Why Only One Day?

Monday, May 28 is supposed to be a somber remembrance of those who have served and lost their lives to protect the freedoms we so much enjoy. I am not going to say that I am the most patriotic flag waving American there is but I have the upmost respect for those who put it on the line every day in order for me to put it on the line when I choose. Most of us will not walk out of our neighborhood at night but those men and women will go to a foreign land and will do things that we would deem as crazy. For that I truly appreciate their choice to become the protectors of our freedom. With that being said why do we choose to take Memorial Day and turn it into a great big sale and party? The year has 52 weekends, we have 2 weeks of vacation, and multiple other holidays to have big parties and white sales. Are we so shallow as a society these days that we cannot choose one extra day off just to take a moment and honor those that have fallen to protect our way of life. I know, that is why we party on days like today, we have that right since they died protecting it. Please, I have a right to carry a gun but that doesn’t mean I shoot everyone that pisses me off. Don’t get me started on the sales. The stores have come to the conclusion that we have the day off and need to drop some cash while we have a spare minute before the coals get hot and the beer get cold. I spout these thoughts being as guilty as the next person. I think a lot of us do because for one we don’t know how to honor them and secondly we value our time so much that those special moments when we have a little extra we really want to get the most out of it. Maybe there is a compromise. Maybe we can find a suitable way to honor them and still have the moment of freedom they fought so hard for. Also, why do we only give the fallen one day? I understand that for logistical reasons we must honor on the one day. It is kind of like celebrating Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and all the other special days throughout the year on that one day. If you are not honoring those special people on more than one occasion then you probably don’t have them in your life in the first place. Whether or not you have military personnel in your family isn’t really important. They are everywhere around us and just want to know we actually give a damn about what they have done for us. Be sincere, shake a hand, buy them a meal, and just listen. Sounds similar to those other days but we do that more frequently. Today is a special day because the one’s we are honoring cannot be here to receive the accolades. Honor the one’s they loved and the other’s who came back and do it again and again. Your sincere thanks will do more than the obligatory facebook or twitter post. I think deep down inside we do care but we just need to be reminded. Maybe we should have Memorial Day once a month, just to remind us. Like I said in the beginning, I am not a flag waving, USA shouting, somber occasion kind of guy but I truly appreciate what has been done by the few to protect my way of life and the things I believe in. I too must find a way to thank those that are still here but lost so much while over there. If we show we care for them they will know we believe in them even when they doubt the reasons why they did what they did. Wow, we could use that reasoning for the civilians in our life as well but that too would mean we would have to not worry so much about ourselves and our precious time. I hope your Memorial Day was what you wanted and while you are at work tomorrow thank the veteran who allowed you to take the boat out on a Monday.