Memorial Day, also called Decoration Day, is a patriotic holiday in the United States. It is a day to honor Americans who gave their lives for their country. Originally, Memorial Day honored military personnel who died in the Civil War (1861-1865). The holiday now also honors those who died in any war while serving the United States. Memorial Day is a legal holiday in most states. Most Northern States and some Southern States observe Memorial Day the last Monday in May. This date was made a federal holiday by a law that became effective in 1971. Most of the Southern States also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates the last Monday in April as Confederate Memorial Day. Alabama celebrates on the fourth Monday in April. Georgia observes this holiday on April 26. North Carolina and South Carolina celebrate it on May 10. Virginia observes the holiday on the last Monday in May. Louisiana observes it on June 3, and Tennessee has a holiday called Confederate Decoration Day on that date. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on January 19. Observance. On Memorial Day, people place flowers and flags on the graves of military personnel. Many organizations, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and fraternal groups, march in military parades and take part in special programs. These programs often include the reading of Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." Memorials are often dedicated on this day. Military exercises and special programs are held at Gettysburg National Military Park and at the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In addition, to honor those who died at sea, some United States ports organize ceremonies in which miniature ships filled with flowers are set afloat on the water. Since the end of World War I, Memorial Day has also been Poppy Day. Volunteers sell small, red artificial poppies in order to help disabled veterans. In recent years, the custom has grown in most families to decorate the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day. History. Several communities claim to have originated Memorial Day. But in 1966, the U.S. government proclaimed Waterloo, New York, the birthplace of the holiday. The people of Waterloo first observed Memorial Day on May 5, 1866, to honor soldiers killed in the American Civil War. Businesses closed, and people decorated soldiers' graves and flew flags at half-mast. Enjoy your freedom while celebrating this Memorial Day weekend, and remember the sacrifices so many brave Americans have made, and are still making today, so that you can relax and enjoy the Holiday weekend how ever YOU choose.

Wedding Attendants' Responsibilities

Maid or Matron of Honor: Acts as official witness. Usually signs marriage license. Helps bride select attendants’ attire and colors. Assists at bridal showers, gift openings, and records gifts. Helps bride dress and prepare for ceremony. Holds bouquet, rearranges veil and train during ceremony. Assists bride in changing to going-away apparel. May arrange for gown cleaning or bouquet preservation. Best Man: Acts as official witness. Usually signs marriage license. Helps arrange pre-wedding festivities that honor the groom. Attends and assists groom throughout wedding day. Carries rings and wedding license to the ceremony. Oversees ushers’ functions. Toastmaster at bridal table. Drives wedding car, if no limousine. Returns groom’s rental formal wear along with his own. Bridesmaids: Help arrange showers and attend all pre-wedding festivities. Assist in making reception favors/filling rice bags. May light candles, attend guest book, gifts, etc. Groomsmen/Ushers: Attend pre-wedding festivities that honor the groom. Groomsmen escort bridesmaids during ceremonies and reception. Ushers greet and seat all guests. Unroll aisle runner. Also distribute maps, drive cars, run errands, attend or move gifts. Flower Girl: Precedes the bride down the aisle, tossing flower petals. Her dress may complement the bridesmaids, or the bride. Ring Bearer/Page: Precedes bride down the aisle, bearing actual rings or replica rings secured to a satin pillow. Escorts flower girl. Apparel complements groomsmen, groom, or flower girl.

Upcoming Wedding Event with OC Brides Tuesday, May 15, 2012 • 6:30pm - 9:00pm Mozambique Restaurant 1740 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach www.ocbrides.com We will be there handing out Wedding Guide books, and see our Elegant Wind Waves in action! www.ElegantWindWaves.com

Mother's Day Weddings

Mother's Day is a great day for a Wedding! Mother's Day is set apart every year in honor of motherhood. On the second Sunday in May, many families and churches make a special point of honoring mothers. Many people follow the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. A colored carnation means that a person's mother is living. A white carnation indicates that a person's mother is dead. A day for honoring mothers was observed many years ago in England. It was called Mothering Sunday, and came in mid-Lent. Yugoslavs and people in other nations have observed similar days. Julia Ward Howe made the first known suggestion for a Mother's Day in the United States in 1872. She suggested that people observe a Mother's Day on June 2 as a day dedicated to peace. For several years, she held an annual Mother's Day meeting in Boston. Mary Towles Sasseen, a Kentucky schoolteacher, started conducting Mother's Day celebrations in 1887. Frank E. Hering of South Bend, Ind., launched a campaign for the observance of Mother's Day in 1904. Three years later, Anna Jarvis of Grafton, W. Va., and Philadelphia, began a campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother's Day. She chose the second Sunday in May, and began the custom of wearing a carnation. On May 10, 1908, churches in Grafton and Philadelphia held Mother's Day celebrations. The service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton honored the memory of Anna Jarvis' own mother, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis. At the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1912, a delegate from Andrews Church introduced a resolution recognizing Anna Jarvis as the founder of Mother's Day. It suggested that the second Sunday in May be observed as Mother's Day. Mother's Day received national recognition on May 9, 1914. On that day, President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution of Congress recommending that Congress and the executive departments of the federal government observe Mother's Day. The next year, President Wilson was authorized to proclaim Mother's Day an annual national observance. We hope everyone finds a special way to remember your Mother this weekend. Happy Mother's Day!

Wedding Planning Stress

Avoiding Stress As anyone who has ever planned a wedding can tell you, the months leading up to your big day can be a time of stress as well as happiness. There’s so much to think about and do, and all this while you are having the inevitable bridal jitters. Fortunately, there are ways to control our anxiety. Below are a few common sense suggestions: Communicate Your Feelings Be open and honest if you’re feeling upset. Tell your fiancé or family what is bothering you. Don’t try to keep stressful feelings to yourself as they may transfer to something or someone else. Take positive action whenever possible - worrying never solved a problem. Share Responsibilities Do not assume you have to do everything yourself. This idea is outdated and exhausting. Ask your fiancé to go over the checklists in this book and handle as many of the planning functions as possible. Pace Yourself In the beginning stages of planning your wedding, you have several major decisions to make. Do not try to tackle them all at once. Plan to accomplish one major job a day. Have A System It will give you the secure feeling that you are not forgetting something crucial. Try to break down each task into organized steps. Then decide how long each step should take and who will do it. Set a completion date for each step and stay on schedule. Take Care Of Your Health Eat right and be sure to get enough rest and exercise. Take advantage of time-tested soothers at night, such as a hot bath, warm milk or a back rub. Remember, this is fun...