Happy Memorial Day

Ahh...Memorial Day. Those two little words invoke images of cookouts in the backyard, trips to the beach, all the traps and trimmings of the beginnings of summer. For all intents and purposes, Memorial Day is traditionally seen as the beginning of summer.

But wait...Memorial Day...doesn't that mean that we should be remembering something??? Oh yeah, those amazing heroes who gave their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy in this country, to ensure that we have the kind of nation where we are able to get away with cookouts and trips to the beach.

Memorial Day- AKA Decoration Day- began after the Civil War. By May 1868, just 3 years after the end of the war, family members of Union soldiers began putting American flags on their loved ones' graves, honoring not only their sacrifices for this country but also to remember the fact that the United States was put back whole in May 1865. (People in the South put flags on their loved ones' graves too, just a different flag and at a different time of year.) Memorial Day wasn't really official at this point. It was just something that grieving families did.

Within a decade, it was more than just a family thing. Big celebrations were held at major Civil War cemeteries like Arlington and Gettysburg. Speeches were held, people gathered together to talk about their lost loved ones, the sacrifices they had made, all that good stuff. By this point, a lot of the Yankee/Rebel hatred had faded and people on both sides could gather at the cemetery without anyone having to worry about gunshots breaking out.

As more decades passed, Memorial Day sort of fell out of prominence. Yes, family members still went to the cemeteries the last week of May each year but this was to honor the Civil War dead. By this time, we also have Spanish-American War dead, World War I dead, World War II dead. It was hard for the entire country to get excited about honoring Grandaddy or Great-Grandaddy when Daddy or husband or brother had died since. Also, Veteran's Day, in November, honored all American soldiers who had served- whether they died on the battlefield or not. By the 1960's, more people turned up for the Indianapolis 500 than for all the Memorial Day celebrations in the country added together.

Then, in 1980, Ronald Reagan becomes President. Under Reagan, Memorial Day was brought into prominence once again. Memorial Day is an official federal holiday, taking place on the last Monday in May each year. It honors all soldiers who gave their lives in service to this country. A huge concert is held on the west lawn of the Capitol and a nation-wide moment of silence is observed at 3:00P.M. EST. I just watched coverage on CNN of the moment of silence at the Vietnam Memorial. Three different bugle players played Taps. I'm still a little teary-eyed.

So when you are enjoying your hot dog or floating on your raft in the pool, please remember to give a moment to thank those who have died to give us the right to do stuff like this.