The True Purpose of Today's Holiday



Large Bill has a post to remind us of the true purpose of today's holiday. Be sure to check the links. The bravery of some of these young men just gives you chills.

Mike Ganis sums up what the day has become:

In My Day, Memorial Day (Decoration Day) always fell on May 30. While many cities and towns had the tradition of Memorial Day Parades in the morning, baseball had its own tradition of daytime Memorial Day doubleheaders all around the major leagues. About 35 or so years ago, this tradition not only ended, but now some teams don’t even play on Memorial Day, as it is used as a “travel” day for them. The same was once true of the two other summer holidays – Fourth of July (aka Independence Day) and Labor Day.

Changing the Memorial Day date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day. This year’s Memorial Day happens to fall on May 30, but that is just by coincidence, as that happens once every five years or so.

Over the years, the meaning of Memorial Day has faded too much from the public consciousness. From a solemn day of mourning, remembrance, and honor to our departed loved ones, it has degenerated into a weekend of barbecues, shopping bargains, and beaches where only token nods toward our honored dead is given, if at all. Too many people don't even know what the fuckin’ day stands for.

When my daughter’s kindergarten teacher asked the class last week, “What is Memorial Day about?”, the consensus answer was “barbecues.” Of course, I didn’t expect the correct answer from five- and six-year olds, but there are plenty of adults who would respond with similar answers like “barbecues, opening of the beach season, shopping mall sales, etc.”

Memorial Day used to be a sacred day that was reserved for the remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were then given. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those that fell in service to our country.

It is human nature to avoid the unpleasant. But we need to remember the cost of war, we need to remember the price paid for our freedoms, we need to not let those who died, die forgotten and in vain.

If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in my home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays.

When Congress made the day into a three-day weekend back in 1971, it made it all the easier for us to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day.

We need to teach our children the day's meaning. Show others by our actions that we will not forget. You don't have to believe in war to honor our family, friends, and neighbors who died in service to their country.

Instead of using Memorial Day as a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in combat, many Americans use the day as a celebration of the beginning of summer. It would be a good idea if Congress would restore Memorial Day to May 30 and authorize flags to fly at half-mast on that day.

Don't we owe our loved ones and friends who died in service to our country a restored Memorial Day?