In Memoriam

Here in North America, tomorrow (Monday, May 31) will commemorate Memorial Day this year.

For many, Memorial Day is viewed as the unofficial start of Summer. Here in a resort town, it is treated as the clarion call that summons tourists and second-home-owners to descend upon our town and our businesses until at least September (Then it begins to be safe for us locals to claim our town back and enjoy its amenities again).

Most people utilize Memorial Day to partake in a parade, go to the beach, and have a cookout/barbeque with friends, family, and neighbors (and I am not one to judge the beachgoers or cookouts. I DO have some very legitimate questions about using Memorial Day Weekend to begin setting off very audible FIREWORKS beginning at 10:45 at night; but that's neither here, nor there).

Anyway, it does raise the question of what IS Memorial Day? What was it meant to commemorate; and what does it mean to us TODAY?

I explore these questions on my Facebook page right around this time each year and I'd like to raise a few important points here; because I feel that they're important to bear in mind...

1). I'm not so sure that "Happy Memorial Day" sounds all that appropriate; it just sounds extra awkward to me when I use that phrase. (That being said, this year, with nothing else to say, I do catch myself falling back on "Have a nice.../Enjoy your weekend." It may sound a bit too generic; but, if nothing else, it sounds more appropriate to me than "HAPPY Memorial Day.")

We'll circle back to the appropriate Memorial Day greeting later on as I have a bit more to explore for a moment.

2). I'm not one to tell you and yours how to celebrate YOUR Memorial Day; even with the traditional parade/beach day/barbeque (no, really; after I watch the parade tomorrow morning, then do a barbeque in the afternoon, ending the day by cashing out the ice cream register at Captain Nemo's for people to wrap up their beach day with a yummy treat, I'm REALLY in no position to tell you what to do). In WHATEVER you do to celebrate, I only ask that you take a moment to reflect back on those who we SHOULD celebrate and honor for Memorial Day; those who gave their lives so that OUR lives could be a little bit more peaceful and a lot more free. ONE moment of reflection could very well lead to another and it's a beautiful thing.

3). It's always a kind gesture to thank our surviving armed forces personnel for their services and that should be remembered EVERYDAY (not just Veteran's Day). However, "MEMORIAL Day" is, really, supposed to be about honoring the fallen. In no way should we ever neglect acknowledging all of our veterans and active duty servicemembers. MEMORIAL Day is about the fallen.

4). ...There ought to be a special punishment put in place for anyone who would steal crosses, denigrate burial sites, or denigrate the flag that ALL of our servicemembers fought for; ESPECIALLY on Memorial Day. Regardless of your thoughts on war in general, show some basic dignity and respect for the human beings who served; especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and on Memorial Day of all days...

5). Back to an appropriate Memorial Day greeting. I'm pretty sure that it's "Honor Memorial Day" (which sounds more like a request than a traditional greeting). So, from me to you...

Enjoy your weekend.

Enjoy time with those you love.

Remember and honor the fallen.

"Honor Memorial Day."

Today, the author would like to dedicate a very special thank you to ALL who have served in our armed forces; and in loving memory of those who paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice for the rights and freedoms of those of us at home.

ALL who served gave some; SOME gave ALL.