Jewish War Veteran’s Memorial Day Flag Raising / Taps Ceremony on May 2 9, 2023 at the Dell JCC. Credit: Steve Krant

By Steve Krant, US Air Force (Retired)

Memorial Day, the federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May, is rooted in the post-Civil War era. Known first as Decoration Day, a time to remember and adorn the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers with flags, ribbons, and flowers. Today it honors all men and women who wore the uniform and paid the ultimate price in-service to the Nation.

By long-standing tradition, Austin’s Post 757 of the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) has performed a solemn Memorial Day mitzvah: A flag-raising ceremony at the Dell JCC. The Post’s Honor Guard first unfurls and displays the flag, then raises the Stars & Stripes to the flagpole’s highest point before slowly lowering it to a respectful “half-mast” position. After a brief reading and benediction, the commemoration concludes with the mournful sound of a bugler playing Taps, a symbolic “Rest in Peace” message.

In addition, Post members pay tribute to their fallen comrades-in-arms by placing a small flag on the gravesite of each Jewish veteran at various cemeteries in Austin and surrounding communities.

Like Memorial Day, today’s JWV organization, with Posts throughout the country, grew out of the Civil War. In 1896, a committed group of 63 Jewish veterans formed the Hebrew Union Veterans Association in New York City, a response to the persistent and baseless myths that Jews don’t serve. In fact, thousands fought and sacrificed on both sides, among them several recipients of the Medal of Honor. Those Union veterans were soon joined by their Southern counterparts, then by veterans of the Spanish-American War before coalescing as Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America. Now 127 years and still going strong, JWV is proud to be recognized as the nation’s longest-running Veteran Service Organization.

Members of Austin’s Post 757 are active in the community throughout the year, raising funds to help veterans in need, offering resources for service members returning to civilian life, or helping them navigate the VA’s bureaucracy. They also share information and work with JWV’s regional and national staffs to support democracy and counter antisemitism and extremism.

For more information, contact [email protected]