Category: Education

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American Heritage school ranked number one for a reason

Recent American Heritage School graduate Jordan Bouchner proudly joins 77 other seniors named National Merit Scholars this past February during their senior year.

American Heritage School is a private, college preparatory school for ages Pre-K through 12. This year marks the 11th consecutive year the school has had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. One in four students in the Class of 2021 scored in the top one percent of students in the nation.

Both American Heritage’s Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations rank as the number one private school in the United States. Their combined students from both campuses comprise 10 percent of all National Merit Scholars in the 2,227public and private schools in Florida.

“The recognition was nice, and the scholarship was especially comforting due to the uncertainty that we had with how the pandemic would affect our ability to pay for college,” Bouchner said.

Jordan Bouchner

According to Bouchner, the preparation for the PSAT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) began during his sophomore year. If a student scores a certain percentage, American Heritage puts the student in a class to prepare for the exam.

These students practiced and reviewed throughout the summer to prepare to take the exam at the beginning of their junior year. Bouchner took the exam in October of 2018. Once scores were received, Bouchner received the award for semifinalist. He took the exam and applied for the scholarship in his senior year.

The top scorers in Florida on the PSAT exam advance from semifinalists to finalist status in the spring and are eligible to receive college scholarships.

Bouchner applied to be a finalist and was awarded a scholarship for college later that year.

“I knew going in it would be long and hard, but it worked. American Heritage does a good job encouraging students to go after these scholarships and try harder on the PSAT. They definitely have a plan for a lot of their scholarship kids to mold them into successful graduates.”

In addition to the millions of dollars in possible scholarships, these bright students now have new college opportunities and confidence in their futures.

According to the National Merit Scholarship organization, colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt enroll the most talented National Merit Scholars.

President of American Heritage Schools Dr. Douglas Laurie, said, “Not only are they nationally recognized as the top one percent academically, but they are also extremely well- rounded, excelling both in and out of the classroom in fine arts, sports, and community service.”

Bouchner as well as the other 21 students, proudly accepted their scholarships and are now excelling and accomplishing greater paths at colleges around the nation.

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Coding school comes to Coral Springs

“Learn to code. Change the world.”

That’s the motto of theCoderSchool coming to Coral Springs. The school at 10633 Wiles Road is owned and operated by Aditi and Rajiv Ralhan.

The duo will be bringing nearly two decades of technology experience to the school, both having extensive backgrounds in computer science and software development.

Both Aditi and Rajiv moved to South Florida from India. Rajiv came to the United States in 2002 to complete his Masters in computer science at Florida Atlantic University.

Aditi came to Florida to be with her husband in 2007, completing her MBA at Florida Atlantic University.

“We are excited to open our fi rst CoderSchool in Coral Springs,” said Aditi. “Learning how to code gives children the upper hand in their future.” The school accepts students ages 7 to 18. Classes are virtual now but the facility is expected to open by the end of the year.

Visit https://www.thecoderschool.com/locations/coralsprings/ for more information.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ralhan’s emphasize the importance of keeping kids engaged and learning as parents continue to adjust to virtual learning.

“Our school will allow children to work with our code coaches directly, feel accomplished and proud of their work, and the best part is that they will be learning skills that will help them for their future potential careers,” said Aditi.

Founded in 2014 by Hansel Lynn and franchised in 2016, theCoderSchool was built to provide children aged 7 to 18 with a welcoming environment to develop computer programming skills.

theCoderSchool uses a variety of platforms to teach various coding languages, such as HTML, CSS, Python, JavaScript and more. Every lesson is customized with the help of trained Code Coaches® who use a 2-on-1 approach to teaching.

“As we continue to expand our presence throughout the country, it’s critical to find the right franchise partners, like Aditi and Rajiv, who truly know the importance of coding,” added Lynn. “We are excited the Coral Springs location will be opening virtually and in the future expand their options to in-person learning.”

The school has over 45 locations in over 15 states. For more information, visit http://www.thecoderschool.com/.

