Memorial Day, May 30, 1949. William Higgins, a surviving U.S. military member who served in the Spanish American War was the grand marshall in the NYC Memorial Day Parade and the 45 RPM was just a month old.  The top ten on the Billboard chart were still only available on 78 RPM.  Number one for the past 3 weeks had been Ghost Riders In The Sky by Vaughn Monroe on RCA Victor Records. By this date only RCA had issued records in the new 45 RPM format, mostly promotional discs and free discs with the purchase of a new Victrola 45 record player. The first commercially available 45 was by Eddy Arnold and anyone who had the means to play a 45 could buy it, ordering it from a catalogue in a record store. Most record stores wouldn't be stocking the new format for several more months. Columbia Records had refused to adopt the new seven inch, 45 format in this "war of the speeds" between Columbia and RCA. Columbia promoted it's 33 1/3 speed issuing their seven inch discs in that speed but would give in a year later and make the switch to 45. Soon Decca, Capitol and Mercury would make the switch as well as a few smaller independent record labels that had or soon would. On this Memorial Day let us take time out from this "war of the speeds" to remember and salute all veterans who served, those who gave their lives, and to support and honor the men and women who are still proudly serving this great nation.