On the last Monday in May, all over the US we fly flags, grill burgers, hang out with family, and maybe take advantage of the weekend sales. But while all of that is great, that’s not what Memorial Day is about. Memorial Day is about honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It’s about reflecting on that sacrifice.
Don’t Thank the Living
Many people feel the need to thank all service members for their service on Memorial Day, but the day is actually only to honor those that gave their lives in service for their country. Most living service members will simply say “You’re welcome,” if you thank them and then gently remind you of that fact. We have Veterans Day in November for us.
Origins
Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and was initially known as Decoration Day because of the tradition of decorating the graves of dead soldiers. Although the name Memorial Day goes back as far as 1882, it wasn’t officially changed until 1967.
The Poppy
Back in 1915, a Georgia teacher and volunteer war worker named Moina Michael
campaigned to make the poppy a symbol of tribute to veterans. The poem “In Flanders Field” by John McCrea
inspired the Memorial Day custom of wearing red, artificial poppies and the
sale of these poppies has supported the work of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Books for Memorial Day
Reading about soldiers and their experiences can be difficult, but on Memorial Day I feel like it’s appropriate to recommend some hard reading. These are four of my favorite military books (I have many, many more, both fiction and non-fiction) that I think put Memorial Day into perspective and will help you reflect on the sacrifice made by the military and their families.
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Pulitzer Prize winning second book in Shaara’s Civil War Trilogy, The Killer Angels covers the four days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Told from the prospective of the various protagonists, this character driven story is visceral in its battle scenes and emotional turmoil. I read this for ROTC in college (I haven’t read the other two) long before historical fiction became a favorite genre so at the time I didn’t appreciate the truly rich story telling.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This is the story of Olympian and WW2 POW survivor Louis Zamperini. After surviving a plane crash in the ocean, he is captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war for more than two and a half years. So many emotions while reading this book, but I was heartbroken during most of it. Hillenbrand is such an amazing writer you will forget you are reading a non-fiction book.
We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway
Each year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps selects a book that all marines should read. This was the Commandant’s Choice for 1993. This is a book about the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 7th Calvary Regiment and their roles in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. As a young lieutenant, this book had a profound impact on me. This book not only focuses on the battle, but also on how the battle and the war impact each person, and the team. But the focus on the battle on strategy is so well done that it’s compelling and not overwhelming. This book is inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time.
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell
This is the story of a group of 4 US Navy SEALs that left on a mission to capture a high-ranking al Qaeda leader, and after a perilous 24 hours, only one of them was left alive. This book exemplifies military perseverance, leadership, and sacrifice. Have tissues. You’ll be happy for the Lone Survivor, but your heart will still be broken and your soul will be in awe of the sacrifice required of our service men and women.
Reflect on Sacrifice
There is nothing wrong with a backyard cookout with family and friends on Memorial Day. But remember the reason why. Back in 2000, then President Bill Clinton declared:
As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to pause and consider the true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died
while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made to securing our Nation’s freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day.
In this time of unprecedented success and prosperity throughout our land, I ask that all Americans come together to recognize how fortunate we are to live in freedom and to observe a universal “National Moment of Remembrance” on each Memorial Day. This memorial observance represents a simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and honor the struggle to protect our freedoms.
At 3 pm local time, each Memorial Day, stop to take a minute to remember and reflect on the sacrifice made by more than a million service members to date so that we can all enjoy the freedoms we do.
Happy Memorial Day!
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