Reflections On the Real Meaning of Memorial Day

Ah yes!  Memorial Day... the unofficial start of summer. It is a long weekend; time to take the family out on a trip or a picnic or to the beach, lake or mountains.  Some folks will go to the desert or might spend some time visiting Sedona Arizona or looking for real estate!  Most of us will BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs. It is a time to get away, have fun, relax and enjoy the company of others. 

I wonder sometimes if we get so caught up in the celebration of the holiday,  that we forget why we observe this special day as a National Holiday?? 

Without getting into too much history, it started as Decoration Day, a commemoration of the union soldiers who lost their lives during the civil war the first know observance was in Charleston, South Carolina in 1865. (For more historical information go to wikipedia. Click on this link --> Memorial Day)

My son Ryan (pictured above), called me just to catch up a couple of days before Memorial Day. Part of our conversation centered around his job and Memorial Day. Ryan lives Memorial Day every day. He has the honor of working at Riverside National Cemetery.  Riverside National Cemetery is the third largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration and is the most active (based on internments) since 2000.  Among the notable persons buried there are four Medal Of Honor recipients.  Ryan thoroughly enjoys his job and the people he works with;  all are Veterans and many are Marines.  

Ryan participates in the burial of many of our unsung heroes who have passed on.  One thing that really struck me is the reverence that the grounds crew has as they perform their duties.  The military and our Veterans have always had a strong bond.  Anyone who serves their country or their community and lives in harms way, such as our firefighters and peace officers experiences this same kinship.  They consider each member part of their family.  This fellowship is part of the fabric of America.  

I have an even greater respect and admiration for all our Military and Veterans after our conversation but even more so for these selfless Veterans who care for our family & friends who have passed on. 

The Department of Veterans Affairs received an American Customer Satisfaction Index Score  (ACSI) of 95%. This is the highest ranking of any government agency.  Congratulations to Steve L Muro, the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs who is responsible for this ranking.  He graduated from Mt. SAC college which is the same college I met my future husband of 44 years! IT IS a small world, isn’t it ?!? 

I would ask that instead of remembering our fallen heroes on just one day a year.  We take pause and spend a moment every day to reflect on all those Americans who have served and protected us from the infancy of our country until today.  God bless them... And while we are at it... Let's not forget all those first responders who put their lives on the line everyday for people like you and me.

Note:(I wrote this article and posted it on May 29, 2011and I re-blog it every year on Memorial Day weekend).