How do you celebrate Memorial Day?

Do you celebrate Memorial Day?

Celebrate? Absolutely not!

Excuse me while I climb on my soapbox!

Social media will be flooded with pictures of veterans this weekend. I understand the pride – after all, I am an Army brat – but unless you’ve lost someone in battle or because of wounds sustained in battle, this is the wrong holiday!

Armed Forces Day honors those who are currently serving in the military.

Veterans Day honors those who serve/have served in the military

Memorial Day honors those who died in war.

Why would anyone celebrate such a sad occasion?

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and came about after the Civil War. General John A. Logan said May 30th should be spent “decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” He chose May 30th because it did not commemorate a battle. Memorial Day did not become a federal holiday until 1971 and as the push came along for 3-day weekends, was moved to the last Monday in May.

Several years ago, Hobby Lobby ran an ad:

“Red, White Blue & You!

Star Spangled Fun

Create a Memorial Day bash that will turn the whole neighborhood red, white and patriotic!”

What?

No, just no.

Talk about tone deaf!

Every holiday is not reason to show your Martha Stewart side.

Learn our country’s history so that we don’t repeat it.

Honor the war dead, too many to count.

Mourn the 58,479 men and women who never returned from the Vietnam War.

Have compassion for those who are grieving, maybe even shed a tear.

Thank God you’re not one of them.

Observe Memorial Day with the respect it deserves.

Please do not celebrate.