Only 28% of Americans know what Memorial Day memorializes. Street interviewers get answers like this when people are asked about the holiday: they don’t know and couldn’t care less as long as they get a day off from work; it’s a day to celebrate LBGTQ rights in the military; it commemorates the freeing of slaves during the Civil War; it refers to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This shocking information is reported in The Stand, a journal published by the American Family Association, Volume 48, No. 4. (afa.net/thestand.)
For the record, the Department of Defense defines Memorial Day as “an annual day of remembrance to honor all those who died in service to the U.S. during peacetime and war.” It was originally called Decoration Day, with the first national celebration being held May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery. The name was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1967, and later the date of its observance was changed to the last Monday in May.
It’s not the same as Veteran’s Day, which is to recognize and honor all veterans of the armed forces. “That day is largely intended to thank living veterans, to acknowledge that their contributions to national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all who served, not only those who died, have sacrificed and done their duty.” (DOD Memorial Day webpage).
According to 36 U.S. Code 116: “it is essential to remember and renew the legacy of Memorial Day; greater strides must be made to demonstrate appreciation for those loyal people of the United States whose values, represented by their sacrifices, are critical to the future of the United States; the Federal Government has a responsibility to raise awareness of and respect for the national heritage; in House Concurrent Resolution 302, agreed to May 25, 2000, Congress called on the people of the United States, in a symbolic act of unity, to observe a National Moment of Remembrance to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace; in Presidential Proclamation No. 7315 of May 26, 2000 the President proclaimed Memorial Day as a day of prayer; a National Moment of Remembrance and other commemorative events are needed to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble event that that day is intended to be. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/116.
Ladies and gentlemen, won’t you join me in expressing my deep appreciation for those who died defending our country, those who continue to defend it, and to educate and encourage our children to do the same!
