But for people such as Manuel Castañeda Jr., the day is very personal. He lost his father, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, in an accident in 1966 in California while his father was training other Marines.

“It isn’t just the specials. It isn’t just the barbecue,” Castañeda told The Associated Press in a discussion about Memorial Day last year.

Castañeda also served in the Marines and Army National Guard, from which he knew men who died in combat. But he tries not to judge others who spend the holiday differently: “How can I expect them to understand the depth of what I feel when they haven’t experienced anything like that?”

1. WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATED?

It’s a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service. The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence.

2. WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OR MEMORIAL DAY?

The holiday stems from the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members — both Union and Confederate — between 1861 and 1865.

There’s little controversy over the first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day. It occurred May 30, 1868, after an organization of Union veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers, which were in bloom.

The practice was already widespread on a local level. Waterloo, New York, began a formal observance on May 5, 1866, and was later proclaimed to be the holiday’s birthplace.

Yet Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, traced its first observance to October 1864, according to the Library of Congress. And women in some Confederate states were decorating graves before the war’s end.

David Blight, a Yale history professor, points to May 1, 1865, when as many as 10,000 people, many of them Black, held a parade, heard speeches and dedicated the graves of Union dead in Charleston, South Carolina.

A total of 267 Union troops had died at a Confederate prison and were buried in a mass grave. After the war, members of Black churches buried them in individual graves.

“What happened in Charleston does have the right to claim to be first, if that matters,” Blight told The Associated Press in 2011.

In 2021, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel cited the story in a Memorial Day speech in Hudson, Ohio. The ceremony’s organizers turned off his microphone because they said it wasn’t relevant to honoring the city’s veterans. The event’s organizers later resigned.

3. HAS MEMORIAL DAY ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF CONTENTION?

Someone has always lamented the holiday’s drift from its original meaning.

As early as 1869, The New York Times wrote that the holiday could become “sacrilegious” and no longer “sacred” if it focuses more on pomp, dinners and oratory.

In 1871, abolitionist Frederick Douglass feared Americans were forgetting the Civil War’s impetus — enslavement — when he gave a Decoration Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

“We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation’s destroyers,” Douglass said.

His concerns were well-founded, said Ben Railton, a professor of English and American studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. Even though roughly 180,000 Black men served in the Union Army, the holiday in many communities would essentially become “white Memorial Day,” especially after the rise of the Jim Crow South, Railton told the AP in 2023.

Meanwhile, how the day was spent — at least by the nation’s elected officials — could draw scrutiny for years after the Civil War. In the 1880s, then-President Grover Cleveland was said to have gone fishing — and “people were appalled,” Matthew Dennis, an emeritus history professor at the University of Oregon, told the AP last year.

By 1911, the Indianapolis 500 held its inaugural race on May 30, drawing 85,000 spectators. A report from The Associated Press made no mention of the holiday — or any controversy.

4. HOW HAS MEMORIAL DAY CHANGED?

Dennis said Memorial Day’s potency diminished somewhat with the addition of Armistice Day, which marked World War I’s end on Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice Day became a national holiday by 1938 and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

An act of Congress changed Memorial Day from every May 30th to the last Monday in May in 1971. Dennis said the creation of the three-day weekend recognized that Memorial Day had long been transformed into a more generic remembrance of the dead, as well as a day of leisure.

In 1972, Time Magazine said the holiday had become “a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.”

5. WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY TIED TO SALES AND TRAVEL?

Even in the 19th century, grave ceremonies were followed by leisure activities such as picnicking and foot races, Dennis said.

The holiday also evolved alongside baseball and the automobile, the five-day work week and summer vacation, according to the 2002 book “A History of Memorial Day: Unity, Discord and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

In the mid-20th century, a small number of businesses began to open defiantly on the holiday.

Once the holiday moved to Monday, “the traditional barriers against doing business began to crumble,” authors Richard Harmond and Thomas Curran wrote.

These days, Memorial Day sales and traveling are deeply woven into the nation’s muscle memory.

Jason Redman, a retired Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the AP last year that he honors the friends he’s lost. Thirty names are tattooed on his arm “for every guy that I personally knew that died.”

He wants Americans to remember the fallen — but also to enjoy themselves, knowing lives were sacrificed to forge the holiday.

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Q. Tell me about your latest excursion into the South?

A. I’m really close to my PFA coach. We’ve been discussing this trip for a while, but my dad, who always gives me sound advice, wasn’t sure I should go, considering the COVID-19 virus scare and all. However, after lots of discussions, he finally gave me the go-ahead and that’s how it came about.

