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Memorial Day
May. 27th, 2013 09:26 amToday is Memorial Day.
Most of us are grateful for the day off of work, or at least the extra pay if we're stuck going to work. Some people like the parades in their towns. When I was little, these were the only things I really thought about on Memorial Day. I didn't think about where it came from.
Memorial Day was started to remember the military men who fought and died in the US Civil War, men on both sides of the conflict. Since then, it has grown to encompass the memory of all the service men and women who have fought and died while serving in the US Armed Forces. New inductees are admitted to that club regularly, sad to say.
Memorial Day, to me, is the day we should remember the people who put on military uniforms and fought for our country--and died. They died fighting for our country. Sometimes they gave their lives for something noble, like stopping the Nazi regime or to end slavery. Usually it wasn't so noble, such as maintaining power for certain interests that would be inconvenienced otherwise--for example, slaveholders or Standard Oil. The same war often had the full spectrum of reasons, from the noble to the greedy to the foolish to the tragic. The thing is, none of the soldiers got to choose which war to fight in once they put that uniform on. They gave up their choice so all the rest of us would be free to make choices we might not otherwise get.
It's a grim sacrifice, the one they made, and some of them had no idea just how much of a sacrifice they were making when they joined the service.
And yet, in one way, I feel it is still too limited a day. There are many people who are public servants who are not part of the military who also die on duty. Some of them are regularly expected to deal with danger as part of their jobs, like police officers and firemen and government agents. Others are not, like teachers and social service counsellors and park service rangers and even *sigh* politicians. I would like to remember the teachers who died trying to save their students, the firefighters who died trying to save people from burning buildings, the non-official cover CIA officers who died for our country--even trying to do even the dirtiest covert operation. All of them stepped up to serve, promote and protect our country, even if not in the same way as our military. Their deaths in the line of duty should be remembered too.
So. On this day, when the weather is comfy and stores are holding sales and neighbors are grilling burgers, I ask that you spare a few moments to remember the people who have served our country. They may or may not have willingly given their lives, but they gave them anyways, and no person can truly give a greater sacrifice. I will be doing so throughout the day at various points.
One more thing. Enjoy your day. We do not live for the dead even when we honor them. Cherish the living, both the verb and the noun.
Most of us are grateful for the day off of work, or at least the extra pay if we're stuck going to work. Some people like the parades in their towns. When I was little, these were the only things I really thought about on Memorial Day. I didn't think about where it came from.
Memorial Day was started to remember the military men who fought and died in the US Civil War, men on both sides of the conflict. Since then, it has grown to encompass the memory of all the service men and women who have fought and died while serving in the US Armed Forces. New inductees are admitted to that club regularly, sad to say.
Memorial Day, to me, is the day we should remember the people who put on military uniforms and fought for our country--and died. They died fighting for our country. Sometimes they gave their lives for something noble, like stopping the Nazi regime or to end slavery. Usually it wasn't so noble, such as maintaining power for certain interests that would be inconvenienced otherwise--for example, slaveholders or Standard Oil. The same war often had the full spectrum of reasons, from the noble to the greedy to the foolish to the tragic. The thing is, none of the soldiers got to choose which war to fight in once they put that uniform on. They gave up their choice so all the rest of us would be free to make choices we might not otherwise get.
It's a grim sacrifice, the one they made, and some of them had no idea just how much of a sacrifice they were making when they joined the service.
And yet, in one way, I feel it is still too limited a day. There are many people who are public servants who are not part of the military who also die on duty. Some of them are regularly expected to deal with danger as part of their jobs, like police officers and firemen and government agents. Others are not, like teachers and social service counsellors and park service rangers and even *sigh* politicians. I would like to remember the teachers who died trying to save their students, the firefighters who died trying to save people from burning buildings, the non-official cover CIA officers who died for our country--even trying to do even the dirtiest covert operation. All of them stepped up to serve, promote and protect our country, even if not in the same way as our military. Their deaths in the line of duty should be remembered too.
So. On this day, when the weather is comfy and stores are holding sales and neighbors are grilling burgers, I ask that you spare a few moments to remember the people who have served our country. They may or may not have willingly given their lives, but they gave them anyways, and no person can truly give a greater sacrifice. I will be doing so throughout the day at various points.
One more thing. Enjoy your day. We do not live for the dead even when we honor them. Cherish the living, both the verb and the noun.
