Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2023 will occur on Monday, May 29.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.
The Birthplace of Memorial Day and Early Observances
Decoration Day
History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day Traditions and Rituals
Photo Gallery
History
All gave some. Some gave all. This is their day.
Category: We Remember
Okay, hold my Yuengling, I’m gonna be, “That guy.”
I’m torn. On the one hand, it’s Memorial Day. We remember the fallen. The extra thank yous and whatnot? They shouldn’t be for me, friendly civilians, although the gesture is meant well and appreciated.
On the other, we should celebrate the lives of those who sacrificed. I certainly wouldn’t want people pissing and moaning about my absence, quite the opposite, in fact. So yeah, have a dog and a beer and remember those who can’t be with us. Celebrate their lives while honoring their sacrifice.
While I see a lot of signs saying, “Happy Memorial Day,” I just have to remember that their intention is good and getting tweaked about it serves no useful purpose. All good.
(Steps off soapbox)
A Standing Ovation and a Salute for your words, Good Sir. I do believe you nailed it squarely, ‘Sparky, and spoke for many of us here. I add a Salute to those that have fallen and a Prayer that God’s Peace will bring some measure of His Comfort to the families that lost their loved ones.
Freedom is NOT free and has been purchased by the blood of the Fallen.
Never forget!
It was always a thing, but it has been coming up more often lately. When I was in, we tended to mock it.
https://www.newsweek.com/it-ok-appropriate-say-happy-memorial-day-2022-1710048
When I was a child the first holiday weekend of summer vacation was a time of great excitement. Summer was always full of promise and often delivered.
My mood tends to get a little more foul this time of the year. As I get older, the peer group than I served with gets smaller every year. Those that are gone, still aren’t coming back. I think about what they should have and could have been and never were. I’d like to think that their sacrifices meant something, and that it was worth it.
I think of my own child off serving with the mixed emotions of pride and worry. I can’t think of any cause that I fought for that is worth losing him over. Then I remember it wasn’t about the cause It was about each other. It was much more clear back then. Now I can’t weigh the scales without putting a thumb on there. My child is more precious to me than my own life.
In the Fall of my life the promise of Summer isn’t what it once was. I am not going to have a happy Memorial Day. Nor am I going to go to a cemetery or some ceremony to honor the fallen. I try to Honor the fallen every day by trying to live up to their sacrifice, even though I woefully fail every day. I am still grateful however; even though many in our country appear not to be. That is on them.
Of all the things that Jesus ever said and did, He only ever gave one commandment directly, that we love each other. A man has no greater love than this…
Pretty much my thought about it as well.
I don’t take offense when none is intended. “Have an honorable Memorial Day” seems to fit.
My friend invited me over to her clubhouse for an indoor grilled meal. Last year their was an 80+ year old man wearing an Army Special Forces cap dancing his ass off and we got to talking.. He was in Special Forces SOG over in Viet-Nam and he told me what it was like being in SF and what SOG did.. Hope he will be their today… Enjoy the day and think of the ones that never made it back..
SOG was manned by SF soldiers, except for the foreign men on their recon teams. Their mission was to conduct strategic reconnaissance in enemy controlled territory. Two officers from MACVSOG’s Command and Control North (CCN) left it and joined my Ranger company. They were both Special Forces officers.
Welcome Home Jonn.
Thank you for all you did for us.
Never Forget.
Usually Memorial Day is a target rich environment for POSers. Wonder how it will pan out this year?
The stories usually surface a few days after Memorial Day when the questions start bubbling to the surface.
Yesterday was The Day set aside to remember and honor those who gave their lives so that others might live and be free. In this era of [insert group here–Black, Women, Pride, etc.] Months, having a single day devoted to such a monumental group of people is oddly almost an honor. They don’t need a bloated celebration of life lasting 1/12th of the year. They served selflessly, all for various reasons and with different motivations, but they laid down their lives in service to our fine nation. Just as Death takes us in an instant, we have only 24 hours officially dedicated to their memory. Most of us here probably spend 365 days a year remembering.
Politics and social issues try to divide us. There are some who confuse the meaning of Memorial Day versus that of Veterans Day. For a lot of Americans, the last Monday in May is simply a time to gather at the pool, grill some burgers, and drink some cold beverages. No matter how you do or don’t celebrate Memorial Day, and no matter how, where, or even if you served yourself, the brave men and women who are no longer with us would doubtlessly want us all to live in their honor as we see fit.