Memorial Day is fast approaching - what a wonderful holiday we all look forward to. For our school aged children it marks the beginning of summer and to the working class it marks a well deserved long weekend. The stores are already full of shoppers picking up varieties of meat to grill and barbeque this weekend. The interstates are beginning to crowd with eager travelers who are taking this opportunity for a weekend getaway. Who doesn't look forward to Memorial day?
But - have we all forgotten the "Memorial" in Memorial Day? How many of us really think about what it really means and how we are truly supposed to observe this most reverent of days?
Memorial Day began after the Civil War when citizens began to honor fallen soldiers who died in the service of their country by decorating their headstones - hence - the day was originally called Decoration Day. No one knows exactly where this tradition was first started and there are several towns that have laid claim to being the location where it began. The important thing is that it began, it was never important about who started it but more important that it gave the community a chance to come together to remember and honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.
The proper way to observe Memorial Day is as follows:
- By visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
- By flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. Memorial Day is a day of "National Mourning."
- By attending religious services of your choice.
- By visiting memorials.
- By participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3:00 PM local time, to pause and think upon the meaning of the day and for taps to be played where possible.
- By renewing a pledge to aid the widows, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.
I will be one of the many American patriots who will be observing the day correctly. It is a day to remember and mourn the fallen - not to celebrate. It is a day of reverence for those who thought of their country first and made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the American way of life would prevail.
Memorial Day started with spontaneous gatherings of Americans with a common goal to do the right thing for our country's fallen heroes - at first it was random and was observed on different days of the year. Now it is a nationally recognized holiday with it's own day - the last Monday in May. (First recognized officially on May 30, 1968 - this year in 2011 we will also observe on May 30th.) It spread because it was a good idea and the right thing to do for our country.
I believe that our project "ALocalWay" is also a good idea - that we will spontaneously motivate different local communities to start buying locally and that one day our movement like Memorial Day will be nationally recognized just because it is the right thing to do for our country. We will never hold a candle to what Memorial day represents - ever. In every graveyard across this country lies at least one patriot that gave his most precious possession willingly so that we could enjoy our liberties. These noble souls deserve to be remembered.
As the generations of Americans that knew sacrifice first hand fade away into memory, and I look upon a nation full of spoiled self serving disrespectful youth that are being brought up to be our future citizens - I shudder to think they will be leading the greatest country on earth. The surge of patriotism that we saw after 9/11 has faded too quickly. They take for granted the freedoms that were given to them at birth. They assume they are a God given right and will always be there. They do not understand fully the blood that was shed on their behalf.
Listen carefully - do not think that the USA will be here forever if you have no intention of taking care of it. When I was born - there were two super powers on Earth the USA and the Soviet Union. - Now there is one - The United States of America. It will not survive wihout the American spirit that each one of these fallen soldiers believed in and died for.
"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country." John F Kennedy
God Bless America
Sincerely,
Amanda Schalau
The Average American
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