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.
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