Memorial Day was begun as a time to reflect upon and honor the memory of military service personnel who have died in service, whether in war or peace. Throughout much of the history of the United States, almost every family had a close or extended member who had served in the military. There was an impact and a connection no matter if the family member had died in service or had returned home after service, possibly with physical or mental wounds. As the population of the U.S. continues to grow, it seems that many families no longer have that military touchstone.
Several small towns across the country have laid claim to having the first “official” local commemoration, including Waterloo, NY in 1866. It is certain that the first call for a national day of remembrance came in 1868 from Civil War veterans who were members of the Grand Army of the Republic. The day was variously called “Decoration Day” (from decorating military graves with flags and flowers) or “Memorial Day” (a day to memorialize the dead) until it became a federal holiday set on the last Monday of May in 1971 when Memorial Day became the recognized name. The day was a time when people would go to cemeteries where family members were interred to lay flowers or place flags on graves. I remember following this tradition in my own family and in some years we visited more than one cemetery. We remembered all who had died and recognized the service of some. It appears that the traditional remembrance of Memorial Day is fading, being replaced by picnics and other outings.
Of course, picnics are fun and parades and fireworks are exciting, but do these events truly capture the original meaning of “Decoration Day”? Most parades do feature veterans and current military personnel, but how many include a flag-draped coffin or a cavalry horse with empty boots reversed in the stirrups? One might consider whether we as Americans are losing our personal connections to the past, to service, and to sacrifice.
Hopefully that is not actually the case. Perhaps we can take some time, not only on a specific day, to remember and recognize the sacrifices of others. Even if we are insulated in some way from that tradition of military service, I believe that we become better, more mindful citizens as we reflect on our shared history. We are all part of a larger family and those sacrifices protect the freedoms we all enjoy.