the date for the holiday, mostly because no major battle had occurred on that date, and as flowers were readily available by then. Over the next few years it spread and by 1890 was recognized as an official state holiday in all of the northern states.

By 1882, Memorial Day was beginning to be used in northern states, instead of Decoration Day. However, it did not become common until after WWII. Then in 1967, Federal law officially declared it to known solely as Memorial Day. It was in 1968 that a law was passed to move Memorial Day, and other federal holidays, to only be held on Mondays, so as to allow for a three day weekend. In 1971, the law went into effect and Memorial Day was set to the last Monday of each May. Some feel that the move trivializes the meaning of the holiday.

Poroshenko Wins Ukraine's Elections

Petro Poroshenko won Ukraine's presidential elections, on Sunday.

He took more than fifty-four percent of the vote, while his nearest competitor took only thirteen.

Elections in much of the eastern part of the country had little or no turn out, due to threats of  violence from separatists.

Poroshenko, a billionaire who made much of his money as a candy maker, has pledged that he will not ever recognize Crimea's being part of Russia.

Russia seized Crimea, in March, and pushed through a referendum of secession from Ukraine, which most of the world considers illegal.

Ukraine Warns Off Encroaching Russian Helicopters

Ukrainian forces fired warning shots, on Saturday afternoon, at Russian helicopters.

Two MI-35 helicopters encroached upon Ukraine territory, north of Crimea.

A Ukrainian anti-aircraft battery fired to warn them off.

The Russian helicopters then turned back into Crimea, without damage or injury.

Al Shabaab Attack Leaves 10 Dead at Somalia's Parliament

Al Shabaab launched an attack on Somalia's parliament building, on Saturday.

The three hour attack left at least ten dead and eleven more wounded.

Officials said that multiple terrorist fighters were killed, but their dead were not included amongst the official numbers.

The attack began with a car being driven into the building and then exploded.

Other fighters then opened fire on security forces, civilians, government workers, and parliamentarians.

Security forces were eventually able to clear the area of the terrorists, some of whom had blown themselves up.

The attack highlighted the government's inability to defend itself, let alone the country from Al Shabaab.

Attack Near Donetsk Leaves 13 Soldiers Dead in Ukraine

Thirteen Ukrainian soldiers were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by separatists, outside of Donetsk.

Another thirty-three soldiers were injured in the attack.

Several military vehicles were pictured burnt out, at the site of the attack.

There was no word on separatist casualties.

Witnesses said that the separatists used an armored bank truck, which the soldiers waved through the checkpoint.

As they drove through, the separatists opened fire on the troops, at point blank range, leading to a very one sided battle.

Thailand's Army Announces Coup

On Thursday, Thailand's military announced that they were taking over the country's government.

They cited failed talks to stabilize things, after six months of anti government protests, as the reasoning for their coup.

Attempts to form protests against the coup were quickly dispersed by armed soldiers, who in some cases fired into the air to make their points clear.

Troops were also quick to disperse areas that had been occupied by the protesters, for the last six months.

The army had declared martial law, on Tuesday, but had still pushed for the different political parties to come to an agreement.

Their refusal to do so led to the military's move.

Terrorist Attack in China Kills 31

Thirty-one people were killed in a terrorist attack in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Thursday's attack struck at a market and wounded another ninety people.

Two cars were rammed into crowds at the market, while explosives were thrown out of the vehicles.

One of the cars exploded, killing the terrorists, before police could act.

The Xianjiang region has seen increased terrorism as tensions between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese grows.

North Korea and South Korea Naval Vessels Exchange Fire

North Korean and South Korean ships exchanged fire, on Thursday.

It began when a North Korean vessel fired two shots at a South Korean vessel, along the disputed maritime border.

The shots missed, and the South Korean ship responded with several warning shots.

Fishing vessels in the area were ordered back to port, in case of further incidents.

Officials are uncertain if the North Korean ship was actually targeting the South's.

US Army: Specialist Adrian M. Perkins

Specialist Adrian M. Perkins, nineteen of Pine Valley, California died on May 17.

He was shot and killed, in a noncombat incident, in Amman, Jordan.

Perkins was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

His decorations include: Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon.

1.8 Million Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled

Nearly two million pounds of ground beef have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.

All of the beef came out of the Wolverine Packaging Company, in Detroit, Michigan.

The meat was sold to restaurants throughout Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio.

Eleven cases of E. coli poisoning have been linked to the meat, in those four states.

Health officials remind consumers to be sure that all meat is cooked to at least one hundred and sixty degrees.