What is Memorial Day?
a. A reason to take an early summer vacation?
b. The day you should visit the cemetery of loved ones to put flowers on their graves?
c. Just another reason to BBQ and drink it up with your friends and family?
d. Who cares? It’s an extra day off.
None of the above are correct, with the only exception being b. if you are honoring a fallen military hero.
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. (ref: from Wikipedia
These heroes are dead. They died for liberty – they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars – they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead. ~Robert G. Ingersoll
May 25th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Thanks for this great post! And happy Memorial Day! Stop and thank a serviceman for his work in keeping us free!
May 26th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Well said…thanks for sharing! :}