Memorial Day: The Uncomfortable Holiday
What and who are we celebrating?
This Monday, the U.S. will once again celebrate Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember and honor soldiers who died in war. It is not for honoring anyone else. Unlike every other holiday, Memorial Day is supposed to be a somber event, not a celebratory one.
Nevertheless, all across the country, scenes of backyard barbeques and parades will be juxtaposed with people sitting alone in cemeteries by the gravesite of a loved one who died in war. Retail establishments will boast of “Memorial Day Sales,” and people wish each other a “Happy Memorial Day.”
Happy Memorial Day? That is almost as gauche as saying “It was a great funeral.”
Some people will erroneously use the day to honor all veterans or veterans who died but not in a war. Some will thank current service members for their service. Others will use the day to honor all their loved ones who have died. It is hard to be critical of those who do that, but that is not the purpose of Memorial Day, just the same.
The Memorial Day dilemma
I have never been comfortable with Memorial Day. When I was a kid, I remember hearing the 21-gun salute at Memorial Park in the town where I grew up. There were ceremonies to mark the day, and…
