So, What then?

If not "Celebration"? What then? What do we do on Memorial Day? Yes, we should remember, reflect, thank God, thank our fallen heroes. . .but what do we say to each other? We say "Happy Independence Day!" "Merry Christmas!" All of those things are for celebrations. What should we say on a day so somber? Because we SHOULD say something. I do think we should all mark the time with a moment of silence. Those always seems so powerful--particularly when you are in a large group. But we should SAY something too. We say "Thanks for your service!" on Veterans Day and "We love you Mom!" on Mothers' Day. What do we say on Memorial Day? I don't know.

Maybe I don't know because I have never lost someone very very close to me. A dear friend of mine died when we were 15. That was 18 years ago. It still seems unreal, and she has been gone longer than she was here. That, I suppose, is due to the invincibility of youth. But, I haven't lost a parent, or sibling, or spouse or child. All of my grandparents are even still alive. So, maybe I don't have the right frame of reference to be able to know the right thing to say. I suppose that is because I am thinking of it from the perspective of what we should say to the loved ones of those who have died. That's the only way I CAN think of it. I already know what to say to the ones who actually died. I say it to them every night. I pray--and then after that I talk to them. I say thanks. I think that's all they really want to hear.

What do their loved ones want to hear? I appreciate your sacrifice? I'm sorry for your loss? He was a true hero? All of that is true--but seems hollow. Maybe that is why the moments of silence seem so appropriate. They take the place of all the inadequate words. So, maybe I was wrong at the beginning of this. Maybe we SHOULDN'T say something. Maybe we should just remember. Or maybe we should say "I remember. I won't forget."

One more thing. . .I am more and more angry with the FREAKIN' ads that say "Memorial Day Celebration Sale." I swear, I am considering starting a boycott or letter writing campaign or something to these places and their advertising companies. What the hell is wrong with Americans? It isn't like it is a secret code! I can understand someone maybe being confused by "Patriots Day" (other than the fact that it happened so recently--so surely most people haven't forgotten already). But, really--Memorial Day? That's hard to understand? Memorial? Is there any connotation to that word that generates "celebration" as an appropriate behavior? I think not.

I will now stop ranting and search the internet for all definitions of the word Memorial. If any of them are somehow celebratory--I will let you know. If not, please pass on to anyone AND ESPECIALLY ANY BUSINESS that you encounter that MEMORIAL DAY is a time to remember and reflect. Yes--I am aware that I have said these words multiple times in this post and the last. I don't care. Send me to Del Rio. (Only my TCU journalism professor--and perhaps my husband if he can still remember--get that reference!)


STUPID AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY: Ok, there is one definition that refers to memorial with the word celebration in it:
Something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to celebrate or honor the
memory of a person or an event
That does not lessen my anger at all, and if I weren't so tired I would probably continue my tirade on how Americans should be smart enough to know WHAT kind of MEMORIAL the DAY actually refers to. But, it is 10:59 pm, and for me--that is basically the same as pulling an all nighter. Good night.