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Meaning of Memorial Day By THOMAS J. TRADEWELL SR.
Commander-In-Chief
National VFW  | Photo by Sue Watson
In remembrance
Two
Falconer brothers - Howard and Kinlock - are remembered by Bill Janssen
with the Collins-Hurdle VFW Post 5697 as he places flags on their grave
sites in Hill Crest Cemetery. Howard (Oct. 1838-Sept. 1878) served in
Company F, 34 Mississippi Infantry CSA, while Kinlock (Nov. 14, 1836-
Sept. 20, 1878) served in the United States Army as a major in the Army
of Tennessee. The two brothers, at age 40 and 42, and veterans died in
the middle of the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Holly Springs. Falconer
Street in Holly Springs is named after their family. |
It’s
a sacred day to all war veterans: None need to be reminded of the
reason that Memorial Day must be commemorated. But what about the
general public, and more important, future generations? Do most
non-veterans really recognize the importance of the day honoring their
fellow Americans killed in war? Judging from what
Memorial Day has become — simply another day off from work — the answer
is a resounding no. Perhaps a reminder is due, then. And it is the duty
of each and every veteran to relay the message. Sacrifice
is meaningless without remembrance. America’s collective consciousness
demands that all citizens recall and be aware of the deaths of their
fellow countrymen during wartime. Far too often,
the nation as a whole takes for granted the freedoms all Americans
enjoy. Those freedoms were paid for with the lives of others few of us
actually knew. That’s why they are all collectively remembered on one
special day. This should be regarded as a civic
obligation. For this is a national debt that can only be truly repaid
by individual Americans. By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve
their memory and thus their service and sacrifice in the memories of
future generations. They came from all walks of
life and regions of the country. But they all had one thing in common —
love of and loyalty to country. This bond cemented ties between them in
times of trials, allowing a diverse lot of Americans to achieve
monumental ends. We remember the loss of loved
ones, a sense of loss that takes group form. In essence, America is
commemorating those who made the greatest sacrifice possible — giving
one’s own life on behalf of others. Means of paying tribute vary. Pausing for a few moments of personal silence is available to everyone. Attending
commemorative ceremonies is the most visible way of demonstrating
remembrance: Placing flags at gravesites, marching in parades,
sponsoring patriotic programs, dedicating memorials and wearing Buddy
Poppies are examples. Whether done individually
or collectively, it is the thought that counts. Personal as well as
public acts of remembering are the ideal. Public displays of patriotism
are essential if the notion of remembering war dead is to be instilled
in youth. As America’s older war veterans fast
disappear from society’s landscape, there are fewer and fewer
standard-bearers left to carry the torch of remembrance. Such
traditions will live on only if there is a vibrant movement to which
that torch can be passed. Now, more than in past
years, the enduring relevance of Memorial Day should be clearly
evident. With two wars underway, the public has no excuse not to
remember. This must is owed to the more than 5,400 Americans who have died thus far in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
