Memorial Day Is Not A Day For Celebrating The Great American Cookout!

[OlderAndWiser]

Memorial Day is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May. On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. It was originally known as Decoration Day when it was first observed in 1868 and it was designated as a day for decorating the graves of those who had died while fighting with the Union forces during the Civil War. Its scope gradually expanded to include the remembrance of all who died in military service to their country. Those who died fighting for the Confederate States did not die in service to the US; therefore, southern states continued to observe a separate Confederate Memorial Day which had first been observed in 1866. Memorial Day finally became an official federal holiday in 1971. and it is now observed on the last Monday in May.

On Memorial Day, I recognize two of my ancestors who died during the Revolutionary War.

Pvt. Silas Weeks, R.S. was my 6th great grandfather. His son - Theophilus Weeks - enlisted in Donoho's Company of the 6th North Carolina Regiment on 03 MAY 1776. Silas enlisted in the same Company in 1777. Both Silas and his son participated in the battles at Brandywine and Germantown. They wintered at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78 in General Lachlan MacIntosh's Brigade, which was immediately adjacent to General Washington's post. Silas died on 22 MAY 1778 at Valley Forge, most likely due to disease.

Pvt. Benjamin Kenton, R.S. was my 7th great uncle. He served in the 11th Virginia Regiment, 7th Company of the Continental Line and died at Philadelphia on 26 JUL 1777 in defense of the Continental capital.

These men died to make you and me free and to give our land the right to self-determination. Many of you have ancestors who died in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I and II, or other wars. Perhaps you are not aware of them because you have never traced your family history.

I am not against enjoying a family gathering with a cookout on Memorial Day, but . . . please honor the memories of our ancestors and others who sacrificed their lives for our freedom: make yourself informed about our government and vote in elections!

[chrisbigman]

I agree. Whatever person or group of people thought it was time for celebration isn't a true American. We need to honor those that fought for our freedom as well as fighting against evil that attacked us.

[chrisbigman]

Both foreign and domestic.

[chrisbigman]

Thanks very much for MHGO.

[brianna_b]

You mean Memorial Day is about more than a Toyotathon?

:)

Thank you, OlderAndWiser.

[EllieLexis513]

I kind of want to know why so many people are against everyone using Memorial Day as a day to cookout and be with family. I mean, yes, I appreciate all soldiers, whether they died in battle, died of other causes, or are still with us. But it just irritates me that if someone dares to barbecue then they aren't celebrating or honoring Memorial Day correctly.

The only person I know who was in the military that I'm related to is my Uncle. He's always said the he and his military friends always used Veteran's Day and Memorial Day not just to honor the fallen, but to appreciate their family because those same fallen soldiers can't see their families anymore. The way we do that is through family gathering. Why is that looked down on all of a sudden? I'm sorry if people don't like how my family celebrates Memorial Day, but that's really your problem.

Memorial Day is about more than the soldiers who died. It's about what they died for. If I didn't celebrate my family and our freedom, wouldn't that in and of itself be insulting to those fallen soldiers?

[CheerGirl38139]

I don't think the OP is suggesting that having a cookout is looked down upon. Basically just try to realize and remember why it's a national holiday on Monday while you're at it. ☺

[OlderAndWiser]

@CheerGirl38139 That is my point. . . exactly!

[Anonymous]

The only problem I have with the idea of BBQ and Memorial Day is that everyone seems to want to make it a day of sorrow and horror. Truthfully, I've never met a vet or current member who wanted it viewed that way. The ones I know think Memorial Day is a day of celebrating someone's life instead of constantly mourning their death once a year. One guy (Vietnam Vet) lives next to my parents and he always goes to his partner's graveside every year with a beer and just talks to him. He said he laughs at their memories together, but he refuses to mourn because that's not what it's about.

My uncle is a vet, and he thanks them in prayer. After we pray, though, he talks about all the good times they had AT THE BBQ. He asked my dad that when he is gone that he just talks about him. He said he doesn't want the memory of the fallen to ever die but that he doesn't want anyone to become depressed over them, either.

We BBQ and have fun on Memorial Day. That doesn't mean we aren't honoring the fallen, though. I don't think it's a day of mourning in the traditional sense.

[Phoenix98]

Exactly it's a day to pay respect to our ancestors who fought to give us this country, and to pay respect and support and show respect to our dead and dying soldiers, active duty soldiers and veterans, and thank them for their service.

