The "true" origin and purpose of Memorial Day?

[loyalsister]

Last edited Sun May 25, 2014, 08:07 PM - Edit history (1)

I keep coming across an insistence to keep in mind that Memorial Day is about veterans. Why?
Why shouldn't we remember our friends and family who were not veterans, and maybe even have a barbeque? Enjoying life is a good way to celebrate people we know who have died.
"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it." - Jim Hensen

I don't see how remembering and honoring that spirit dishonors anyone. Whatever the original intent, I think people who have not fought in wars legitimately mean something to us and are also worthy of remembrance.

So, I think we should enjoy our barbeques and the nice weather without criticism.

[phil89]

1. We're conditioned to think certain things

like that military service is honorable, troops protect freedom, etc. We should have a holiday for people who actually build the world up, not who sign up to destroy it. Doctors, researchers, artists, etc. seem more worthy of praise imo.

[TransitJohn]

2. It's not about veterans. Don't let the living steal the dead's glory. eom

n/t

[frogmarch]

3. Have you pscot’s post?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024999015

excerpt:

Anybody remember Decoration Day?

That's what we called it when I was a kid. Congress changed it when LBJ was president. During the Civil War when thousands of men were coming home dead, people started going out in large numbers to decorate the graves of the fallen. Whole towns turned out. It was formalized in 1866, and for a hundred years after that it was called Decoration Day.

That is why we are asked to remember veterans on Decoration/Memorial Day.

[TransitJohn]

4. We remember the dead on Decoration/Memorial Day.

Veterans are honored on Armistice/Veterans Day.

[frogmarch]

5. Memorial/Decoration Day

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

Memorial Day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

[TransitJohn]

6. Exactly. Thanks for backing me up!

[loyalsister]

8. I know that that is the origin

My point is that it has evolved into a tradition where people who were not veterans are honored along side veterans. For some reason this offends some people. I don't get it.

[frogmarch]

10. It doesn't offend me. What does offend me is

the attitude that fallen soldiers shouldn't be honored because war is bad.

[frogmarch]

10. Dupe. Slow connection tonight.

[TransitJohn]

12. Veterans are not honored on Memorial Day. The dead are.

Veterans are honored on Veterans' Day.

[SheilaT]

7. My recollection

from my childhood in the 1950's, was that it was primarily an observance in the Confederate States. I could certainly be misremembering, but I don't recall ever observing it until the mid or late 1960's, around the time May 30 became Memorial Day and a federal holiday. I believe it was a few years later that everything possible became a Monday holiday.

If I were in charge I'd go back to the traditional days, May 30, November 11, and so on. It's probably nothing short of a miracle that July 4th hasn't simply been changed to Independence Day and put as the first Monday in July.

It's also nothing short of a miracle that Thanksgiving, while now fixed as the fourth Thursday in November, hasn't been switched to a Friday. I will say, that in the early years of my marriage my husband was looking at a calender and said, in a very puzzled tone of voice, "Thanksgiving is on a Thursday again this year?"

[maced666]

9. You could do the same for MLK Day, or Labor Day, Veterans Day......

Do whatever you want.
The country observes these days for specific people so that we may honor and not forget.
Should you want to personalize them no one is stopping you. But many most likely won't join you.
And that's okay, too.