All in a Day: Memorial

U.S. Defense Department, U.S. Flag Draped Coffins Returning from Iraq, 2004

Ah, Memorial Day--the three-day weekend that unofficially kicks off the summer. Somewhere between the gridlocked highways and barbecue reunions, some lip service is paid to soldiers lost and living who gave/give their lives to defend the beliefs of their government and the rights of its citizens.

The holiday was originally an unofficial one known as Decoration Day, when mourners, various women’s groups, and other gatherers seeking to pay tribute decorated the graves of soldiers who died during the Civil war. Said tributes took place in towns across the country until their growing din spurred General John Logan, the then national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, to commemorate the first official observance on May 30, 1868. (Logan officially proclaimed the holiday on May 5, 1968.) The ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery, where flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers.

The South (still embittered from having lost the war) initially refused, preferring instead to hold their own scattered celebrations on days of their own choosing. This held true until after World War I, when the parameters were expanded to include those who died during any war or military mission. The names "Memorial Day" and "Decoration Day" were interchangeable until after World War II, when the former gained cultural momentum. It was officially signed into law in 1967.

Memorial Day was transformed to its current three-day holiday state by the National Holiday Act of 1971, an act many see as having defamed the day of remembrance. To those ends, Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) introduced a bill to return the holiday to its May 30th roots in January 1999; months later (April 1999), Rep Jim Gibbons (R-Nevada) introduced a similar bill to the House. Both Bills were submitted to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Government Reform and have yet to be addressed.

Speaking of things that need addressing, I feel the need to make note of the 3,455 soldiers (109 more than when I first started counting) who have been lost to the war in Iraq, but have had quite the time trying to find a way to do it in a way that does more than lay blame, sound like easy-to-say-from-here claptrap, or promote whatever shameful agenda one would dare promote during times like these. So...instead I'll just wish an Empathetic Memorial Day to those grieving for their lost family, friends, and community members--a Supportive Memorial Day to those soldiers who have served/are still serving their country (as well as to those who are still MIA)--and a Grateful Memorial Day to those Americans lucky enough to be alive.

Epilogue: Those interested in photos of the war dead would be advised to follow this link.