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To my fellow students (re: COVID-19)

I’ve been putting off writing this for some time now. Mainly, because every week, every day, and every hour, some circumstance changes regarding the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. I, as a sophomore in college, of course, find this terribly frustrating; but, in my gut, I also know this frustration is privileged. I know well enough that as students in the year 2020, we are incredibly lucky to be able to continue learning online as a result of the modern advancements in technology.

On the flip side of that coin, there is a small part of me that also lives with my peers and knows that living life behind a screen certainly isn’t fulfilling. However, rather than whine and moan about the moments which will not come to fruition, I am going to choose instead to use those initial feelings of frustration as a motivator to appreciating what it is about college that translates into the cliché “best four years of my life”— and urge my classmates to turn this pandemic into a moment of appreciation as well.

As I sat on the couch with my father last night, we spoke about his favorite memories from his time at West Virginia University. While watching his face light up at the mention of studying with friends late in the library or eating cold pizza for breakfast, I was able to identify my own value in what I thought was freedom. However, after a second thought, I realized it was simply the connection and the endless possibilities to connect with students, teachers, strangers, and friends. These relations cultivated in the library, or even on the street, are what sets the college campus’ apart.

Although I, and many others, may not get those opportunities for connection this year, I can appreciate them more now knowing that they may be gone. How many times in your life have you stopped to think about how wonderful something was only after it was gone?

If anything, this pandemic has brought us all an opportunity for reflection and evaluation of the things we hold dear.

Although students across the country will experience this school year from behind a computer screen, we must all remember that
we are still a part of something bigger than ourselves. If I could only say one thing to my peers, it would be to remember this: every face mask you wear, every cancellation of your favorite school event, and every time you find yourself missing the sight of raised hands next to you — those sacrifices are part of something bigger, and that selfless connection between you and others will be worth it in the long run.

Stay motivated, and stay safe,

Madison Smith

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Teachers’ COVID-19 Survival Guide

The first day of school is always such a special day! A day filled with excitement, anticipation, and joy. A brand new beginning
is upon us. A day that is filled with hope! Hope for our youth, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for our future. The building is always abuzz with the hustle and bustle of teachers reorganizing their classrooms, decorating bulletin boards, color-coordinating folders. Teachers are reviewing lesson plans, sharing new ideas, discussing their summer vacations. Smiles are given by your favorite custodian, warm hugs from the office staff, and you notice the familiar smells wafting from the cafeteria. There is the prospect of eager new students dressed in their new clothes, shoes, and backpacks.

Unfortunately, it’s September 2020 and none of those things are possible right now. With all the changes this year, your excitement may be replaced with anxiety and dread. Some questions you may ask yourself are: How am I going to do this? How can I possibly prepare? How will I actively engage my students? What if I can’t work the technology? One thing to remember is that we cannot control the external circumstances and challenges present this year. The good news is we can make personal changes that will help to decrease or eliminate our anxiety related to this school year.

Here is a Survival Guide which you can begin practicing right now!

What can I do right now:

  • Sleep 7-8 hours per night
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat healthily
  • Meditate
  • Engage in activities unrelated to work
  • Connect with others
  • Limit social media and all media
  • Practice self-compassion (kindness talk)

What can I do next week:

  • Set up a dedicated workspace. This helps form a work mode versus a disconnected mode.
  • Set up boundaries. Be sure to set up a designated time for office hours where the students, parents, and even administration can reach you. Respond during these hours only. Midnight texts, emails, and phone calls are unacceptable!
  • Set up reasonable expectations for yourself and your students. By setting up small, timely, realistic goals, you will feel more fulfilled. This will help to maintain your mental health.
  • Change your mindset. Think about what you have control over and make the decision to be positive. Wake up with gratitude every day.
  • Stop apologizing. Instead of starting a sentence with “I’m sorry, but,” be specific about what you need and what you are capable of doing. Do not apologize for setting boundaries or taking time for yourself.
  • Carve out time for your self-care. Self-care is not selfish.

