US Memorial (Decoration) Day Readings • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ

This is an archive of public readings prepared for, or relevant to, Memorial Day in the United States, commemorated on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is the day previously known as Decoration Day. The first national observance of Decoration Day occurred on 30 May 1868 after having been proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War. In 1971, Congress changed its observance to the last Monday in May and officially renamed the day “Memorial Day,” a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service.
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For prayers composed for or relevant to Memorial (Decoration) Day in the United States, please visit here.
For prayers offered for the well-being of Military Personnel & Veterans, including the Israeli Defense Forces (צה״ל), please visit here.
For prayers composed for, or relevant to, Armistice/Veterans Day in the United States, go here.
For an archive of special readings for the Armistice/Veterans Day, go here.

💬 קריאות ליום הזכרון | Torah and Haftarah Readings for Days Memorializing Fallen Military Personnel, compiled by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer

Contributor(s):

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer and the Masoretic Text

This is a Torah reading (divided into three aliyot) and a Haftarah reading to be recited on Memorial Day or any local equivalent day to honor those who died for their nation. . . .

💬 Iwo Jima Memorial Address at Fifth Marine Division Cemetery, by Rabbi Chaplain Roland B. Gittelsohn (21 March 1945)

Contributor(s):

the Congressional Record of the United States of America, Roland B. Gittelsohn and Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

A chaplain’s eulogy over the fallen soldiers of Iwo Jima (also known under the title, “The Highest and Purest Democracy”) . . .

Stable Link: https://opensiddur.org/index.php?cat=3626

Associated Image:

still-frame of Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn's Eulogy at Iwo Jima: "The Highest and Purest Democracy" (via the National WW II Museum)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17