God bless American and the United States military.

[Phoenix98]

I pay respect to

My grandfather a Marine ( dead )

My other grandfather, navy who served in Vietnam ( alive )

My cousin who toured through Iraq or Afghanistan I can't remember which one, might have been both ( alive )

My father who joined the standard army as a rifleman when he was but a young man, and after he got out later joined again in the guard and served a tour in the horn of Africa not far from were Operation Black Hawk Down took place.

And for my great or great, great uncle who served in WW2 and fought through most of the major operations and invasions against Nazi Germany ( alive )

Not a family member but was a friend to me and my dad but he was another WW2 soldier who fought against Germany and was a crazy but tough son of a bitch, charged the beaches of Omaha, single handily charged and took out a German machine gun nest and parachuted straight into an ambush into a town controlled by the Waffen SS the Nazi's most elite fighting force. ( dead )

[Phoenix98]

and of course to every ancestor of mine I'm not aware of and to every soldier who's died or served in the line of duty, thank you.

[OlderAndWiser]

Actually, Memorial Day is for the remembrance of those who died in the line of duty. Veterans' Day in November is for expressing appreciation to all veterans, but. . . there's nothing wrong with giving thanks to all of them every day of the year.

[Phoenix98]

I know what it is but I give thanks to both alive or dead on both days. It's the least anyone can do especially how they are treated now a days were illegal immigrants get better care and treatment then our own wounded veterans who are literally dying while they wait for treatment.

[SomeGuy37]

What about those that served, for many years, waiting for the 'Call' but were never called? They died in their beds, years later, but was their service, their willingness to fight, but not be called, any less significant, than those that were called and fought?
Milton said: "They also serve, that only stand and wait,"
Don't forget those 'Heroes' and their sacrifices to their families, for the Nation.

[OlderAndWiser]

November 11 is Veterans' Day, a holiday intended to honor all who have served in our military forces. Memorial Day is a holiday specifically intended to honor those who died in service to our country. The intent is not to dishonor those who did not die in service;l however, the sacrifice of those who served and survived does not compare to the sacrifice of those whose lives ended on the battlefield or on board ships or planes that were engaged in combat.

[Marinepilot]

OlderAndWiser-I completely agree. I took an oath to protect this country and
I have many fellow Marines who aren't with us anymore. The two that really sadden me were two Mormon men from Brigham Young, The were OCS classmates of mine. Best Marines I ever saw, Both became infantry officers and Recon Marines. Sadly, they were both killed in October 1983 when those cowardly pieces of human excrement called Hezbollah blew up the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. To celebrate Memorial Day as a holiday is a slap in the face to these two great Americans who gave it all on foregin soil.

[Becky01]

I am an Aussie but when we mourn and celebrate our fallen men and women I like to have a BBQ because I know that the ones who served and are serving need to relax as well as remember. the trauma they have lived needs to be balanced and the ones who survived would like more to remember their buddies as if they were sharing a good time together. or at least that is how the men and women I worked with in aged care felt about our memorial days

[OlderAndWiser]

Nothing wrong with a BBQ as long as you are doing it in a way that includes some remembrance of the fallen heroes.

[Becky01]

as people in my family have served we do it with respect

[Waffles731]

That's ANZAC Day right?

[Becky01]

@Waffles731
yes that is correct

[Waffles731]

I have nothing but respect for the armed forces of Australia

[Becky01]

@Waffles731
thank you I will tell the guys that

[BigJake]

Great take. Most people don't give a fuck about the sacrifices that had to be made to create this nation. They just want to stuff their faces with junk food and have an extra day off work or school. I've noticed this is especially true of minorities, who seem to laugh at notions like patriotism and honoring the fallen.

Good for you for tracing your family history so far back. We should all know and venerate our fearbears.

[AlwaysBelieving]

Thank you for sharing. I was talking to a woman in the spin class I go to and she said her plans were to "chill and grill." I just ended giving her a blank stare. On the inside I was doing as below.

www.cutecatgifs.com/.../Facepalm.gif

[Righttobeararms83]

As a veteran i see no problem with a barbeque and a gathering of family in remeberance. After church I will be having a small barbecue and a few beers. People still have to eat.

[OlderAndWiser]

I NEVER said that I was against having a cookout. In fact, I said "I am not against enjoying a family gathering with a cookout on Memorial Day, but. . .."

[Righttobeararms83]

Should we all fast?

