happy dead soldier day

I am sure that when people read that title, IF people even read it, that I’m going to get all sorts of hate comments and evil things said to me before they even read the post itself. I may also still get hateful remarks, but the thing about me is, I don’t care. I honestly don’t. I write what I know, I write what I feel. If people are willing to hate me for that without really knowing who I am, then so be it.

Now, back to the title of this post and my reason for writing it. Today is just that, it’s a day created for remembering those military personnel who have died while serving this country. Don’t get me wrong, as a child, we loved Memorial Day, because we were still in school at this time and it gave us an extra day off. Ironically, my son’s school has decided this year that they will attend Memorial Day for half of a day as a make-up day for bad weather we had last year in which they missed several days of school. Man, I said “day” a lot in that last sentence.

We’ve never really partied hard for Memorial Day or anything like that, and we’ve rarely used it as an excuse to cook out. This year, we are supposed to be having friends over and grilling out, but honestly, it’s not really because of the day that it is. It’s because most of our friends happen to be off for the “holiday” and is the only time we can all get together for a cook-out. I feel like a hypocrite as I write this. I really do, and I’m embracing it. I truly am because I know all of that sounds like bullshit. Here I am, getting ready to condemn those who use this day as an excuse to party, when we’re planning on doing the same thing. Well, at least I can admit it. At least I can sit here and type and tell you all that yes, Memorial Day will be a cook-out day for us. But that’s not what the day is about.

I have seen so many social media posts containing memorials and articles and such, basically saying, let’s remember those who have fallen for our rights. Then they turn around and party at the beach, have cook-outs, get super drunk and don’t even think about the dead. It’s another day to party and have fun. It’s an excuse for a long weekend. It’s an excuse to hit up all the amazing sales and get new stuff dirt cheap. Why has everything become so commercialized anyway? A day for remembering the dead has turned into a day of fun, festivities and shopping. Those who died, died for us to be able to do all this fun stuff and to me it seems like we’re just spitting on their graves. I’d like to think that I take it a little more seriously than many do because I do remember them. I remember many friends who have died in service. I remember family members barely making it back alive. I know many friends who have lost family and friends of their own while fighting for this country. I keep in touch with troops, send care packages and such, but I guess the reality is, I’m a hypocrite because as stated earlier, we are getting together for a cook-out. Hindsight now tells me that if we truly wanted to honor those fallen, we’d have visited a military cemetery, those we know who have fallen, visited families of those who’ve lost loved ones, volunteered somewhere, something other than eating and drinking a few beers.

Next year I’ll be better and I hope the rest of the country will too.