What does Memorial Day mean to you? To so many people, Memorial Day means a day off of work, a weekend spent at the lake, a cookout with good food and a pool. To the corporate world, Memorial Day means sales and discounts. But what does it mean to veterans? What does Memorial Day mean to them? And what should it mean to us?
Here's the gist. Just like every other holiday celebrated in America, we have morphed it into something that it's not. Christmas is about gifts and Santa. Thanksgiving is about turkey. Easter is about the Easter Bunny. And Memorial Day is about lake days and cookouts. Now don't get me wrong, Memorial Day weekend is a great time to spend with friends and family at the lake and at cookouts. There is nothing wrong with how you may choose to relax on your long weekend. But I think there is something wrong with completely leaving the "Memorial" out of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is a time to celebrate those who have died serving our country. Men and women across the United States have sacrificed a lot to secure our freedoms. And they have given us a lot more than a day of off work and an extra day to relax. They have given us the right to practice our own religion. They have secured our land and protect us from harm. They work to make sure we can wave our flag and sing the National Anthem.
Here are some numbers to put in perspective how many people have sacrificed their lives so that we may live freely every day. Over 116,000 American soldiers died in World War One, over 405,000 in World War Two, and over 58,000 died in the Vietnam War. Though people may not always agree with terms of war and United States involvement, you can't overlook the courage it takes to leave your home, your family, and your country in order to protect that which most take for granted.
So this Memorial Day, while we go for a swim, enjoy time on our boats, eat our hamburgers, and hang out with our friends, maybe we can take some time to celebrate the more important things that we have been given. People have given their lives for us. For you! They have served and died so that we might live in a country where we have freedom. And so we might live as peacefully as they lived in turmoil.
I don't think we take the time to understand what Memorial Day means to those who have served. This is a day where veterans or active soldiers remember their fallen friends, and where they may ask themselves why they were spared when others were not. I can only imagine the pain that so many experience on Memorial Day. This also includes those who have lost their family members or their friends.
So why do we trample over the true meaning of Memorial Day? This holiday, if we took the time to honor those who have died in service, to pray for the families of those who have been lost, and to consider the sacrifices of those serving now, maybe we would enjoy our lake days and our cookouts a little more. By embracing where our freedoms come from and understanding the sacrifices that result in our holiday weekend, maybe we could gain a greater appreciation. We take so much for granted as a society. Let's stop that trend this Memorial Day by taking the time to be thankful. To appreciate those who have given their lives and those who are willing to. Enjoy your time on the lake, indulge at your cookouts, and laugh with your friends, but don't take the "Memorial" out of Memorial Day.
