Memorial Day '10
Today is Memorial Day. Now, I can hear some of you thinking, “No, Monday is Memorial Day.” You're wrong. Monday is the observance of Memorial Day, but it is not Memorial Day. Check the history of Memorial Day and you will see that it is officially on May 30th every year; we observe it on the closest Monday, because we like having 3-day weekends. It's the same with most of our National holidays - Veteran's Day is November 11th, Labor Day is September 4th; the only exceptions I can think of are Thanksgiving and Independence Day (and I don't expect that to change, especially 'the 4th of July).
But that's not my main topic for today's post.
If you have read my blog before, then you should know that I am a supporter of our military. Not the bureaucratic machine that sometimes rears its ugly head, but the people who serve. It is because of them that our nation is free.
At this point in history, we have a 100% voluntary military - there is no 'draft'. Yes, we have registration for a draft, but there is no draft. Those who are in the military are there because they have decided they want to be there. Yes, I know there might be a few cases where they are there because of a little used, but still active clause in the contract they signed, but they freely signed that contract in the first place. But that is another issue and not the point. My point is that the people who serve in our military have chosen to do so and they deserve our respect, support, and thanks.
Memorial Day, while used to celebrate the unofficial start of summer, is not about parades or BBQs or flowers or even time off from work: it's about remembering those who have fallen in service of this country. Don't get me wrong; have parades, flowers, BBQs, and enjoy the time off from work - these are all good things, but let us also remember those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy these other things. If you know or see a veteran or an active duty military person, say “Thank-you” - you'd be surprised how much that would mean to them.
Something I did not know (until I read it in a Yahoo news story) is that there is a "national moment of remembrance" that takes place at 3 PM local time on the observance of Memorial Day (i.e. on Monday) and lasts one minute. This was established as an act of national unity, and is not intended to replace or supplant other activities on the day. So tomorrow, as you are enjoying the day however and wherever you are, when 3 PM rolls around, try and remember to take a minute and reflect on those who have fallen.
And to those US Military personnel, both past and present, wherever and whoever you are, from the bottom of my heart I say to you: Thank-you, and God bless you all.
But that's not my main topic for today's post.
If you have read my blog before, then you should know that I am a supporter of our military. Not the bureaucratic machine that sometimes rears its ugly head, but the people who serve. It is because of them that our nation is free.
At this point in history, we have a 100% voluntary military - there is no 'draft'. Yes, we have registration for a draft, but there is no draft. Those who are in the military are there because they have decided they want to be there. Yes, I know there might be a few cases where they are there because of a little used, but still active clause in the contract they signed, but they freely signed that contract in the first place. But that is another issue and not the point. My point is that the people who serve in our military have chosen to do so and they deserve our respect, support, and thanks.
Memorial Day, while used to celebrate the unofficial start of summer, is not about parades or BBQs or flowers or even time off from work: it's about remembering those who have fallen in service of this country. Don't get me wrong; have parades, flowers, BBQs, and enjoy the time off from work - these are all good things, but let us also remember those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy these other things. If you know or see a veteran or an active duty military person, say “Thank-you” - you'd be surprised how much that would mean to them.
Something I did not know (until I read it in a Yahoo news story) is that there is a "national moment of remembrance" that takes place at 3 PM local time on the observance of Memorial Day (i.e. on Monday) and lasts one minute. This was established as an act of national unity, and is not intended to replace or supplant other activities on the day. So tomorrow, as you are enjoying the day however and wherever you are, when 3 PM rolls around, try and remember to take a minute and reflect on those who have fallen.
And to those US Military personnel, both past and present, wherever and whoever you are, from the bottom of my heart I say to you: Thank-you, and God bless you all.
posted by TubaMeister at
16:30
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home