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| Memorial Wall, Cumbow Meeting Room |
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States of America (USA) to mourn US military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. Originally known as Decoration Day, it dates back to the late 1860s and has always been celebrated in May. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day) It's known as Decoration Day because it was when families would clean and decorate the gravesites of their late service members.
It seems better known now as the unofficial start of summer. But remember why government offices are closed - to honor and remember and mourn those who died ensuring our freedom.
The 20th century war dead in Russell County are honored in the Cumbow Meeting Room at the Russell County Public Library. The meeting room has a wall with the names of all men known to have been killed in service. The men are listed by the war in which they were killed. (RCPL maintains an alphabetical list of names.)
The Cumbow Meeting Room was named for William W. Cumbow, a prisoner of war from Russell County during World War II. Mr. Cumbow was chair of the Library Board of Trustees when the current library building was constructed. During construction the Library Board voted to name the room in Mr. Cumbow's honor.
A brief look at the memorial wall illustrates the scale of the different wars and the changes in warfare. Korea and Vietnam involved fewer soldiers and sailors, and battlefield medicine improved dramatically over the 20th century resulting in fewer lives lost. Yet our 21st century battlefield actions have already cost of the life of one Russell County native, Ryan McGlothlin, in Iraq.
War extracts a terrible price. Some of the wounds are invisible, while others are obvious. During Memorial Day weekend, remember those who paid the ultimate price. But do feel free to celebrate; those who paid the ultimate price did so that we can live freely and pursue happiness.
posted by Kelly McBride Delph