What can I do when feeling anxious during the school year:

  • Reach out to others
  • Call others
  • Video chat, Face Time, Zoom
  • Suggest a zoom book club, yoga session, or cooking club
  • Connections are crucial. You’ll be glad you did it, I promise!

How can I help my students when they are anxious:

  • Praise students for facing their fears.
  • Model good coping behaviors.
  • Validate and be supportive of your students.
  • Be open and honest with your students while reminding them that there is much thought and planning put into keeping them safe.
  • Provide new and accurate information in a timely manner while allowing students to safely express their concerns.
  • Provide an emotionally safe space for all students.

What can I do with my students when we are both feeling anxious:

  • Deep breathing
  • Support the use of comfort objects
  • Teach and practice meditation techniques
  • Teach and practice grounding techniques by using all five senses.

Gratitude for teachers is sometimes left unspoken. Know that you are appreciated and we are grateful for you. This too shall pass and when it does, our teachers will be celebrated as the heroes of the pandemic of 2020.

 

By Stacie Boyar

Stacie Boyar is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice for the past five years at Grace Counseling in Coral Springs. She also has a master’s degree in education. Because of COVID-19, she has been providing services exclusively through www.telehealth.com.

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SoFlo BUZZ: CSMoA receives humanities endowment/Grad wins Daggerwing scholarship

Coral Springs Museum of Art receives humanities endowment

The Coral Springs Museum of Art was awarded $10,000 in funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities through a grant from Florida Humanities as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.

“We are navigating through challenging times in our nation and community due to health and financial impacts COVID-19 has posed globally,” said Development Manager, Gabrielle Grundy-Lester. “We are grateful to have been awarded this grant as funding will help to support administrative costs for the organization.”

The Coral Springs Museum of Art is committed to providing the community with virtual opportunities to engage and connect with dynamic exhibits, artists, as well as educational programs for children.

North Broward Prep grad wins Daggerwing scholarship

Megan Mui, a new graduate of North Broward Preparatory School, has been awarded a scholarship by the Friends of Daggerwing Nature Center in Boca Raton.

She received the 2020 Scott Cowan Memorial Scholarship. Megan is a 2020 National Merit winner who plans to pursue a pre-med program at the University of South Florida. She is a weekly volunteer at the ER desk at Bethesda Health, in Boynton Beach, FL.

“We hope to both continue and expand our volunteer scholarship program to recognize and celebrate these young volunteers
who make a valued contribution to our nature center,” said Edith Cowan, FOD President, and mother of Scott Cowan, for whom the scholarship is named.

The non-profit organization was formed to help support and expand Daggerwing Nature Center’s programs and activities for the families and schools in the local communities.

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SoFlo BUZZ: Broward Center graduates teen ambassadors

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts recently honored the 10th graduating class of the Broward Center Teen Ambassador program from area high schools and home schooling programs.

With theaters dark, the students concluded the program by reviewing streaming performances of Broadway, classical, dance, opera, and jazz remotely. The final meeting of the season was held via ZOOM where students gathered to look back on the year, share memories, and hear the graduating seniors share their future plans.

The Teen Ambassador program fosters the next generation of performing arts fans and nurtures a fresh perspective on traditional and contemporary arts. Acting as in-house theater critics, they demonstrate a dedication to both the performing arts and writing. The students also earn community service hours through the program.

Public, private, and home-schooled high school students residing in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties are eligible to participate in the Teen Ambassador program. The deadline to apply for the 2020-2021 class is August 28. Applications are available now at BrowardCenter.org/ education/studentprograms/teen- ambassadors. Call 954.468.2689 or e-mail teenambassador@ browardcenter.org for more information.

The 2019-2020 graduating class includes Adelina Marinello, American Heritage; Megan Price, Cardinal Gibbons; Alan Halaly, Deerfield Beach; Maya Washburn, Florida Virtual; Carmela Cinnante, Home-school; Mariah McSweeney, McFatter; Allison Garland, Nova; Alexa Domash, Olympic Heights; Abbie Kopelwitz and Emma Wasserman, Western.

