A day made to pause, remember, give thanks
Many of our communities host ceremonies on Memorial Day so that the living can remember the men and women who laid down their lives to protect the liberties and freedoms the rest of us enjoy. With this the first Memorial Day to mark time since Sept. 11, there should remain a sense of unity among Americans to celebrate the holiday, that began shortly after the Civil War ended, with a few thoughts as to the solemnity of the occasion. This needn’t mean that anyone skip the Memorial Day weekend sales, the much-looked forward to picnic or barbeque or the opportunity to catch up on some yardwork or nap in a hammock. But at some point – President Bush has called for Americans to join in prayer for peace at 11 a.m. and to pause at 3 p.m. for a National Moment of Remembrance – we need to pay tribute to America’s lost freedom fighters, including the civilians whose lives were snuffed out during that tragic fall morning in a despicable act of war.
As Americans we united in the immediate aftermath, pitching in with our courage, talents and money, and marveling at the bravery of firefighters and police officers who were called to pick through the rubble of battlefields in which none could have conceived.
During the past week or so, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, Attorney General John Ashcroft and more have warned that we are still a nation at risk. More attacks are immenent. Yet, for the most part we have returned to regular, normal life, assuming the risks.
Imagine, if you possibly can, the trepidation that Americans must have felt when the threat came not from those outside our borders but from fellow countrymen. To heal the wounds, Memorial Day or Decoration Day, as it was then known, was founded shortly after the Civil War ended. The day was set aside to honor local soldiers and sailors. While several towns, both north and south claim to have been the first, most accounts peg the first large observance as May 5, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery where 20,000 Union and hundreds of Confederate dead were buried. It was a time when the nation was healing and it provided a common bond in mourning the losses and thankfulness services rendered.
The crowd attending Arlington that day was roughly 5,000, about the same number who appear most years. Perhaps the numbers will be greater this year. Perhaps more Americans will realize the importance of public displays of gratitude.
Monday is a day to think for a moment of those who would like to steal our liberties from us and to remember the soldiers throughout our brief history who have fought and are continuing to fight to protect our country.
We need to unite, again, and show our gratitude. Attend a community ceremony. Visit a cemetery. Pray for peace. Pause to remember.