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Introduction
Instituted after the Civil War, Memorial Day is an American holiday that aims to honor the sacrifices of the soldiers who died serving the U.S. military. Many of us are familiar with this holiday because of the annual Memorial Day parade, which makes its way to our homes through television.
What is the significance of Memorial Day? The author reflects on this question from a personal standpoint in this essay.
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Why I Personally Celebrate Memorial Day?
As a child, watching the yearly Memorial Day parade was one of the highlights of this American holiday. My parents and I would grab some hot chocolate and donuts and make our way to the living room to look at the brightly-decorated marchers and the enormous American flag. I didn’t realize that it was a sentimental day for my parents until I was older and they had told me about my uncle, who served in the U.S. military.
What I Learned About Memorial Day?
While it can no longer be determined when this annual celebration actually started, we know that Memorial Day began after the Civil War when the Confederacy surrendered to the Union army. History reports family members beginning to pay tribute to fallen soldiers as early as the late 1860s, but the federal government officially records the establishment of this holiday in 1966. They even declared Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of the yearly tribute.
Most American families whose members served and died in combat visit cemeteries or memorials on this day, bringing flowers. Some hold their own private gatherings at home, while some make it a point to watch the annual parade.
Memorial Day is to be distinguished from Veterans Day. While both celebrate the lives of those who sacrificed so much for their country, the former pays tribute to those who have already died in service.
My Personal Connection with this Annual Holiday
I vaguely remember my Uncle Joe, but my mom says that I spent a lot of time with him as a toddler. He was my mom’s younger brother, and he would often babysit me when my mother had to run errands or do some work. My mother tells me that Uncle Joe and I spent a lot of days at the park, flying kites and chasing after birds. He taught me how to use the playground swing, and he would often throw me in the air and catch me midway.
Uncle Joe was a U.S. Marine, and the last time he got called back to serve, he never made it back home. He died in combat, and this devastated my mother and the rest of the family. He was so full of life and he was close to everyone back home. They grieved this loss for years. My mother and some of her siblings even went through grief counseling. They visit his grave at Arlington National Cemetery year after year and bring fresh flowers as a way of paying tribute to his huge sacrifice for this country, and when the siblings come home, we all gather to watch the Memorial Day ceremonies and parade.
This is my personal connection with this holiday. For me, the true meaning of this holiday isn’t just about the festivities and the nostalgia. It is about honoring people – mothers, fathers, siblings, friends – who made the ultimate sacrifice to get our nation to where it is today and to enjoy the freedoms we currently have. My parents always tell me to think of soldiers not just as people whose job is to fight, but as human beings who have their own families to go home to, who have their own hobbies and interests, and who love their country.
It is always a sentimental moment whenever our family and friends get together at one of the siblings’ houses to honor the life of Uncle Joe. Now that I am older, I get to hear all sorts of stories about him – and these stories tell me that he was a sweet, funny, and kind person who loved to have fun and had such a deep joy that was infectious.
While I am proud that he is among many men and women who have brought pride and honor to our country, I am sad that I didn’t get to spend time with him as an older person. I think that we would have gotten along well, based on the stories that I’ve heard.
I know that many Americans and their families share our connection with Memorial Day and spend it in remembrance of their loved ones who are no longer with them. Sometimes, it feels unfair that a war would have to rip families apart and cause children to grow up without a parent or a close relative. But in times like these when it is easy to resent our country for calling them to service, it is good to remind ourselves to be thankful for the example our loved ones have set for us. They have demonstrated through their sacrifices that sometimes, the greater good must be put first and that our beloved America is worth dying for.
Conclusion
Countless lives have been lost in war. We will never get those people back, but the challenge for us today is how we ought to live in light of these sacrifices. These people died so that we could be free to live in the here and now.
We ought to use these freedoms to champion important virtues such as kindness, respect, diversity, inclusivity, and equality, especially in our greater community. We can continue to honor the lives of those who heeded the call to serve by listening to the stories of veterans who continue to share their hearts with us today. Let’s never forget what freedom cost our fallen soldiers: their very lives.
FAQs
What Is The Significance Of Memorial Day And Why Is It Important?
An annual American holiday established years after the culmination of the Civil War, Memorial Day is a yearly tribute to all men and women who died in combat, as part of their service in the U.S. military. For plenty of Americans, this holiday has sentimental value because they know of people, even within their own family, who have died in service. More than just tradition, this is a time of personal remembrance for them. It is an opportunity to honor their fallen personal heroes and recognize all that they have done for the United States of America. Some families keep the flag of America hoisted in front of their homes to signify that a fallen soldier used to live there.
Why Do We Celebrate Veterans Day?
It is important to differentiate Veterans Day from Memorial Day. They both honor the soldiers who fought in the military, but the former specifically honors those who continue to be alive at this very time.
What Is The Official Flower Of Memorial Day?
The national emblem for this day of remembrance is the red poppy. This resilient flower bloomed in Belgium during the First World War. It is a mystery why they thrived and flourished on a literal battlefield. In a way, this became a reminder of the blood that was shed on the battlefield and in all other wars, very much an appropriate choice of symbol for the annual tribute.