Traditionalists want return of Memorial Day to May 30

Thursday, May 28, 1998 | 10:22 a.m.

A growing number of veterans say they would like to see the traditional May 30 date for Memorial Day re-established as the official day of observation.

Incoming Veterans of Foreign Wars Nevada District 5 Commander Jon Grubbs says he wishes it would be changed from the last Monday in May to May 30, the date that was first observed as Decorations Day in 1868.

Grubbs says that his organization at 10 a.m. on Saturday will unveil the VFW monument in a true Memorial Day ceremony at The Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

Legislation, which was lobbied for by the American Legion, has been sent to Congress to change Memorial Day back to May 30. In 1971, the federal government changed the Memorial Day observation to establish it as a three-day holiday.

Proponents say that re-establishing the old Memorial Day date will encourage more Americans to reflect on the holiday as a day of remembrance for fallen warriors instead of an extended beer-and-barbecue party to kick off the summer.

Members of Southern Nevada groups that sell Buddy Poppies to raise money for hospitalized veterans say that because Memorial Day was observed so early this year there may be waning interest in this final week of the big drive.

"It will hurt fund-raising, but we'll still be out there doing the poppy drive this week," said Phyllis Fox, treasurer of Jewish War Veterans Charles Kandel Post 711 Auxiliary. "I have always thought the decision to change the holiday was a bad one."

Fellow JWV Post 711 Auxiliary member Marjorie Lieberman agrees, noting that there are misconceptions about the 76-year-old poppy program.

"The majority of people are generous, but I still get those who say they don't want to help just Jewish veterans," Lieberman said. "Although each group puts its organization's name on the poppies, the money goes to help all veterans regardless of their race or religion."

Lieberman, 78, says she personally observes Memorial Day on May 30: "I saw no reason to change the date. I guess I'm a traditionalist."

The 102-year-old JWV, as well as the American Legion, VFW and other veterans groups, distributes the paper and plastic poppies that were established in 1922 in exchange for donations.

Each year, the Buddy Poppy raises tens of millions of dollars to assist hospitalized and indigent veterans, defray postage costs on packages to military personnel overseas and help fund military base family service programs.