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Yet all of us would benefit from taking a moment to reflect on the true purpose behind this observance. We should acknowledge with gratitude the countless sacrifices made by approximately a million of our countrymen who gave their lives in combat. Their service on the battlefield secured the very freedoms that allow us to commemorate this day. Silent thanks are owed to those who made such observances possible through their ultimate sacrifice.”>Memorial Day, our most solemn national holiday, will take place this weekend.
It is symptomatic of our national culture that for most Americans, the true meaning of Memorial Day has long been lost amidst the excesses of our materialistic society. Since the 1960s, when Congress voted to make it part of a three-day weekend, Memorial Day has come to symbolize the start of the summer season, rather than a day to remember the supreme sacrifice made by an estimated one million of our fellow citizens who died in the line of duty in order to maintain the unique freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars put that sentiment this way in a 2002 Memorial Day Address:
“Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”
So yes, we urge all of our fellow citizens to make the most of a day off from work (for many of us, at least), whether it be to shop for a bargain, indulge in a cookout with friends and family, or just relax.
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Tagged: address, americans, changing, editorials, find-the-time, foreign-wars, make-the-most, memorial, since-the-1960s