Hail to the Slain – Memories, Memorials and Military Service
Three day weekend filled with yard sales, BBQs to kick-off summer, flag themed décor and mattress sales. These are the tell tell signs of Memorial Day weekend in the US. While it may mark the unofficial start to summer its meaning is more somber and deserving of consideration. The day is meant to honor the slain. This festive weekend can be both about honoring those who sacrificed everything to protect their country and a celebration of the life they aspired to protect.
For the Slain not the Soliders
The purpose of Memorial day is to remember those lost in wars.
The differences between the holidays can seem trivial to civilians. Honestly before becoming friends who had served I didn’t give the differences, or the days themselves, much thought.
It does matter, particularly to veterans, thanking them on a day they honor those they lost can be a painful reminder of those who didn’t make it back home.
Separating the Military and Military Service
The US is a militaristic nation, that encourages reverence and adoration of the military. For many politically minded individuals this is a tough pill to choke down. The military is far from a wholly good entity and it may even be difficult to argue that it is mostly good.
Memorial Day honors fallen soldiers from all branches of the U.S. military—more than 1.1 million individuals in 247 years since the beginning of the Revolutionary war (Reed, 2022). The US Has Been at war for more than 92 percent of that time. (Shah, 2020). It leaves me wondering what our country and the world would look like if things were different.
Once someone has passed the only thing left for the living is to remember them. For fallen soldiers, we can remember there sacrifice even if we didn’t agree with their fight. We can also endeavor to do better for those currently serving and veterans across the country. It is not too late to offer our support to them. So as you lay flowers on headstones this weekend remember their stories.
