Any write-up regarding Memorial Day is almost always concerned with how people, preoccupied with potato salad, don’t remember what the day is for. Cartoons depict guys playing golf through Arlington Cemetery or grilling hot dogs while the ghosts of dead soldiers look on with seeming disapproval.
Please don’t misunderstand me, there’s a lot of truth in the notion that people don’t quite understand what Memorial Day observes and many don’t care. For me, it’s become that time of year where I get inundated with emails reminding me of this. It’s just that some of this material leans more toward über patriotism than thoughtful solemn remembrance. Again, we should be very thankful for those who gave their lives in combat and be thoughtful of the intentions and the results of the military conflicts that this country has been involved with. Also, if I gave my life for something I’d want to be remembered too.
However, perhaps instead of simple blind patriotism, it’d be a good idea to bone up on some history. If you want to actually ‘honor’ those fallen then find out a little about when, why and where they died and for what exactly.
and, was it really worth it?
All this aside, I honestly think in my heart of hearts (or brain of brains I suppose) that if one could talk to the average solder who gave their life in battle they’d smile and say something like ‘Thanks for remembering. Now go the hell on and enjoy the day off and spend a little time with your family before you have to go back to work tomorrow.’
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