Dear Storm King Community;

We celebrate Memorial Day this year on Monday, May 31, 2021. Memorial Day was originally celebrated as “Decoration Day” and first celebrated after the Civil War. It was first called Memorial Day in 1882 and it became a Federal Holiday in 1967. While we recognize all US service personnel on days like Veterans Day and Memorial Day, Memorial Day is a chance to especially recognize those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

At The Storm King School, we commemorate the day by placing a wreath by Memorial Rock at the north end of our playing field. There are 26 names of Storm King Graduates on the plaques on Memorial Rock who died during WWI, WWII, and other conflicts. When all of our students are in session, we gather to hear a poem read, listen to ‘Taps,” and reflect on the meaning of the day, and those Storm King alumni who gave their lives for our country.

The Storm King School has students from all over the world and it is worth noting that most countries have similar days meant to remember those who gave their all for their country. We honor their memory on this day and ask that everyone take time to reflect on the meaning of such devotion.

In Flanders Fields
by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
A poem about soldiers who lost their lives in World War I written on May 3, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

Decoration Day
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, from The Atlantic, June 1882

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentry’s shot alarms!
Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannon’s sudden roar,
Or the drum’s redoubling beat.
But in this Camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.
All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!
Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.
Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

On behalf of everyone at The Storm King School, I wish everyone a restful and peaceful Memorial Day weekend.

Sincerely,