The saddest cartoon in the Sunday “funny papers” was a strip by Anthony Rabino and Gary Markstein. The title of the cartoon is “Daddy’s Home.” The entire “comic” strip is composed of folded flags, such as those given to widows of servicemen killed in battle or otherwise given military funerals.

There was a protracted fight in the Illinois General Assembly during the 1970’s over whether Illinois should celebrate Memorial Day on May 30th or go with the flow and make another three-day weekend ending in the final Monday of May.

In the end, tourism interests beat back those who wanted to honor those who died in battle, even though Illinois General John Logan started the tradition. He was even a State Representative for three years, served in Congress and was an unsuccessful Vice Presidential candidate.

I bring this up today, because the commercial interests seem to have outsmarted themselves for at least the last two years around here.

May 30th was a fine day last year and is predicted to be this year, while the last day in May hasn’t been so hot.

When Illinois voted to change the date to remember those who died for our country, I voted with the minority to leave it on May 30th.