I was stunned by Sarah Smiley’s article in Bangor Daily News, in which she reflected that it is inappropriate to be having celebrations on Memorial day – sales, parties and so on – because Memorial day is a day to honor the dead. Instead she feels Americans should celebrate Armed Forces Day with more vigor.
Smiley recounts taking her children at Hope Cemetery. This is a King connection, as Smiley explains:
“We met at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, which at 178 years old is the second-oldest garden cemetery in America. (It’s also where Stephen King’s “Pet Cemetery” was filmed, but I couldn’t tell the kids that. They were already nervous enough.)”
To really get the meat of Smiley’s argument against partying on Memorial day, we need read no further than her opening statement:
It has always bothered me that we “celebrate” Memorial Day and nearly forget Armed Forces Day. Memorial Day, as the name suggests, is a time to remember. Armed Forces Day, which for the past 60 years has honored Americans serving in the military, is more suited for celebration. You see, the honorees for Armed Forces Day aren’t dead. It’s the difference between a birthday and a funeral.
Now here’s the problem: We have so many holidays, we forget which one’s which! But we at least get the gist of memorial day. It is a day to be thankful for the sacrifice of our troops – for me that includes living and dead. But, if we were only remembering and honoring the dead, as Smiley wants to insist is the ONLY legitimate way to honor the holiday, can I ask: Would it be bad to honor the dead by celebrating the freedom they defended? Of course not! We do not dishonor the dead by celebrating that which they fought for.
Or, put another way: Celebrations aren't a mark of dishonor. That we celebrate is not a sign that we've forgotten the sacrifice; it is a testimony that we remember.
Or, put another way: Celebrations aren't a mark of dishonor. That we celebrate is not a sign that we've forgotten the sacrifice; it is a testimony that we remember.
Smiley lays out a very beautiful trip to the cemetery with her children. No complaints from me on that one. In fact, I think it is emotionally and spiritually healthy for children to learn about death and sacrifice. In fact – the redemption of the world was accomplished by sacrifice. But, consider: Christianity honors the death of Christ in the Passover. . . which is a party! Think of it as the Memorial Day of the faith. Echoes of this tremble throughout the Christian year as we take communion, celebrating and remembering the work of Christ on the cross.
Could the problem be that we American’s have – hold on – too many holidays? ! Before you object, just think it over. Anyone remember when we got BOTH Lincoln and Washington’s birthday’s off? Arbor Day. Labor Day. Veterans Day. Christmas. Kwanzaa. Halloween. New Years. Super Bowl (you know it’s a holiday). Ground hog day. Earth day. Valentines day. Flag day. Columbus day. Thanksgiving. Pearl Harbor day. . . . ahhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . and so yes Ms. Smiley -- we kinda sorta combine some of these. Oops, we are not only thankful for the dead troops, but the living. Thankful not only for the wives who have buried husbands, but the ones currently enduring a long deployment.
Smiley complaining that we honor living troops while also honoring dead servicemen is like whining that you flew the flag on the fourth of July when it should be flown on flag day.
Okay, her article is very nice and touching. That said – I choose to celebrate on Memorial day.
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