I'm a veteran and I hate "Happy Memorial Day!" Let me tell you why.
I have Brothers and Sister in arms who received medals and awards and all kinds of baubles and trinkets - posthumously. Brothers who didn't receive anything - posthumously, because they were, "Military Advisers" in some other country's ****ed up war.
And as a civilian, have spent too many times escorting young men to their final resting places.
I hate "Happy Memorial Day!" Let me tell you why. I’m very angry. I’ve come to realize people think Memorial Day is the official start of summer. It’s grilled meat, potato salad, beer, a day off work and super-duper discounts.
It’s more than that.
Nearly 150 years ago, Memorial Day— first called, Decoration Day— was set aside to decorate the graves of the men who’d recently died in battle. America was still reeling from the Civil War when Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a proclamation in 1868, “The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."
A century and a half later, after more than a 50 years of war claimed the lives of more than 250,000 Americans, we are more concerned with having a barbecue and going shopping than to appreciate the cost of our freedom to do so.
Remember those that have given the ultimate price for our Freedoms.
Semper FI
USMC
I have Brothers and Sister in arms who received medals and awards and all kinds of baubles and trinkets - posthumously. Brothers who didn't receive anything - posthumously, because they were, "Military Advisers" in some other country's ****ed up war.
And as a civilian, have spent too many times escorting young men to their final resting places.
I hate "Happy Memorial Day!" Let me tell you why. I’m very angry. I’ve come to realize people think Memorial Day is the official start of summer. It’s grilled meat, potato salad, beer, a day off work and super-duper discounts.
It’s more than that.
Nearly 150 years ago, Memorial Day— first called, Decoration Day— was set aside to decorate the graves of the men who’d recently died in battle. America was still reeling from the Civil War when Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a proclamation in 1868, “The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."
A century and a half later, after more than a 50 years of war claimed the lives of more than 250,000 Americans, we are more concerned with having a barbecue and going shopping than to appreciate the cost of our freedom to do so.
Remember those that have given the ultimate price for our Freedoms.
Semper FI
USMC
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