who cares what I think

It’s Memorial Day weekend and no, it’s not about mattress sales, your cook-out, your three day weekend or a good deal on a car.

It’s a time to celebrate the lives lost in battle, to honor what it means to serve and to pay homage to those who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy. So, for goodness sake, don’t be an A-hole and go around in a drunken slur saying “Happy Memorial Day”, it’s not exactly the happiest of days.  It’s somber, respectful, commemorative; a time to actually take a little pride in your country and give thanks that so many have cared enough about it to die for it.

Did you know that Memorial Day originated after the American Civil War, was originally known as Decoration Day and was started primarily by Freedmen who were formerly slaves, along with other black American families, northern missionaries and white Union soldiers to celebrate the soldiers, black and white, who valiantly fought for liberation and justice for all?  Look it up.

Since then, Memorial Day has been expanded to become a commemoration for all soldiers of all wars who have served in all the United States Armed Forces so, as you are stuffing your face with hot dogs and slamming beers on the beach, take a moment to think about how we got here and who made much of it possible.