Memorial Day

The last Monday of May is usually well known for being the beginning of the summer and although a three day weekend is always a great thing, that day should be best remembered for something else.  That’s because this day is designated a national holiday that is known as Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a public holiday that is designed as a day of remembrance for those who had lost their lives while serving their country.  A counterpart to Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day can trace its roots back to the mid-nineteenth century where it was originally known as Decoration Day.  A day designed to provoke thoughts about the nature of war; it was originally conceived as a way to observe the deaths of those who had fought in the Civil War.  Proclaimed by General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) on May 5, 1868, Decoration Day did not begin without controversy.  Most southern states refused to acknowledge the holiday viewing it as commemorating the soldiers who had fought in the Union Army.  As a result, these states celebrated a separate Confederate Memorial Day.  However, this divergence would unfortunately be resolved after the American army participated in World War I.

Now a holiday designed to celebrate all American soldiers who had died in combat serving their nation, Decoration Day would not become officially known as Memorial Day until after World War II.  Unfortunately, the twentieth century has been full of wars and American soldiers that had died fighting in Vietnam, Korea, Somalia, and elsewhere are now commemorated on this day.  President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day as a national holiday in 1971.

A somber day, Memorial Day provides an excellent opportunity for the American public to pay tributes to those soldiers who had lost their lives preserving the freedoms that we enjoy.  Common traditions of Memorial Day include visits to public memorials for soldiers.  The US Flag is flown at half-staff on this day, as a symbol of respect.  Additionally, at 3:00 PM of Memorial Day, a national moment of remembrance takes place.

An exceptionally sad holiday, Memorial Day is also ripe with opportunity.  This is a day for friends and family to come together and reflect on how fortunate their lives are.  A day that is often accompanied by rampant displays of patriotism, it is important for individuals to give seriously thought about the horrible consequences of war.  Considering that many of these soldiers lose their lives for fighting wars of ideology, it is important for people to understand that Memorial Day should not be hijacked by jingoistic politics.  It is a time where citizens understand their important influence on their military by realizing that they have a strong influence on the actions of their government.  As many soldiers that are fighting overseas have little control over domestic politics, it is essential that we, as Americans, consider the actions of our government and how they affect these soldiers.  Memorial Day should be taken as a day of respectful remembrance for those who soldiers who had passed away and also to seriously think about the nature of war.