What is Memorial Day?

Columbia MD

29 May, 2021

11:41 AM

Description

What is Memorial Day, Besides the First Long Weekend of the Summer? When I was a kid, we flew the American flag every day and sometimes my dad would ask me to take it down. (Another chore to do at sundown - yuck!*) Everything I had was stenciled with my name – very embarrassing for a shy kid. My dad never had to eat green beans (He had eaten too many of them during his war). And some days he would come home early and take a nap – malaria never leaves you. My dad had served in World War II. Growing up, I remember November 11th because it was always a day off from school. Later I realized it was the day my state (Washington) entered the Union as well as being Armistice Day, remembered on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – when World War I ended and Germany signed a cease fire agreement at Compiegne, France. Later, this day was renamed Veterans Day. Veterans Day, in November. is the day we remember and thank our living veterans.Memorial Day, in May, is the day we pay tribute to our veterans who are no longer alive, who have died while serving. But it is also appropriate and common to thank living veterans on this day, too. But for many people, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and big weekend sales and picnics - we always go to the American Legion or the VFW for a barbeque.. Whatever, please spend a moment of quiet reflection on Monday to silently thank those veterans who are no longer with us, be they our fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers, brothers or sisters, uncles or aunts. And then, have a good time! *but now, after 25 years of military service and a long tour of duty in Afghanistan, I fly the American flag, too