Editorial: Embracing the real meaning of Memorial Day
Since Memorial Day was moved 50 years ago from May 30 to the more convenient last Monday in May, this long holiday weekend has become synonymous with the beginning of summer, much as the Labor Day weekend marks the season's sad end.
We light up the barbecues, we open the pools, we head to the parks and to the beaches. We enjoy the sun, as much as we can find it.
There's nothing particularly wrong with this embrace of summer. It buoys the spirits, provides one more reminder of why we're glad to be alive.
But as usmemorialday.org notes, the Veterans of Foreign Wars aptly complained in 2002 that <URL destination="http://www.usmemorialday.org/?page_id=45">"changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."
</URL>In fact, the late Sen. Daniel Inouye was so concerned about this nonchalance that every year, from 1987 until his death in 2012, he introduced a resolution to move Memorial Day back to May 30.
"We have lost sight of the significance of this day to our nation," Inouye said when introducing his resolution in 1999.
Let us not be distracted from the sacred holiday that extended this three-day weekend.
Memorial Day should not be mistaken for the spring version of Veterans Day. That's an important holiday too, but appreciate the distinction.
Memorial Day is not an observance in honor of those who have served; it is an observance in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is an observance in memory of those who served and died.
By tradition, enshrined by an act of Congress, the day is meant to be a day of reflection and of honoring the memories of our war dead.
By tradition, enshrined by an act of Congress, we all are asked as Americans to stop what we're doing at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day and pause to remember those who gave their lives for the country.
How many of us do that? How many of us even recognize it as a tradition or expectation?
By tradition, the flag is to be raised, then lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day morning. Then raised again at noon to full staff.
The holiday had its beginnings in the 1860s, originally called Decoration Day as the day was intended to decorate the graves of soldier's who died in the Civil War.
Since then, it has evolved to include parades, war re-enactments, speeches. It was not universally referred to as Memorial Day until after World War II.
The law to recognize it as an official holiday was not passed until 1967.
On Monday, remember its meaning. Participate in local observances. Pause - at 3 p.m. - to remember the sacrifices so many have made on behalf of the country, on behalf of each of us.