Today's Journal

A National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day

As a young girl, I came to know Memorial Day as the beginning of summer.  School was closing, swimming pools were open, dinner was outside and I could wear white pants.  It was also the day on which we flew the American flag.  My dad, Joseph O. Blotnick, was a U.S. Marine Master Sergeant who served in World War II at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal.  

I understood that it was a day to honor all of the brave men and women who served our country in the military.  It was only as I began to write this blog did I learn that Memorial Day is designated as the day to honor those who actually died in service to our country, not all who had served!

It was in 1866 that May 30 was designated as Decoration Day to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War.  It was celebrated by decorating their graves with flowers. Although the term "Memorial Day" was used in 1882, it was not until after World War II that the name became common used. 

In 1971, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday. It was to be celebrated on the last Monday of May, so to create a three-day holiday weekend.  In 2000, The White House Commission on Remembrance was established by Congress to provide a sense of history, ensuring that the younger generations understand the sacrifices made by those who have come before.  The Commission asks that each of us to stop what we are doing at 3:00 pm on Memorial Day to pause for one minute to remember the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers.

I recently watched the extraordinary HBO series, The Pacific.  It gave me a new appreciation for my father's life and for all who have served this country during wartime.  Although it was sometimes quite difficult for me to watch, I felt that it was my obligation to watch.  They lived it. I could watch it and learn.

I will continue to use Memorial Day to honor all soldiers, whether they died in combat or are blessed to live a full life after their conflict.  My father survived the war, married the woman he loved and enjoyed his three children and his grandaughter, Jennifer.  He did, however, carry the war with him until the day he died.  I suspect most soldiers do. 

I will be thinking of all of them on Monday afternoon at 3:00 pm.  I hope you will be too.