Many things have changed, over the years, that people associate with Memorial Day. The media seem to have blurred the differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day that Veterans take note of. Retailers look at Memorial Day as a time to run sales, adult beverage retailers run ads for people to get their favorite beverage to go with their weekend bbq and grocery stores run sales and specials on all you need for that weekend bbq and others look at it as a paid day off of work. I don’t blame the average citizen for not knowing the true meaning of Memorial Day, because they have been inundated with the benefits of the sacrifice of those that have fallen, so they can have that sale, so they can have that bbq, so they can have that day off of work.<\/p>\n
To me, it has always meant what it was designed for, since I was a little kid. Maybe that’s because I was born on a military base in Germany and have had so many in my family that have served during war time, including myself? I don’t know, but it has been something inside of me for as long as I can remember. I look on the day with solemnity. When I go to the cemeteries, today, to place flags at the headstones of those that have served, I sort of lose awareness of everything else, except for why I’m there and what I am doing. It is a serene time that I cherish every year that I do this with my brothers and sisters from my Post. It doesn’t matter, to me, if they fell during battle, or passed away after a long life; they served and that is why I am there. Just like Rolling Thunder being in DC this weekend. A friend of mine does the ride from Minnesota every year, rain or shine, cold or hot. Why? For the same reasons that everyone else involved does, to honor and remember those that have gone before. That is what Memorial Day is all about. Whether a person quietly honors a personal friend or acquaintance or takes part in a public memorial, that is what is important. If you want to take part in a public memorial service, I encourage everyone to look up local activities, or check with your local VSO to see if they have something going on that you could help with, like placing flags at grave sites, or other activities. We have all Summer to have beer and bbq, let’s give this one day to those it was created for.<\/p>\n
Old Trooper out<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"