Memorial Day: Remembering the Sacrifice Behind America's Freedom
Next Monday, America will observe Memorial Day, a national day set aside to remember the fallen men and women who gave their lives in military service to the United States.
The meaning of Memorial Day reaches far beyond a long weekend. It is rooted in sacrifice, remembrance, gratitude, and the cost of freedom itself.
The Origins of Memorial Day
It began after the close of the Civil War, but has since come to honor the heroes lost in all of America’s conflicts.
When it began in the 1860s, it wasn’t by any government decree. It was regular citizens who felt the urgency to remember the lives offered in battle. The war was fresh in their minds, and reminders were everywhere. The young men among them on crutches or missing limbs were a daily testimony to the horrors of war.
The day came to be known as Decoration Day. Communities would gather to lay wreaths and flowers in cemeteries, to remember the names and faces of the ones lost.
The name slowly changed to Memorial Day after World War I. It didn’t become officially recognized as a Federal holiday until 1971.
It became a national day of observance because of the need to remember. These were real people. More than a statistic in files of the War Department or the Pentagon, these were living, flesh and blood humans with loved ones, girlfriends, wives and children.
They had dreams and plans for their future which were cut short in a moment for the cause of freedom. These patriots gave all for the continued prosperity of loved ones left behind.
It also shows appreciation to the families of the ones lost. Their loss is recognized, remembered and honored. The pain is assuaged somewhat when another shows gratitude for the sacrifice.
How an Ordinary Person Becomes a Hero
Memorial Day is also a reminder of the value inherent in society. A hero is not a movie character, a cartoon or the likeness of a statue. The hero is the regular person who steps up for service, duty and love for everything around him.
The lost ones we remember weren’t mythical figures who were fearless and untouchable. They were young people in a hellish experience while given no preparation for it. Nothing in their lives could prime them for the nightmarish chaos they were thrown into. They were scared stiff.
But moved forward anyway.
That is a hero.
This is the unparalleled exceptionalism we will recall next Monday. This is worth recalling. Bravery of that caliber displayed by teenagers should be reflected on.
Not only to honor them but to call ourselves higher as well. It’s easy to take for granted freedom and security that was bled, suffered and died for. In a way, Memorial Day isn’t only to remember the fallen.
It’s a call to gratitude for us today. We have reaped benefits others have sown. We may have forgotten the high price paid for what we expect daily.
This isn’t meant to shame, it’s merely human nature to forget. In the Bible, God instructs His people to build altars and celebrate festivals to commemorate what transpired. It’s for the benefit of future generations, to pass on the events they didn’t experience themselves. See Exodus 12:14.
Perspective of where we have come from as a people is paramount. The nation’s past should strengthen our resolve to stand tall and climb higher in the future.
Memorial Day and Our Consumer Culture
In our modern era, Memorial Day has been downgraded to a three day weekend with cold beer and burgers on the grill. It’s the unofficial kickoff of summer. When I lived in the Northeast, the holiday was synonymous with reopening of public pools and amusement parks.
Marketers have used it to their advantage. ‘Zero Down’ and ‘Ninety Days Same as Cash’ announce Memorial Day Weekend Blowout Sales.
The mourners decorating the graves in the 1860s would be disappointed at this trend.
Patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice didn’t do it for an interest free living room suite or a truck with no payments for three months.
It was for freedom and an ideal that is always under attack. It was for us.
Remember the Cost Of Freedom
Enjoy the long weekend. Cook some steaks and celebrate life in the USA. You should.
And feel free to visit a cemetery, plant a flag on a grave. Maybe you could give a few dollars to Wounded Warrior Project or a similar Veteran’s support organization.
Or just pause and remember the ones who made this possible and what it cost.
“This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.” - Tamra Bolton
