I'm as guilty as millions of other people: In my younger days, I regarded Memorial Day as a day of fun -- parades, backyard barbecues, a day off from school, neighborhood baseball games, and maybe the NBA playoffs (back when I actually cared about the NBA). When I was in grade school, the Indy 500 took place on Memorial Day, not the Sunday before, and I can still recall the big names of the day: Mario Andretti, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser, A.J. Foyt, et al. Up until 1971, Memorial Day always took place on May 30, but then it was rolled into the final weekend of May to make for a three-day weekend.
It took me too many years to appreciate the solemnity and gravity of Memorial Day, to realize that this day is set aside to honor the fallen who served with honor and gave their lives for each of us and for our nation. In the wake of the devastating Civil War, "Decoration Day" became a tradition (its origins disputed) during which relatives and friends of fallen soldiers would decorate the soldiers' graves. Eventually it became a federal holiday.
In a sense, Memorial Day is similar to the Christian holy day of Good Friday. It's not just another day; it's a day for somber reflection and gratitude. Our nation faces grave problems on so many levels, but we should never forget the sacrifices of those who enabled us to get to this point, to keep an incredible republic growing, prospering, thriving and positively influencing the world for well over two centuries. Those of us who were fortunate enough to be born Americans are deeply blessed, whether we realize it or not.
Each of us can honor the fallen service members, not just by decorating their graves, but through prayer, through donations to veterans support groups such as Wounded Warriors and Disabled American Veterans, and also by making the most of the liberty we cherish and enjoy.
This reminds me of something I heard in reference to those who inherit money from a deceased relative: The best way to honor that departed loved one is to use the money responsibly -- not just for the good of your family, but for others, too, including the downtrodden. In that spirit, I hope millions of Americans will show their gratitude to the fallen by using liberty and prosperity for good.
Let us never, ever forget the dear price others have paid for our freedom.
Elmer Davis, a journalist, author and Director of the U.S. Office of War Information during World War II, said it best: "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."
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