By Jennie
For many Americans, Memorial Day symbolizes the unofficial kickoff of summer – a holiday to fire up the grill, put on some baseball, and break out the white shoes (should you care about such fashion rules). Of course, as the name implies, Memorial Day has another, more solemn, purpose – to honor U.S. soldiers who have died in the service of their country.
Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1866 and meant to honor Union soldiers who’d died in the Civil War. I actually have a relative who died in the Battle of Shiloh (the only ancestor of mine whom I’m aware of having died in a war) – my maternal grandfather’s uncle, who was just seventeen when he died. I can’t pretend to feel a great kinship to a relative who died more than 100 years before I was born, but realizing that the holiday was first enacted in response to the great loss of life in the Civil War reminded me that I should take a moment to reflect on the reason for the day off. I plan to grill hamburgers for lunch (hoping for some sunshine!), but I also plan to observe the 3:00 p.m. moment of remembrance in honor of all of our war dead.
What are your plans?
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7 Responses to Memorial Day
Normally we have “plans” This weekend my plan is to rest. We’ve been so busy lately, I just want to put my feet up and do a whole lot of nothing.
Samantha, glad to hear you have plans to rest. Sounds perfect to me.
I will probably avoid going too far. I am selfish and don’t want to spend even a small amount of my three-day weekend in a traffic jam.
For fun stuff, I think I’ll stop by the plant nursery, get a mani-pedi and maybe hit the gym (hey, didn’t I say fun stuff – scratch that off the list). I’d like to see a movie, but nothing out now really interests me.
Thanks for the reminder about the moment of remembrance. I’ll set a reminder on my phone for that.
Great idea, Jennie! To set aside an actual time of remembrance helps to not get caught up in the long weekend, and forget what it is all about. Thanks.
We don’t have any special plans this weekend. Just hanging out with family and friends. We did go to Costco this am and bought two new big beds for my girls (dogs) and they are loving them.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all families who have lost loved ones in the military. I appreciate, respect and honor what your loved one and your family have done to keep our freedoms intact and to keep us safe.
My appreciation also goes to all who have served or are currently serving. I don’t know first hand but I can only try to imagine how difficult it must be to be separated from your family and friends in a different region or country and to risk your life for others. A big Thank You.
My thoughts and prayers also go out to all who have lost family members and friends. I am from a part of the country that also takes the opportunity on this weekend to visit the graves of all loved ones and lay special wreaths and memorial items at the graveside. My parents and other family members will visit the graves of all the loved ones they have lost over the past years to honor their memory. It usually takes them several days to do so. Since I am not usually back home on this weekend, I take the opportunity to do so when I travel back later in the summer.
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday. I had some company at different times yesterday and a good time was had by all. Today I am hot and tired from working on the yard. I also want to do the inside of my car. It needs a good shampooing after this Winter. I got some stuff to grill out. So hard to be outside all day working and then have to come in to face the stove and cleanup. We’ll do it easy and yummy.
Pam, so glad your girls like their new beds.
Samantha, hope you have your feet propped up.
I enjoy my freedom very much. Thanks to all of our men and women in the service who have made and continue to make that possible.
One of my kids had a party today with a slip ‘n slide (ages 6-12, we are all too old) and sprinklers on the trampoline. We had burgers on the grill and other summer salads. Now she’s pitched a tent and has a few friends making smores by a fire in the yard. What a gorgeous day we had here in eastern PA! The weather was perfect. After breakfast, when the guests go home, I am taking a Memorial Day nap. Thanks for that info about rememebring at 3PM. I didn’t know there was a specific time, Jennie.
I managed to give both of my girls a bath yesterday. They loved it and now they feel so soft and fluffy. We also grilled out last night. We had great steaks and the company was nice.
Today we are going out for an early dinner and then back to work tomorrow.
Sounds like Ann is having a busy weekend.