No, it is not from the Second World War.I have mixed feelings about Memorial Day as we now do it. When I was a child, Memorial Day was May 30th and that was that. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, whatever day it fell upon, that was the day that this nation remembered its war dead.
It has been cheapened since then. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been debased from not a day to remember those who fell in battle, but as the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. It's become three days to get the garden started, to rest up from work, to go shopping, and oh, let's not be bothered to remember the men and women who died to win our freedoms and to keep them.
Memorial Day should be observed on May 30th, and for those who would wail about losing a three day weekend, I say: Suck it up.
I likewise remember May 30th...when stores were filled with plastic flower arrangements and places like Kansas still said "Decoration Day" instead. And before this day, no woman wore white shoes...
ReplyDeleteWorse still, after making it a three day Commercial success weekend Congress realized it had lost its meaning - so created the Memorial Minute of Rememberance at three pm. That is such a picture of the value of our war dead on the busy American Summer Holiday season. Pardon me, I should go blow something up but will just have a coffee and watch wrestlin' instead.
ReplyDeleteSee mine?I get irritated when folks say "Happy Memorial Day."
ReplyDeleteThis is NOT a happy day.
And it's not a 'veterans' day. there is already one of those.
This is for the one's who didn't come home, or who came home in pieces.
Woody USAF, '64-'68
8th grade, 1957, borrowed a bugle and went to 6 Corners and played taps with the Sea Scouts for the VFW.
ReplyDeleteWoody, that was a very moving post you did.
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