How to Respectfully Observe Memorial Day
Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. Along with this comes packed Cape Cod beaches, sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers, and kids seeing the end of school in sight. While the long weekend does give time for all of these things, it is important to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day. Each year on the last Monday of May, Americans observe Memorial Day as a federal holiday designated to honor and mourn the loss of American military personnel who have lost their lives while performing their duties for the United States Military Forces. Memorial Day has a very rich history. It was previously known as Decoration Day due to the large number of veteran graves that were decorated with flowers, small flags and other personal items on this day in May. Since there are two different federal holidays that celebrate the United States Military Forces, it is important to know how to respectfully observe Memorial Day.
What to do:
- Visit memorials. Memorials of our fallen military members are erected for people to see them. I know you’ve walked or driven past some type of memorial on your way to work– especially in Boston– so take the extra time to go and read the plaque on this long weekend.
- Flying the U.S. flag at half staff until noon. Memorial Day is a day of “National Mourning,” so if you are someone that flies the flag of the United States outside of your house, make sure to fly it at half staff until noon.
- Placing flags or flowers on the graves of fallen military heroes. In the idea of Decoration Day, it could be a nice thing to go and decorate our veterans’ graves to show respect and appreciation for the ultimate sacrifice they gave.
- Participating in a National Moment of Remembrance. At 3PM local time on Monday, there will be a moment to pause and reflect on the importance of Memorial Day. This is a great way to stop briefly to remember the holiday amidst a weekend filled with activities.
What NOT to do:
- Do not thank the current troops just because it’s Memorial Day. While our current troops deserve gratitude every day of the year, Memorial Day is specifically for America’s fallen soldiers. Veteran’s Day is the holiday for our current troops.
- Do not wish anyone a happy Memorial Day. This day was not founded with joy, it was established to give the American people a chance to honor and remember fallen soldiers.
- Do not disregard its importance. While Memorial Day can seem like all fun with the beginning of summer and discounts on purchases, it is essential to not confuse why we celebrate this holiday. It is totally fine to enjoy a family barbeque, but don’t forget to raise a glass to the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
On the topic of demonstrating respect, it is inappropriate to not address the situation of our country within the last couple of weeks. The shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, TX earlier this week and the mass shooting that killed 10 in Buffalo, NY are heartbreaking. We send our thoughts and prayers to anyone affected by these events, and acknowledge that this is a very tough time for many families. This Memorial Day weekend please be kind and respectful to each other and if you can spend time with your family, acknowledge how lucky you are.