So, you're planning your Old Fashioned Memorial Day again this year. You have the bottom of the boat waxed and the engine prepared for the lake. The hot dogs, ketchup, buns, salads are in the works. You get off of work at 3:00 to day because it's a three day "holiday weekend".
Gosh, it's going to be so much fun to see family, thinking about seeing old friends at the lake again, since last summer. Worrying that the kids might catch a cold because they want to be the first in the water. So many things to do and a "to do" list that is beyond our wildest imagination.
Today I read an interesting article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Jean Guarino about "Putting 'memorial' back in holiday. It got me thinking.
I agree with Jean's statement that our nation has gotten "national amnesia of the true meaning of Memorial Day ...". When children were asked on a tour in D.C. what Memorial Day meant to them, the answer: "the day the pool opens".
Have we done ourselves a disservice when Congress changed the date of observance from May 30 back in 1971 to the last Monday in May? I remember when this Act was enacted whereby it would create a three day holiday weekend. While Congress was trying to do one thing, I believe they killed the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Granted Congress is trying to make amends with the National Moment of Remembrance resolution asking at 3:00 p.m. all Americans "voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they were doing.", states Jean Guaraino in this article.
So, let me get this straight. We are supposed to stop the fun and give a few seconds to those who fought for our rights.
North vs. South - they informally began visiting the graves of their relatives after the Civil War and gave them respect and remembrance.
TODAY: we visit the lake, family friends and look at Memorial Day as a great way to begin the summer.
I am asking you to please step back and reflect. Think about the Civil War. The neighbors who were friends and who fought against each other in battle because of what they believed. We were a country divided. Complete families were wiped out. Last night, I watched the movie "Cold Mountain". It reminded me of the sufferage and loss that I read when I grew up in school and when those books were allowed in school. I think about all the wars we have faced together as a country, a nation to protect our interests, rights, to encourage democracy, the freedom of speech, religion, etc., without persecution. We are so fortunate in this country to be able to have a time to remember and honor those who died before us. We wouldn't have this fun loving three weekend "holiday" without a lot of sacrifice by men and women, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, Grandma's and Grandpas, and the Mom and Dad, who lost one or all of their children to make a difference in something our forefathers fought for, gave their lives, blood, ended up being disabled or homeless, all because they loved their country.
Do you love our Country? In what way do you plan on honoring those who today, don't have a family member home because the one they love is overseas, away from home, protecting our rights, ensuring that our freedom continues for us and those who come to America who are persecuted or seek the freedom we take for granted.
I ask that you take more then a couple of moments at 3:00 to honor those who have served our country proudly in observance of Memorial Day. I challenge you to sit at a table and share with your children, the young ones who Congress hasn't helped much in true remembrances of holidays and tell them the true meaning in observance of this Memorial Day and the rest of them.
My Dad, served in the Navy on a Destroyer. He still gets chocked up when he talks about his friend Ray that got killed at the end of an air strip because a plane couldn't stop and killed a ton of soldiers in those tents because the Air Strip and land area was contained ... small. Alot goes on behind the scenes then Bob Hope going from ship to ship encouraging our soldiers and entertaining them. Bob Hope did that not for our entertainment but to lift the morale of the soldiers.
I met a man here in Chicago who came from a third world country where he was in captivity. He was the head of the resistance fighting for freedom. You know, similar to what our forefather's did to break away from England. Only, he was being starved, beaten, family killed. They had him in captivity and didn't know it. If they knew, he wouldn't be here today with his wife and two children. His brother, murdered. He goes "home" and looks for his brother's remain through his DNA.
How can we forget something so important as those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's time we take more then a few moments to give gratitude to those who have lost their lives as well as those who are making sacrifices, who are away from their family's for long periods of time, to those who are home, trying to keep some form of structure while the family member is away.
Let me begin by saying "thank you" to my Dad, who lied to the Navy about his age (he was 16) to serve our Country and fight along with his buddies because he loves our Country.
Whether it be flowers at the table and passing them out in remembrance of someone you know that has served or is serving, or sending an email, saying thank you to a Veteran dressed up this weekend, take the time. Better yet, start educating your children before it's too late.
Don't be "too busy" to take the time. These men and woman didn't say that "they were too busy" when they left home to fight for our rights, our belief system.
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