Letters from Fallen Soldiers Highlight Middletown Wallkill Memorial Day Service

The City of Middletown and Town of Wallkill residents honored fallen soldiers at a Memorial Day service at Middletown Elks Lodge on May 27.  The service was organized by the Middletown Wallkill Veterans Council, which is comprised of American Legion Post 151 and 1181 members.  Created by an order by General John Logan about three years after the Civil War, Memorial Day—formerly called Decoration Day—was meant to honor fallen soldiers by placing “the choicest flowers of springtime” above their graves and other fitting arrangements.  Several letters penned by U.S. soldiers who did not make it home from major wars were read at the service. ...