Memoriae

Memorial Day.  Did you know...

...it officially became a federal holiday in 1971?

...that prior to 1971 America observed Decoration Day each year on May 30?  Decoration Day became Memorial Day as a result of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968.

...there is a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day?  All citizens are encouraged to stop for a moment of silence and reflection on the sacrifices made in the past to provide our present.

Do any amount of reading on the origins, purpose, or rituals of Memorial Day and the one word that is sure to appear is honor, defined in verb form as "regard with great respect."  A fitting action to bestow on those who did what was necessary to protect the freedoms we have in our lives.  But have we used....do we use....those freedoms in a greatly respectful way?

When I think of military sacrifice I always, always focus on World War II veterans.  Not to belittle any veteran of any other war or conflict - they, you are all true heroes - but the years of WWII were perhaps the crescendo of national solidarity in our country.  Everyone fought in that war, whether they were overseas or stateside.  While our soldiers fought battles on multiple continents their families and friends here at home supported the war effort by mass producing, product rationing, and war bond buying.  As that generation of Americans slowly fades from our midst I wonder - are they pleased at the result of their efforts?

We kill each other in our homes, in our streets, and in our schools.  We are the fattest civilization in history.  We can't even sniff the list of ten happiest countries in the world.  Our freedom to peacefully protest is under attack.  The fourth estate has gone from politically neutral to political target, revered by few, trusted by fewer.  Our so-called leaders acquire positions of power due more to the depth of their bank accounts than the depth of their character.  We are lonely, we are tired, we are angry.  This is the result of letting freedom ring?

We have one day out of the year set aside to honor those who ensured our freedoms.  As feared by many in 1971, that one day has become less about honor and more about fun.  Ironic, isn't it, that a day created in reverence for solemn reflection and thankfulness has become nothing more than a party day.....in an unhappy country.  But really, even if we did spend today displaying solemn respect for those who were so much more courageous than any of us, would it truly matter in the midst of what our country has become every other day of the year?

Maybe it's time we end the charade that Memorial Day has become.  Let's just call it what it is - Opening Day of Summer - and stop pretending to show honor on one day while living without it on all the others.  Or maybe....

.....we can live better.  Start serving others.  Get some exercise.  Talk less and listen more.  Set the phones down and lift up our kids.  Vote intelligently.  Stop chasing happiness so we can enjoy what's in front of us.  Most importantly, study the past.  Learn about who we memorialize, why they fought and how they died.  Create a connection to the past that can inspire the present to create hope for the future.  Our freedom was paid forward with lost lives; are we using our lives to do the same?  Too often it feels like we're more interested in making withdrawals than deposits when it comes to saving freedom.  How about, on this Memorial Day, we start reversing that trend?