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SoFlo BUZZ: Coral Springs names MLK scholarship recipients

The City of Coral Springs MLK Committee, in partnership with the Coral Springs Community Chest, has announced the 18 high school seniors who were awarded scholarship funds for the 2020-2021 academic year.

“The 18 individuals exemplify and embody the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings on peace, racial harmony, community service, and bettering the lives of others,” the committee explained.

2020 MLK scholarship recipients

J.P. Taravella High School: Fabian Landino – in honor of Walter “Skip” Campbell; Boaz Levy – in honor of Walter “Skip” Campbell.

Coral Springs High School: Johann Cifuentes – in honor of Walter “Skip” Campbell; Maham Khan; Zenique Reynolds; Isabella Alfano; Nicole Sanhueza; Dorien King; Tiffany Persaud; Kanksha Parikh.

Coral Glades High School: Cheyenne Levine
Coral Springs Charter School: Gardy Belot; Gianna Rodriguez; Isabella Zolla.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: Katherine Sharrouf; Mariana Lopez; Daniela Guere; Zareyah Simpson

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SoFlo BUZZ: It’s turtle time!

“Moonlight Turtle Walks” sponsored by the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, will take place July 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 16 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Turtle Walk adventure begins at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, with a presentation by museum staff about sea turtles. Guests will then travel to Fort Lauderdale Beach where a museum guide will scout sea turtles’ nests.

From spring to early fall, female sea turtles embark on an annual pilgrimage to the same beach where they were born to build nests and lay eggs at night before returning to the ocean.

Guests should be prepared to walk approximately one to two miles in the sand and provide their own transportation and snacks. Participants must be 9 years of age or older.

Space for these events is limited. The price for museum members is $19 and $21 for non-museum members. To secure your spot, visit mods.org/turtlewalks2020 or call 954.713.0930.

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Patriotic songs touchstone of Fourth of July

It’s the season of patriotic songs. You know the melodies, and maybe the lyrics, and now we present you with a little of the history of some of the most well-known and well-loved.

God Bless America

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies/To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies/To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home

To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home/

God bless America, my home sweet home

Irving Berlin might be best known for songs such as “White Christmas,” “Easter Parade,” and scores for 19 Broadway shows and
18 movies, but he also wrote “God Bless America.” In 1918, Berlin, a Russian immigrant, was serving in the U.S. Army in Yaphank, New York. “God Bless America” was intended for the finale of his comedic all-soldier music revue, Yip Yap Yaphank, but Berlin decided to cut it, and did nothing with the song for 20 years. Then, in response to the growing conflict in Europe, he made revisions to the unpublished song, and Kate Smith first sang it on her radio program on Armistice Day, (now called Veterans Day), broadcast in 1938. “God Bless America” became her signature song.

America the Beautiful (1st stanza)

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties/Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood/From sea to shining sea!

The author of “America the Beautiful,” Katharine Lee Bates, was a Massachusetts native who became an English literature professor at Wellesley College. It was on an 1893 trip to Colorado, on Pike’s Peak, that she began to formulate the words to “America the Beautiful.” Her poem first appeared in The Congregationalist, a weekly newspaper, on July 4,1895. Over time, Bates made a few revisions to the words and for years, the poem was sung to many popular tunes, including “Auld Lang Syne.” Today it is sung to a melody written in 1882 by Samuel Augustus Ward, a Newark, New Jersey, church organist and choir director who originally wrote the tune to accompany the words of a 16th century hymn. Although they did not know each other, Bates’ poem and Ward’s music were published together in 1910.

The Stars and Stripes Forever

When you think of military marches, you think of John Philip Sousa. Sousa first became famous as the leader of the U.S. Marine Band and then with the Sousa Band, which toured for nearly 40 years. Known as “The March King,” he composed over 100 marches including “Semper Fidelis” (1888), which became the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps, and the rousing, July 4th favorite, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” (1896), the national march of the United States. And yes, the “The Stars and Stripes Forever” has lyrics, but they are much lesser known than the tune itself.

