It's time again for my yearly rant about Memorial Day.

[Totally Tunsie]

I was waiting last night, with one eye on the digital clock. Sure as shootin' (pun intended) at 9:30 p.m. sharp, the fireworks started blasting away in a nearby town. I've protested this practice for years on end with advance calls to Veterans' organizations and the local police, as well as Letters to the Editor of our local newspapers. All understand; all agree, but yet it is repeated every year.

No, I don't wish to be known as the holiday party pooper. However, who in their right mind decided that "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" is the proper remembrance of those dying for our freedom? This should be a time of peace and solemnity, not a recreation of the battlefields that took our citizens' lives. Do their families really need to be noisily reminded of the bombs and bullets that took their loved one's life?

In a mere five weeks, our nation will celebrate Independence Day which is much more suited to a joyous display of fireworks. Can we not wait 'til then? Can we please let our memorialized soldiers Rest In Peace?

[saidsimplesimon]

1. TT, It is a day of somber reflection

and remembrance of sacrifices made by others to secure our prospects of remaining a nation of dreams.
imo

[Totally Tunsie]

2. Thank you.

[llmart]

3. I would add...

It's supposed to be a day of somber reflection.

It really isn't any longer. The redneck idiots in my area will find any reason to blow off fireworks and drink beer. Even on Easter. I am not kidding.

Most of them have no idea that fireworks still scares the bejeebers out of people who served in war zones.

[saidsimplesimon]

5. "It really isn't any longer."

Somber reflection was never the forte of those who rush into battle for the sake of blood soaked honor or perceived glory. It never was.

[Totally Tunsie]

16. The PTSD must be horrific for many who served, and it's why this custom

is so unnerving to me. There's no consideration for those who've been through war on the very day designed to respect and appreciate them. It's one of the points I raise in my calls and letters, to no avail.

[wasupaloopa]

4. I detest personal fireworks. I have 4 dogs. The law is fireworks

are permitted for certain hours on the 4th of July. But no, they start the day they go on sale and for months after.

My dogs are scared to death especially with the ones the are loud explosions.

We have very small yards yet they shoot off rockets from their back yard over our house and into our yard.



The “freedom” living folks who use them say on line at our web site that they don’t give a shit what we think

[SWBTATTReg]

15. I do too (detest) and wish they would be outlawed. Too many stories of injuries and fires caused...

by this things. In STLMO, it's literally like a warzone when the 4th of July comes around, and my dogs are terrified (two of them were in a litter of five, the two were survivors of a fire and I adopted the two). I usually kept them inside during the fourth, and the TV/music turned up loud, but it's still sometimes not enough to stifle the fireworks' noise.

I also wet down the roof of my house and garage, to protect hopefully against an errant bottle rocket.

And what's the funny thing? They're totally outlawed in the city, but not in the county (where they are sold), so people buy them by the tons and shoot them off. It sure doesn't make any difference though...

Be safe and take care...

[LuckyCharms]

17. +1. n/t

[Totally Tunsie]

18. Despite the law in Rhode Island...

"Rhode Island defines legal fireworks as any “ground and hand-held sparkling devices.” These devices do not explode or rise into the air, nor do they fire projectiles into the air, but may produce a cloud of smoke. This category includes: Cylindrical or cone fountains."

...the personal fireworks shot off here bear no resemblance to what is permitted. The media warnings go out every year, but that does nothing to curtail the abuse or lessen the injuries of those who ignore. I have little sympathy for those injured while shooting off cherry bombs and sky rockets long into summer nights.

[Skittles]

6. Memorial Day is a somber observance, not a party event

I have to school people wishing me a "Happy Memorial Day", and don't get me started on the sales events and the reference to this day as the START OF SUMMER! Seriously, WTF.

[TlalocW]

7. I just asked this of my friends and family on FB

Apparently I'm behind the times because I had never heard of fireworks on Memorial Day - the vast majority of my Memorial Day weekends have been decorating graves and then an extended family dinner when Mom was alive. But I was listening to the radio (I'm in Kansas City), and there was a commercial for a Memorial Day Celebration downtown with the symphony and fireworks. Why? I agree that it's a day to partly remember fallen military members, but is this a way to push it more into the realm of glorification? Is it the fireworks manufacturers trying to make more money?

TlalocW

[cynatnite]

8. As long as people take a minute or two and remember...

Have a BBQ, go fishing, shoot off fireworks, whatever.

Just please remember for why this holiday exists.

That's all I've ever asked.

[Ernesto]

9. 4th of July sucks also

just reminds me of how much the Vietnam deal stunk

[appalachiablue]

10. How many even know what it means anymore- all about

partying, the start of summer, shopping.

[Kaleva]

11. They died so folks could celebrate holidays as they saw fit.

[Skittles]

12. LOL

I guess that's one way to excuse it.

[lunatica]

13. Unfortunately it's difficult to separate the solemnity of the day with

the way so many Americans are gun ho about sending those soldiers to wars. The love of war is woven tightly into the American psyche, especially in our National Anthem. It’s romantic, manly, blood pumping, exciting and kick ass ego gratifying. Soldiers killed in action just adds to the glamor. Oh! And god is always on our side.

The last time we won a war was in WWII. Since then we have lost or come to an impasse in every war.

Some would argue that the US won the Persian Gulf war against Saddam Hussein but I think it was only the first battle, which only liberated Kuwait but did nothing to stop Saddam Hussein who never changed his Strongman rule until George W Bush’s War on Terror, on a country which had nothing to do with 9/11, which we haven’t won either.

Yet war loving Americans still believe we can win wars. Even after losing the Korean War, Vietnam Nam war, Iraq war, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. If anyone says we won the Grenada war they would be deservedly laughed off stage. But that’s all conveniently forgotten or glossed over because of the magical thinking due to those Americans who love war.

Don’t get me wrong. I support our military. I just wish they didn’t have to keep dying in our unnecessary and losing wars.

[Boomerproud]

14. Local media especially wag their fingers every year

about not appreciating our fallen, then they go right to a commercial for a Memorial Day sale