Memorial Day! The very sound of the name resonates with deep feelings within the minds of some Americans. Parades with marching bands and the rippling red and white stripes with the blue field of white stars (one of the most famous flags in the history of the world) will be a major event in many towns dotting the landscape of the United States of America.
Yet, it is merely a day off from work or school for many others; a day of eating, drinking, and sleeping. Many who do not quite understand the significance of this event will have parties throughout the day, and give hardly a thought to the struggle, pain, and death which this day venerates.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day and was held in remembrance of Americans who fell in battle during the American Civil War, apparently was a celebration that spontaneously started in a number of separate locations. Both Northern and Southern folk gathered at cemeteries and decorated the graves of their friends and family members. This growing trend of honoring fallen Americans who fought for freedom on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line eventually prompted General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, to officially proclaim May 30, 1868 as the day to decorate both Northern and Southern graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
Of course, Arlington had been the residence of General Robert E. Lee before the war, and burying the dead on what had been his property was the ultimate insult. (Remember, General Lee had been President Lincoln's first choice as commander of the Union Forces; but Lee chose to fight for Virginia -- his home -- rather than for the Union. Back then, each state thought of itself as an individual country. The "United States of America" was, in their minds, the "United Countries of America.") Therefore, the southern states rejected the concept of a NATIONAL day of recognition and continued with their local commemorations.
Nevertheless, at the end of World War I when Americans who died in Europe were folded into the Memorial Day tribute, the South accepted May 30 as the national day to commemorate ALL American war dead.
The question I asked myself was, why had the solemnity and the meaning of the observance begun to fade in modern society? The answer may be related to the National Holiday Act of 1971 when Congress changed the Memorial Day celebration to the last Monday of May; thus, making another 3-day weekend. But although this made the holiday convenient and easy to remember, it may also have generated apathy or nonchalance toward the Memorial Day ceremony. Why? It removed the "sacredness" of the day, and instead, helped the public to focus on a weekend. Attend church services? Forget it! Housework? Ugh! Visit family & friends? That's better! Mini-vacation? You're getting there! Party? Yea!
But take time out to contemplate on the history of our nation? Ask parents to teach about the sacrifices necessary for the continuance of a strong nation? Commemorate those who have given their lives during the past 240 years to grant us our political and religious freedoms? This doesn't seem to appeal to many in our modern, somewhat superficial, society.
So should we just keep the Memorial Day holiday for fun & games while we let its meaning slide into the black hole of oblivion? No!
Two major reasons we have been a politically, economically, and morally strong nation are 1) we have honored those who have given their lives so that we could live in peace, and 2) we have honored the God of our fathers. Tragically, we as a nation have backed away from #2, and we will pay dearly for it. Judgment for turning our national back on God will eventually hammer us. But our emphasis today is on #1.
Friends, we must re-ignite the flame of honor for those from 1776 to 2016 who have given their lives so that the rest of us may live free from fear of foreign oppression. We must teach our children that our freedoms are not cheap or guaranteed, and that they are worth fighting for! And let go of all the negative thinking for a change.
This Memorial Day, let's take time to honor our fallen Americans and give thanks to Almighty God for the freedoms we have. Memorial Day is a celebration of freedom!
-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, and former pastor. He is president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 05/25/2016