Let’s put the “Memorial” back in Memorial Day 2013!

As a Veteran, I take very seriously three Holidays: July 4th, Veterans Day (Nov. 11th) and Memorial Day (May 27th). My reasoning for my seriousness is based on two things: My Understanding of History and My Dedication as a Patriot to the Foundational precepts of this Country. Let me first expound on the first reason as it might further enlighten my second.

When you understand from a historical perspective WHY a Holiday is celebrated, you can appreciate it all the more. The root word is Memorial Day is of course, “Memorial” which denotes “Memory”  or “Remembering”. But that of course begs the question, “Remember WHAT?”

Taken from Wikipedia here is the definition I found:

“Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May.^[1] Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.^[2] Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service^[3]. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.”

Now, if we take this definition to answer the above question “What are we Remembering?” Yeah, you would get the traditional (and correct) answer of “Men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces.” But you also get these shallow, idiotic responses:

• “It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season”
•  “United States Federal Holiday”
•  “The best 3 day weekend Holiday Ever”

Sadly, a large part of the population if asked the above question on the street would not give you the correct answer, but one of the three moronic ones.

Now granted, there has been action taken by the prior White House renters in 2000 to try and “Re-Direct” the what I call  “National Attention Span” (which by all accounts has a SEVERE case of ADD) with the National Moment of Rememberance. But pitifully, Nothing has come out of Washington since that time (13 years!) to try and honor the fallen and get lazy sheeple off their ass and give respect where respect is due.

Now I know what you are thinking “If you are waiting on Washington D.C. to do something meaningful and productive, you are gonna be waiting a long time!“ and you might be right, but I also remember my Grandfather telling me you can tell a lot more about a persons character by what he DOES NOT DO than by what HE DOES..and let’s be real honest here; the current White House renters don’t do a whole lot in terms of Patriotism. If I was an outsider I would almost want to guess they really do not like America or our Constitutional Precepts! It is almost like they are ashamed of this country (oh wait, I seem to remember Michelle Obama saying just that!!)

Which brings me to my last and final point.

As a Veteran, I was willing to die, (and still am until they plant me) for this country and the principles it was founded on. I consider myself an Ardent Patriot, a DEFENDER, if you will, of this Great Nation’s Heritage. And no matter who is renting the White House and the socialist scams and/or laws they try to push on me, those beliefs will never change.

This quote from Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC sais it all to me:

“It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who gave us the freedom to demonstrate

It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag.

And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

Please take a moment at 3pm on May 27th, Memorial Day and Remember those who gave it all and if possible, do something tangible and helpful for the veterans in your community, especially the disabled vets!

Stay Dangerous and Remember!