Afghanistan Matters/Flickr Creative Commons
Memorial Day began after the Civil War as Decoration Day and was used to remember the fallen on BOTH sides of that tragic struggle. The South started recognition as early as 1866, with the North following suit two years later. It became Memorial Day at the end of the 1800’s, but it wasn’t until after WWII that it became more and more commonly celebrated. Further, it wasn’t instituted as a full federal holiday until 1967.
Now, sometimes, when we think of Memorial Days from the past, we tend to imagine images of parades with red white and blue bunting on pickup trucks with the beds full of old men in VFW, or American Legion caps. I’m sure we all can picture the newly planted American flags on veteran’s graves in the local cemetery. What I’ve noticed over the past few years is that people are recognizing that Memorial Day isn’t just about old folks anymore. The Vietnam vets are the gray haired men now. The WWII generation is losing Vets every year. And, with the War on Terror stretching into it’s 14th year, we have many, many younger veterans. Everyone knows someone who had/has a family member in Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Somalia or Kuwait. I myself come from a military family, a lineage that I am quite proud of. My husband served in Vietnam and my son has been in the Air Force for 14 years.
To the Vietnam era, one of the symbols of toughness was the statement “Oh him? He did 2 tours.” The Vietnam generation’s kids and grandkids are pulling multiple deployments to multiple countries and fighting in multiple conflicts with ever-changing rules of engagement. There is no doubt that the Vietnam generation raised some very, very tough kids. However, this isn’t about who’s tougher though, my point is we’re living in an era where the fallen are younger than we are, so it’s not enough to just tip your hat to the gray haired guy in the VFW, or US Army Retired ball cap anymore. Today, your cable guy, your mechanic, the guy who runs the grocery store…any of them could be veterans and deserve our respect. Or, at the very least, they are likely the friends and family of the fallen.
Written on the Confederate Memorial in the Arlington National Cemetery are these words:
“Not for fame or sword
Not lured by ambition
Or goaded by necessity
But in simple obedience to duty, as they understood it.
These men suffered all
Sacrificed all
Dared all — and died.”