It is the most solemn of American holidays, a commemoration of those who have died in service of our nation.
And while Memorial Day, which we observe today, has become a time for barbecues and baseball and family outings, we shall never forget the reason behind the occasion. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 1 million Americans have perished in conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War. Along the way, they have helped to forge a nation that remains the world’s greatest economic, military, and political force.
Therefore, we honor them today, with many people decorating gravesites or remembering lost loved ones. Even those who have not been directly touched by the toll of war acknowledge and remain thankful for those who have sacrificed for this country. During the Civil War, that included about 360,000 who died while fighting to preserve the Union; during World War II, it included more than 400,000 Americans who protected the world from the tyranny of despots and dictators. Various other conflicts have tested our national resolve and extracted a heavy price.
It is inconceivable to imagine the world today without the courage and sacrifice of Americans who fought and died as this nation secured victory in World War I and World War II. It is inconceivable to imagine the sacrifice that hundreds of thousands of families have made because loved ones were called upon to serve their country. As Doc Hastings, a now-retired congressman from Eastern Washington, is credited with saying, “Memorial Day remains one of America’s most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed — it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy.”
The meaning of patriotism often is questioned these days. Yet while there is room for debate about that notion and about the value of unquestioning love of country, there is no ambiguity surrounding those who have died in service to the United States. The sacrifice of the fallen has allowed the rest of us to enjoy the benefits of a nation that still, for all its flaws, is a beacon of freedom for much of the world.
The tradition of honoring fallen soldiers is an ancient one, and it came to be commonplace in the United States in the wake of the Civil War. Observances were expanded over the course of generations, yet there is no definitive birthplace for an annual tradition that spread organically across the nation. Typically known as Decoration Day for the practice of decorating the graves of the fallen, it was codified into federal law as Memorial Day in 1967.
Traditionally, the observance took place on May 30, but in 1968 Memorial Day and other holidays were moved to a designated Monday in order to create an extended holiday. In 2002, the Veterans of Foreign Wars noted: “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.”
There is some truth in this. While Memorial Day remains a profound occasion, for many people the holiday has been usurped by the simple pleasures of a day off. Although there is little chance that the holiday will be returned to a May 30 observance, there is reason to call upon all Americans, all people who have benefited from the sacrifice of others, to imbue the day with the dignity it deserves.
Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, and it is one that deserves more than passing acknowledgement.