The Star Spangled Banner (1st stanza)

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,/Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,/O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?/And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The lyrics to the “The Star Spangled Banner” are a poem titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” written by lawyer, Francis Scott Key, during the War of 1812. Upon seeing a large American victory flag waving after a night of intense British bombardment at the Battle of Baltimore, Key was moved to write the poem. It was paired with a British tune written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society and became known as “The Star Spangled Banner.” (For those not in know, Anacreon was an ancient Greek poet known for his celebrations of love and wine.) Declared the national anthem in 1931, and often played at professional sporting events, “The Star Spangled Banner” is notoriously challenging to sing given its difficult lyrics and high pitched and held notes.

God Bless the USA

If tomorrow all the things were gone I worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife

I thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom/And they can’t take that away
And I’m proud to be an American/Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you/And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea

From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.
Well, there’s pride in every American heart/And it’s time we stand and say
That I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died/Who gave that right to me
And I’d gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

Singer songwriter Lee Greenwood released “God Bless the USA” in 1984. Greenwood, and the song, which peaked at Number 7 on the country chart, were nominated for two Grammys that year: Best Country Male Vocal and Best Country Song. However, it became an even bigger hit during the Gulf War in 1991, and then again in 2001, after 9/11. Greenwood had wanted to write a patriotic song for years, and found inspiration for the song when Russia shot down Korean Airlines flight 007 in 1983, killing 63 Americans.

By Ellen Marsden

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SoFlo BUZZ: Area seventh-grader wins second place in state essay contest

Isabella Renert, a seventh-grade student at Coral Springs Middle School, has won second place in the Florida League of Cities “If I Were Mayor” essay contest.

Her essay was among 291 submitted state wide. The first place winner was Rithika Shankar from River City Science Academy Mandarin in Jacksonville.

“I am extremely proud of Isabella,” said Bettania Opthof, Isabella’s 7th Grade Teacher. “This young lady is every teacher’s dream student.

“To say that she is highly gifted is undeniable, but what makes her truly special is her kind heart and love of family, friends, and community. With future leaders like Isabella, I feel confident that our great country will be in good hands.”

Isabella’s essay began, “If I were mayor for a day, I would help the homeless, make sure the city is clean, and make sure the schools are safe.”

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Pet Talk: Socially distanced, we told stories on my driveway

One night my wife and I were socially distancing with neighbors on my driveway. People that I have never met, neighbors that have been living on the street for years were coming out of their home quarantines and bringing chairs and coolers to my driveway. The six chairs grew to 20 and we all stayed six feet apart. I learned that more than half of us were in the healthcare profession. The other interesting thing I learned was that everyone owned a dog and most of us recognized each other by their dogs. I went from the golden retriever guy to the veterinarian who lives in the two-story house on the corner. That was fun.

As the evening went on it was like a classic joke: A veterinarian, a physician and a dentist walk into a room. Literally, a dentist and a physician and I spent more than an hour trying to outdo each other with the crazy things we have seen, removed or took off a patient. At least my patients have an excuse why they do some weird stuff but what the physicians or dentist had to do for their patients was mind- blowing.

Then the conversation went to clients and patients that
did not follow the golden rules. The physician was a dermatologist and discussed skin cancer from not using suntan lotion. The dentist talked about severe dental disease from not brushing and flossing and I talked about the emergencies that I saw from not spaying and neutering.

I met a guy years ago who wanted to adopt a dalmatian. At that time, I was the veterinarian in charge of the Dalmatian Rescue League of South Florida. The only requirement to adopt was a home inspection and review of their current pet’s health care. The potential adopter owned two Pekinese dogs, and neither were spayed.

