Memorial Day

One of my earliest childhood memories was a trip to an air show....at a military base....somewhere....Columbus, Ohio....maybe. We sat on a blanket on the ground surrounded by other families. The planes flew overhead. Young men jumped from them with parachutes. It was all very exciting.

I remember my father enthusiastically pointing to the planes overhead....calling out the names of friends who were dropping from the sky....dangling from sheets billowing in the wind.

Most likely he was telling us what models they were....how fast they flew....and a myriad of other details that were important. Of course, we didn't understand a word he said.

Afterall, we were all under 5 years old, my brothers and I.

Army. That was my father's branch of service. He was a paratrooper.

And on that day, he was sharing with his children his pride in his country....telling us stories of airplanes & brave men who jumped from them....to protect us & provide freedom to all.

I found a picture of him over the weekend....young Jerry....at the completion of basic training....in his uniform.

So young & brash....afraid of nothing....

Memorial Day was established to honor those who have died during war in service to our country. Originally, May 30 was designated as the annual observance of Memorial Day. In 1971, though, Congress moved it to the last Monday of May in order to provide government workers with a 3 day "holiday" weekend.

Seriously. I am not kidding. Look it up. National Holiday Act of 1971.

Today, Memorial Day is more about "vacation".....you know, getting away from it all for a 3 day weekend.... instead of honoring the lives & sacrifice of soldiers & their families....given to preserve the very freedom which allows us the luxury of "play".

And I am as guilty as the next person. As a child, Memorial Day was the beginning of summer ...and we focused on "opening up" the lake house for the season. Friends, food, sunburn, story-telling & laughter.

There's nothing wrong with any of that.....and honestly, those are great ways to celebrate the lives of our lost loved ones. It helps, though, if the memory of them is somehow incorporated into our festivities. Sadly, other than my dad flying an American flag from the front dock, there was never any family tradition established to commemorate Memorial Day.

As an adult, I remember Aunt Julia (my dad's sister) preparing the wreaths for her annual Memorial Day visit to the cemetaries. Memorial Day & Veterans Day.....the visits were very important to her....and she went to a great amount of time, trouble & care in choosing her wreaths....each to be reverently laid on the grave of a loved one....in memory....in honor....of the individual life that had gone before us.

I don't think she was very discriminating in her remembrance. It's my recollection that she placed wreaths and/or small American flags on all of the ancestral graves whose inhabitant had ever served in any branch of the military.

Nothing wrong with that in my book. Each of them freely chose to dedicate themselves to military service. And were willing to place their own lives in harms way to protect the freedoms we all enjoy today.

There has been some attempt in recent years to have Memorial Day returned to an annual observance on May 30....no matter what day it falls on.

I am thinking that might not be such a bad idea. If it was set apart....separate....not a part of a 3 day holiday weekend....then maybe all of us would pause to remember why Memorial Day is observed in the first place.

It isn't about a big sale....or a chance to get away from it all....a party to end all parties....

It is a day of honor. Of mourning. Of remembering sacrifices....generation after generation....lives laid down on our behalf....

Yes, a celebration is in order.....so long as we remember what we are celebrating....who paid the price for the celebration....

Whereever you are today....whoever you are sharing your fun with....take time to tell a story or two about those you love who have given their all....about those who served bravely or are in service today....make it a tradition....to tell war stories....to remember the traditions & values of those who came before us....

It's Memorial Day. Let's remember....even if it's only for today.....that it's not all about "ME"....it's all about 'THEM"....

If we, as Americans, continue to lose sight of the traditions....the values....the code of honor....the things which are the foundation of our country....the threads woven into the fabric of our freedom....then we will have no one to blame but ourselves....when we wake up one day to find that we are living as strangers in a strange land....right here at home.

Today, I am remembering my father....the young man who jumped out of airplanes. His life was not taken in service to our country during war. Still, he was willing to offer it. And I honor all of those men & women...in generations past....& as recently as today....who are willing to offer their lives....& who have lost their lives protecting mine.

God bless America.

(c) lifelessons-mj.blogspot.com
Mary 2010