Q. I am told that you were voted most valuable pitcher in the series.

A. I won the two games I pitched in. It was a six-game series.

Q. How did you get there?

A. The team flew into Dallas/Fort Worth where we were picked up by a big van and motored to Monroe, which gave us a chance to see the landscape which was cool.

Q. What kind of arena did you play in?

A. The field was nice with deer sands all around. The outfield made you feel at home. Also, we have furnished a big house for the team – almost like a frat house without the booze, of course. We brought along a ping pong set up and held ping pong tournaments in the house.

Q. Where did your team come from – anyone else from Hemet besides you?

A. Mostly California. I was the only one from Hemet. Others came from Los Angeles, Pasadena, Palm Desert, Calabasas and one guy from Colorado from a younger team.

Q. Were there a lot of major league scouts there?

A. You never can be sure. There usually are. They don’t like to be identified, but you know they are there – always looking up the road for prospects.

Q. What was the tournament called?

A. The Perfect Game. The games are limited, either 2 hours or 7 innings – whichever comes first.

Q. I guess you did okay then.

A. I played 6 innings in the first game, and with a day off, I closed a game with 20 pitches. It went pretty smooth. The Perfect Game is a big organization and gets pretty good ratings nationally.

Q. Did the thought of major league scouts in the stands intimidate you?

A. Not really. You know they’re there. Just go out and play your best game. If they see you, it’s okay. If not, maybe next time. You never really know.

Q. You are on a railroad to the majors, aren’t you?

A. That’s the Goal.

Q. Cal State Fullerton, where you have an athletic scholarship, is sending you to a Collegiate League for four months. Do you know where that takes place?

A. I believe it is in San Jose, but not sure. It is designed to kind of whip me into shape. I have a lot of work today. I love baseball, but it is hard work if you have ambitions to become a major league player – and I sure do.

It just so happens that his mother Karlee Meyer is Hemet’s new Mayor. Both his parents Roger and Karlee have always encouraged their kids to follow their dreams. Baseball, for sure is not something acquired through influence. Baseball players come by their jackpots by hard work, ambition and opportunity. This kid has something special.

Keep it up Gavin – your hometown is rooting for you. Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

Rusty Strait • Senior Reporter

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The MSJC baseball team picked up their second straight Inland Empire Athletic Conference win on Thursday, March 5th, 2020 afternoon 7-0 over Victor Valley behind 8 shut out innings from starting pitcher Alex Banuelos.

The Eagles gave Banuelos some breathing room early as they scored in each of the first four innings. In the bottom of the first speedy center fielder, Joseph Hauck came all the way around from second on a wild pitch to give MSJC a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, the Eagles extended their lead when Aaron Harper hit a ground-rule double to left field scoring Aiden Bruce. Two batters later Fabian Correa singled to left scoring both Hauk and Harper to push the MSJC lead to 4-0. The Eagles would go on to tack on a single run in the third on an Alfred Lopez single and another in the fourth when Ajay Parcero drove in Harper. The Eagles would add an insurance run in the 8th when Harper picked up his third hit of the day as he tripled to left field scoring Lopez.

Harper’s 3 hits and 2 RBIs led the Eagle offense that pounded out 11 hits on the day. Parcero, Lopez, and catcher Simon Rangel each had two hits in the victory.

Banuelos, who improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory, was sharp throughout the contest for the Eagles. He went 8 complete allowing just 3 hits while walking only one and striking out six. Robert Barrett pitched the 9th to keep the shut out intact for MSJC.

The Eagles improved to 6-10 on the year with the win and moved to 2-1 in IEAC games; they still have one suspended game with San Bernardino Valley to complete. MSJC returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Barstow for a 1 pm contest. Next week the Eagles will finish their pending game with SBVC, before playing the Wolverines in a 3 game series. MSJC will be at San Bernardino on Tuesday the 10th and Saturday the 14th; San Bernardino will visit San Jacinto on Thursday the 12th.

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Spring Baseball is around the corner for High School Athletes

Spring sports are around the corner and you know what that means: baseball season is here. Let’s take a look at how the teams finished last year, and make some way-to-early-but-interesting predictions on how they may place this season. Last year Tahquitz finished at the top of the league with a 17-8-1 record. They outscored their opponents 147 runs to 74. They made it into the playoffs but lost in the first round against Santa Margarita 7-1. Tahquitz graduated six seniors at the end of the season including their catcher and four pitchers. This means that coming into this season they will have an entirely new pitching staff as well as a new catcher. It will be interesting to see how Coach Savage was able to fill those spots and rebuild his roster. Last year Dylan Plutner, Ezra Farmer and Jacob Hyde are the only returning pitchers from last year’s CIF roster. This season’s Tahquitz roster is carrying seven seniors, so there is definitely veteran leadership, especially from Travis Booth who comes from the football team. 

