A Reminder to Remember

Burlington County Times
Editorial
May 28, 2010

Today is the start of the first long weekend of the summer season. When the majority of us make plans for the Memorial Day weekend, we consider taking a jaunt to the shore, or enjoying a shopping trip or picnic. And let's be honest here - honoring the nation's war dead is often last on the to-do list or not on it at all.

It's not that we as Americans don't think it's important. We certainly do here in Burlington County. There are a number of remembrance events scheduled over the next few days, some solemn, some less so, and many county residents will attend and take time to honor the men and women who have lost their lives while in service to this country.

But we believe the original meaning of Memorial Day is fading.

A number of communities claim to have celebrated the first Memorial Day, according to usmemorialday.org. It was often called Decoration Day, and one of most widely accepted versions of its origins is that it began in 1866 in Waterloo, N.Y., as a way to honor the memory of those who died in the Civil War. It was officially proclaimed Memorial Day in May 1868 by Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, when flowers were placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. In the years following the Civil War, many other cities and towns, in the North and South, held ceremonies to honor the country's war dead.

In 1971, Congress moved Memorial Day, which had come to mean honoring the dead from all American wars, from May 30 to the last Monday in May. It seems that act, which created an extra day off for many working people, robbed the observance of most of its original meaning.

It's surprising, really, that we should have to be reminded about the meaning of the holiday when we are still fighting two wars. The day should take on even more significance when we reflect on the recent news that the war in Afghanistan has now taken the lives of more than 1,000 American servicemen and women, and more than 4,000 Americans have died in the Iraq war.
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We are disheartened to note that very few of us will even bother to think about the fallen on this unofficial start to the summer weekend.

So as we get ready to celebrate our 144th Memorial Day, let's get it right. We encourage our readers to make a real effort to return to the original meaning of the holiday.

If you can't attend a parade or wreath-laying ceremony this weekend, take a few minutes to reflect on and honor the men and women who died in service to our country.

And returning to the original meaning of Memorial Day also means we need to make more of an effort to honor and support our military personnel and veterans - the men and women who served and are serving in our armed forces. If you see a veteran, thank him for his service.

There is no question we must honor our war dead, but we as a nation also must do more to support the living - not just with our eternal gratitude but by providing our veterans with the best medical care and benefits available. It's the least we can do for those who gave so much.

So invite some friends over for a cookout, go see "Sex and the City 2" or take a drive to the shore, but never forget what Memorial Day is really about. Remember to give thanks to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.