Most people consider Memorial Day the unofficial start of summer. It brings to mind barbecues, soccer games, and a flood of TV ads promoting every kind of sale. Thankfully, many also pause to reflect on the military lives lost — the true purpose of the holiday. But still, too few truly understand the history and meaning behind Memorial Day.
The holiday was first nationally observed in 1868 to honor the estimated 620,000 Union and Confederate dead of the Civil War — about 2 percent of the population at the time. It was originally called Decoration Day, named for the flowers laid on the graves of fallen soldiers and sailors. Though traditions varied from town to town, it was universally recognized as a solemn day of remembrance.
Memorial Day gave Americans a way to acknowledge the staggering human cost of war — for individuals, families, communities, and the nation. It also helped our country begin to heal its political wounds. A day dedicated to honoring those who died served as both a tribute and a salve.
As new generations were sent to war, the names of their fallen joined the honor roll. This public acknowledgment has always mattered — especially during divisive times like the Vietnam War, when Americans fiercely disagreed about the conflict. Yet even then, we honored the service members who gave their lives. Their sacrifice was — and always should be — above politics.
Then, as now, Memorial Day is marked with parades, public ceremonies, and wreath-laying traditions. Presidents traditionally place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, often delivering remarks that try to capture the weight of the moment.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan stood among the graves at Arlington and said, “Each one marks the resting place of an American hero.” Forty years later, President Joe Biden surveyed the same sacred ground and urged Americans to “make a daily commitment to act, to come together, to be worthy of the price that was paid.”
That call — to come together — is especially urgent now. While we are not in the midst of a civil war, we are in the most dangerously divided time in our modern history. As some seek to undermine democratic norms and concentrate power, our centuries-old republic faces real peril.
So this Memorial Day, I suggest we set politics aside and unite in honoring the fallen. Attend a parade. Watch the national commemoration at Arlington. If you fly the American flag, lower it to half-staff from sunrise to noon. And wherever you are at 3 PM local time, take a moment of silence — just one minute — to remember.
As a veteran who flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can tell you that those who served — and especially those who didn’t make it home — believed in something bigger than themselves. They believed in this country. They fought so you could enjoy your freedom.
So yes — enjoy this weekend. That’s part of what they died for. Fire up the grill. Hug your kids. Laugh with friends. Live fully and freely. That’s the point.
And if you’ve got room, maybe throw a burger on for them.
Thank you. I'm a Gold Star Mother who will gather with my family to watch a parade. Ut's too painful to listen to taps at the cemetery. I would like to point out that on Thursday, Governor Whitmer of Michigan hosted a Gold Star Family Luncheon to honor the fallen, so there are elected official who care about our losses.
If you believe as we do that MAGA fails without FOX;
Eviscerate FOX. Deny them ad $ by denying the ad buying company CEO and execs bonuses. For example Home Depot. Boycott them for a full fiscal quarter. Get all on line influencers to post every day for the entire time. See how fast CEO’s stop buying ads - do only ONE brand - do it implacably for an entire quarter. See how quickly you become the new sheriff in town and how fast other CEO’s quit buying ads. See how fast FOX changes content. All they care about is $. Oh - and next generation FOX CEO will be a decent human being if you do this.
Details matter. Talk to me. See Target and Tesla for examples.