[OlderAndWiser]

I don't understand why you are asking that question. It's not anything that I suggested. Of course I don't recommend fasting for Memorial Day. I don't recommend using leeches for blood-letting, either.

[Righttobeararms83]

have I not shed enough blood for this country to earn the right to grill some burgers any day I please?

[OlderAndWiser]

Did anyone else ever suggest that you can't grill burgers whenever you want? If you read my post, you know I didn't make that suggestion. If you have a gripe with someone else, take it up with them.

[legalboxers]

we all forget what our country is based on. You also have those who Monday Morning Quarterback and talk crap about how people should be sent back on how war is good. But they fail to actually get up and go to the Armed Forces Office and apply to fight in the war.

[FallOutBoy2001]

I have family that served in both World Wars, I don't know who they were, but there were ones that served. I'm deciding if I want to go into the military, and I want to honor the ones that fell before me, regardless if I join.

[NedfromtheNed]

We have BBQs and we have family reunions and other celebrations in celebration of the freedoms granted to us who payed for it.

[Anonymous]

I guess I see the situation as a lot more complicated. I mean the military basically protects us from other people just like them in other countries. In the case of the USA most of those countries are much less pleasant places to live and so I'm glad they can't take us over but when you look at the global picture so to speak, it's difficult to feel unequivocally positive about an impulse (patriotism) which is the solution to the problem it creates.

[OlderAndWiser]

How does national pride create problems? Unlike our current president, I see no need to apologize for the US being a great nation. But for us, there would be much less freedom in this world! I understand that there is a current variety of political thought which espouses that we should not be proud and that we should apologize to the world, but I don't understand WHY we should be apologizing.

[Opinion Owner]

Not national pride per se but the kind of pride which leads to people being willing to do what they are told by those in authority without too much thought. It's that 'follow and don't think too much for yourself' mentality which makes armies possible and armies are what make armies necessary.

So my gratitude to those serve is tempered by the understanding that the impulse to serve is a two edged sword.

I agree that the USA is about as good a country as humans are capable of making. I don't exactly feel proud because I don't think I bear a whole lot of responsibility for the situation but I certainly feel fortunate to live here.

[OlderAndWiser]

The problem with your attitude about armies is that there are people in the world who would come here and kill all of us if we did not have a national defense. Just leaving them alone would not appease the aggressors. If that strategy worked, there would not be terrorist activities in most of Europe.

[Opinion Owner]

Well that's not my attitude. I agree we need an army, I simply also note the only reason we need an army is because other people have armies and the only reason they have armies is because other people have armies and the essential thing which makes this rather mad situation possible is that thing in human nature which also produces the impulse to patriotic service. So I don't see it as an unalloyed good. Like I said at the beginning, it creates the problem for which it is the only solution. We might be better off if humans did not have the impulse but there's no way to tell because we DO have it and so we need an army but I don't feel like celebrating the fact particularly.

[OlderAndWiser]

If everyone else disarmed, Islamic extremists would not lay down their weapons. Hitler would not have stopped his invasion of Poland if Poland had disbanded its army. North Korea would not leave South Korea alone if South Korea had no army.

I am not a proponent of war and I do not celebrate the aggression of man. I do celebrate and honor the willingness of so many people to protect our freedoms by making the ultimate sacrifice.

[Courtney90]

Thank you for sharing.

God bless the fallen, an their families left behind.

[Rocket_Queen]

Great informative take. Thank you to your family members who served and definitely will be voting!

[John_Doesnt]

You say this like I give a shit about the troops. Don't they fight so I have the freedom not to give a rats ass about them and do whatever I want?

[OlderAndWiser]

Let me know if this is NOT a rhetorical question. I think your opinion speaks for itself.

[Mr_Xavier]

Are you against cookouts on memorial day?

[OlderAndWiser]

No, not at all. If I go to a family cookout, I usually ask the blessing before we eat and I specifically remind everyone that we are giving thanks for our fallen heroes. I just want to make sure that e don't forget the reason for the holiday (like Christmas.)

[Mr_Xavier]

I see. Then I must tell you the title can be easily misunderstood.

[CheerGirl38139]

Sigh... another case of people on GaG commenting on a title and refusing to read the content.

[OlderAndWiser]

@CheerGirl38139 CliffsNotes readers.

[Mr_Xavier]

@CheerGirl38139 What makes you think I didn't read the content? I read the entire Take.

[SunnyCaliGirl]

Nice take