Unknown Soldier 216

With flags at half mast, today is a day of remembrance for the American military men and women who died while in the service of their country.

Memorial Day is commemorated the last Monday of May each year. The day is used to visit the fallen in their resting places, where possible, around the country. Graves are adorned with flowers and markers ensuring those who have passed and their sacrifice is not forgotten.

Originally called Decoration Day, what is now Memorial Day was first observed May 30, 1868. to honor the fallen Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. The National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann Williams with the idea of laying flowers on the graves of the fallen, both Union and Confederate.

According to the Richmond-Times Dispatch, the first Civil War grave to be decorated with flowers was John Quincy Marr who died June 1, 1861, during the Battle of Fairfax Courthouse in Virginia. His grave was showered with flowers June 3, 1861. Other southern states followed during the War Between the States. In 1868 some of the southern states added Confederate to the memorial name as related in G.I. Combat (1952) 87 post.

By 1890, all of the Union states were recognizing the day and in 1968, Congress moved its observance to the final Monday in May.

Four Color honors the fallen with Unknown Soldier 216 and the cover story Taps at Arlington.

The Unknown Soldier was first introduced in Our Army at War (1952) 168. Appropriately enough, the character is given his name based on The Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

Arlington National Cemetery was Acquired by the federal government following a tax dispute with Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s family. It was established May 13, 1864, and, as of this writing, the final resting place for over 400,000 persons. It is comprised of 639 acres.

Unknown Soldier was created by comic book veteran Joe Kubert and Robert Kanigher. His first appearance was Our Army at War (1952) 168 in 1966.

He was granted his own feature in Star Spangled War Stories beginning in issue 151 through 204. The title changed to The Unknown Soldier with issue 205 lasting to the final issue 268 in 1982.

The decorated veteran returned before the end of the decade in a,12-issue mini simply titled The Unknown Soldier spanning 1988 to 1989.

Garth Ennis revived him for another four issues in 1997.

The Unknown Soldier took shelter under the Vertigo imprint for 25 issues before low sales retired him a final time.

Thank you to all who served and take time to remember those who  never came home.