| Every year I hear "Happy Memorial Day" and it always gives me a weird feeling. I'm not a military guy and even though my dad served in Korea. He wasn't one to talk much about his service or even his Army buddies much. I wish he were here to ask if he says Happy Memorial Day. My real understanding of the observance comes from stories I've done over the years/ They are stories of people who don't look upon the day so much as a holiday, or the unofficial start to spring, but as a day of reflection and for many veterans, a day to remember someone they served with and who did not make it back from war. That's not a cause to wish someone happiness. It is a time to lay a hand on a shoulder or to offer your silence to them. The latter tends to be my means because I am extremely fortunate to have lived my life without knowing the pain of losing a good friend or relative to war. I've also been long confused by the observance in regards to military and or just family. Much of the emphasis is placed on the reason the observance was begun - to honor those who died "paying the ultimate sacrifice," while in service of this country. We tend also to observe the passing of veterans who have passed away in the previous year, long after their military campaign. Some also visit graves of those who never served, plant flowers and just remember those we love even though they are gone. All good things for our soul to keep alive memories of those who are no longer with us and tell the stories to at least one more generation. I loved old programs that showed elders sitting around talking about stories of several generations past. We forget that only 100 years ago life wasn't always these instantaneous shifts from one thing to another and that routines of sitting together at different times of the day or week to just talk without distractions were more common. Now we are interrupted by bell notifications nearly every other minute and we are connected to something outside of ourselves 24/7. So a moment of reflection isn't such a bad thing. But is it happy? I suppose we can take the approach that those who died under the premise of fighting for our right to be free, did so that we can live free and happily. I just wonder if there is a better greeting we can use on Memorial Day? |      |
More photos from Memorial Day observances in the Franklin area can be found by clicking here.
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