The owner did not have an issue that the female dalmatian that he wanted to adopt was spayed but had no intentions
of spaying his Pekinese. He wasn’t going to breed them but has never spayed or neutered a pet before and didn’t believe in it. I was a younger veterinarian and respected the owner’s opinion but was steadfast that he was not going to adopt this dalmatian. It caused a big problem for the rescue group and

for me. What I didn’t know was that he was a politician. He wasn’t used to not getting his way.

About a week after I told the owner and his kids that they were not going to adopt one of the dalmatians I got a call
on my after hours emergency line. It was from the politician. He was at an emergency hospital in Fort Lauderdale and his dog was being prepped for emergency pyometra surgery. Pyometra is when the uterus fills like a balloon with pus. It is the nightmare scenario that can happen when you don’t spay your female dogs.

He wanted to know if I could do the surgery, not because of my reputation, or that he respected me professionally, but he wanted to know if I could do it cheaper than the estimate he received at the emergency center. I hung up.

Back to quarantine. At the end of the night a female neighbor approached me. She told me my story gave her the courage finally to spay her Labrador. Her last dog died due to sepsis from a ruptured pyometra.

By Dr. Glenn Kalick

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Do not forget them…

In Flanders Fields – John McCrae

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.

 

“In the spring of 1915 bright red flowers began poking through the battle ravaged land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium),” Barbara Maranzani wrote for history.com. 

“Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who served on an Allied artillery unit, spotted a cluster of the poppies shortly after serving as a brigade surgeon during the bloody Second Battle of Ypres.

“The sight of the bright red flowers against the dreary backdrop of the war,” she continued, “inspired McCrae to pen the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” in which he gives voice to the soldiers who had been killed in battle and lay buried beneath the poppy-covered grounds.”

The United States was not to enter the war for another two years, in April 1917. It was the month and year my father was born in Buffalo, N.Y. It was exactly one year before my wife’s father was born in St. Louis, MO. Archie and Bob.

Both served bravely in World War II: My wife’s father building hospitals for injured soldiers across Europe; my father at the controls of an M4 Sherman tank prowling Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. My wife’s mother, Pearl, born in Chicago in 1923, also served overseas in the U.S. Army during the war. That’s where Pearl met Bob.

Archie, Bob and Pearl were part of what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” They were among those who returned to their families.

This month we honor all the men and women who didn’t make it home, who gave up their lives in too many wars.

Earlier this year, before Covid-19 struck, Memorial Day events had been planned in communities throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The “better part of valor,” however, as Shakespeare’s Falstaff reasoned in Henry IV, Part I, might still have us in stay-at-home mode at the end of the month.

One hundred years ago the country was still trembling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu. It killed an estimated 675,000 Americans between 1918 and 1920, more than were killed during the Civil War.

It was that same Civil War that sparked Union General John Logan to establish “Decoration Day” on May 30, 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 who died in the four-year struggle. The name was later changed to Memorial Day and set for the last Monday in May.

One hundred years ago there were Memorial Day celebrations throughout Florida — in Tampa, Miami, Orlando — but at least one nearby city chose a different path.

“No Plans For Observance of Memorial Day,” read a headline on the front page of the Palm Beach Post, May 18, 1920.

“No preparations are under way for observance of Memorial Day,” the story read. “There is no post of the G.A.R and no organization of the Confederate Veterans or Spanish War Veterans” planning events for the day.

The G.A.R. was the The Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War.

After World War I Memorial Day was expanded to honor Americans killed in all wars. It became an official federal holiday in 1971.

This year, this month, again for “the better part of valor,” the Indianapolis 500, traditionally held on Memorial Day, has been postponed to August 23.

Still in its infancy a century ago, the race was held as scheduled on Monday, May 31. It was the race’s eighth running at The Brickyard.

Gaston Chevrolet, brother of the man who started the Chevrolet car company, won the race, posting an average speed of 88.6 miles per hour. The average speed at the 2019 race was 175.8 miles per hour.

Whatever Memorial Day events are allowed this difficult year and whomever you’re with, the Parklander joins all of you in honoring those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Richard Battin, Editor

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.

 

Wikipedia page on Memorial Day

Wikipedia page on In Flanders Fields

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