Citrus Hill also made it into the playoffs last year with a 17-11 record, but there glory was short-lived: they had a first round exit against Moreno Valley. They graduated six seniors of their 25 man roster which means they have plenty of new talent on this season’s team. Expect them to be very competitive against the other teams in the league. 

San Jacinto was in third place in the Mountain Pass League with a 15-11 record. They were outscored by their opponents 125-109 and went on a horrendous five game losing streak to close out the season. They only graduated five seniors. Even being third in the league, they still made it into the playoffs, but lost in the first round against Ramona. The Tigers will be aiming to finish the season in the top three again this year. They have their work cut out for them. 

The Bulldogs went 12-13-1 on the season and missed a CIF berth. They only graduated four seniors, so they have virtually the same exact team coming back, but with the addition of four new players. Best case scenario is that the Bulldogs will experience addition by subtraction this season and the four replacement players will come in and play better than the four they lost. Otherwise the Bulldogs are looking at a similar finish as last year hovering around .500. 

West Valley finished their season last year with a 9-13 record, what is odd is they outscored their opponents 107 runs to 83. The runs just didn’t come at the right time. They have a new coach this season and some new faces on the team. They only graduated two seniors last season. This season they will dress nine seniors. 

Beaumont finished the season 9-17 last season, they graduated six seniors. Don’t expect much to change from the Cougars, unless they have a secret weapon they have been hiding in their farm system (JV/Freshman Teams). 

Notable Returning Players According To The Numbers:    Last season’s best hitter, Marty Munoz (Citrus Hills) will return.  He posted a .447 BA on the year. Jacob Mcmillon and Ethan Leonard from Hemet were both top five in home runs last season at 59 & 58 respectively, and they are ready to lead the Bulldogs offense this year. West Valley returns the two leaders in steals from last season Gabe Castro (12) and Issac Sandoval (11). Issac Sandoval is also last year’s strikeout leader (68) and banked in one no hitter. 

Our “Way-to-early-but-intersting”  power rankings:
1-Citrus Hill

2-Tahquitz

3-Hemet

4-San Jacinto

5- West Valley

6- Beaumont

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The Wheelhouse Skate facility is hosting a double header Cornhole Tournament to raise funds for Minor’s Gold Traveling Baseball Origination this weekend.  Additionally the American Cornhole Organization with hold its annual Regional Cornhole Tournament. Regional Director William Howell explains.

“Mike Lynch, director of the youth Traveling Baseball Club won a fee tournament from me in a silent auction last year and we will be honoring that event on Saturday to raise funds for their club.”

The afternoon event is open for registration at 1:30; the tournament begins at 2 PM.  Cost for each player is $40. First place team will be awarded $300. The balance of the money goes to support the baseball club which has grown from one team to the current three.

The baseball club has an eight year history.  This is their first fundraiser at the Wheelhouse.  Director Lynch explains further.

“We have held other tournaments.  We have an annual fund raiser at Golden Era Golf Course.  They have been exceptionally kind and supportive of our club and share their profits with us.  We appreciate their support. We would like to keep the teams doing tournaments for years to come.  We are not affiliated with any particular school or organization. Our club is open to all kids who want to play baseball and have the experience of traveling to various locations.”

There are currently three teams in the Club and have played in tournaments in Las Vegas and Reno Nevada.  In Southern California they have traveled to Beaumont, Perris and San Diego.

The afternoon tournament, for the kids and in the evening the adult Regional Tournament will take place, according to Howell…  The American Cornhole Organization Regional Tournament is enjoying its second year in Hemet.  

“We bring players from far and wide as well as local.” says Howell.

The Cornhole Regional Tournament is open for sign in at 5:00 PM, with tournament beginning at 6:30 LM.

Both William Howell and Mike Lynch expressed extreme gratitude to Jesse Vivanco, owner of the Wheelhouse, for generosity and support.

Whether you’re a Cornhole Fan or not, this event is for a good cause and – you might enjoy remember you youth baseball years as well as the bean ball tournaments which are predeceases to Cornhole.  Just sayin’

rustystrait@gmail.com

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