What Does "Memorial Day" Mean to You?

[Pete Vecchi]

We are about to commemorate Memorial Day in the U.S. What does it primarily mean to you?

[Judy Hamilton]

Memorial Day has been for my foster mom a day to remember
those in her family who have passed on..particularly her husband.
She would with great reverence making a journey to to cemetary to honor his memory. As a child and a teen i lost in death my mother and sister..and did/do not observe Memorial Day with a journey to honor them..as i was/am not living near their grave sites. Were i close to where they are buried..i would also place flowers on their grave

As a military nurse..i feel an almost overwhelming loss ...so much so that words fail to describe the vast sorrow in my heart for lives cut so short, remembering those who left battlefields in body bags or those (too numerous to count) who succumbed when in my care to the morbid injuries of war..The least I, a survivor of combat nursing can do is to honor these men and women on Memorial Day, realizing only too well..there but for the mercy of God am I

Judy

[Joanne Vergin]

My in-laws remember deceased loved ones. My family always remembered the military. We hung the flag on that day.

[Jim Franklin]

I certainly do not understand that 2 people responded that "it means nothing to them." I will be at the VFW service at the cemetary where my Killed in Action brother is buried.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I certainly do not understand that 2 people responded that "it means nothing to them."

One good possibility: Memorial Day is an American holiday and not all NazNetters are Americans.

Wilson

[Hans Deventer]

One good possibility: Memorial Day is an American holiday and not all NazNetters are Americans.

Wilson

True, but I presume almost any country has some kind of Memorial Day. Ours is on the 4th of May. We don't get a day off, but I always watch the ceremonies involving the Queen around 8 at night, and observe the 2 minutes silence. The least we can do for those who gave their lives for our freedom.

[Kevin Rector]

I put "other" because when I think of Memorial Day the first thought that pops into my head is that it's the start of Summer (not officially, but you know what I mean).

[Martijn van Beveren]

We are about to commemorate Memorial Day in the U.S. What does it primarily mean to you?

Well, as Hans said we don't have exactly the same memorial, but since it comes close I voted other.
I think the way Hans explained it is pretty much the same for me.
Time for remembering those who died in WWII and related wars.

Marty

[Ryan Scott]

We don't get a day off, but I always watch the ceremonies around 8 at night, with the Queen present, and observe the 2 minutes silence.


The way you worded that makes it sound like you and the Queen sit in your living room and watch the ceremony on tv. It's a funny thought.

[Hans Deventer]

The way you worded that makes it sound like you and the Queen sit in your living room and watch the ceremony on tv. It's a funny thought.

You're right, I'll edit the sentence.

[Ryan Scott]

You're right, I'll edit the sentence.


That's a shame. I thought it was quite humorous and everyone knows what you mean.

[Hans Deventer]

That's a shame. I thought it was quite humorous and everyone knows what you mean.

Well, I look at it differently. You were right, the sentence was confusing and I don't like to write confusing sentences. So I'm grateful you pointed it out to me. Thanks!
If I had wanted it to be humorous, I would have left it the way it was.

[Ryan Scott]

Alright. It is your post. I'll just cherish the chuckle I got out of it.

[Glenn Harris]

Because it means different things at different levels.

It is a primarily a day to remember those that have given their lives in the service of their country.

It is also a day to remember family members that have passed away.

And, based on how my day was today, I'm really looking forward to a three day weekend.

[Pete Vecchi]

I certainly do not understand that 2 people responded that "it means nothing to them."

The main reason I put that option in the poll was because I know that it is a U.S. holiday, and that there is significant participation on NazNet from non-U.S. citizens. However the replies I've seen from people outside of the U.S. are interesting. I was unaware of such commemorations outside the U.S.

[Pete Vecchi]

For me, the main purpose of posting the question and the poll was because of the differences in my wife's family background and my family background. When I was growing up, Memorial Day was specifically a time to remember military members who dies in action. My wife's family, on the other hand, commemorated Memorial Day as the time to visit the graves of deceased family members.

Now, if I could have had unlimited options on the poll and could have thought of all of the thoughts that I have about Memorial Day, I would have included some of the following (in addition to my vote that it is primarily a time to remember military members killed in action):

The Memorial Day weekend is the traditional "unofficial" start of summer;

Memorial Day itself is a day off of work, if I can get one as a Pastor.

Memorial Day comes at an awful time for we Pastors on the Southwestern Ohio District, because our year-end reports are due by June 1st. I personally have key members (including the treasurer and the Sunday School Superintendent) who are planning to be away for this weekend who will need to get their reports in to me--now probably not until Tuesday (since we still have to get financial stuff counted from this coming weekend), which will give me only 2 days to review the information they give me (hopefully it will all be correct) and prepare and submit the reports.

Memorial Day to me as a Pastor means there will likely be low attendance at the Sunday Morning worship service (I can already think of at least 20% of the semi-regular attendees who are planning to be away).

Memorial Day to me as a Pastor means that we will probably cancel the Sunday evening service.

Memorial Day is more and more meaning to me that someone will likely need medical care and that it will be difficult to get that care outside of a hospital emergency room because most family doctors are out of the office that day. Last year, my dad had a heart attack late Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend that could have probably been avoided if it had not been a holidy weekend because he could have gone to his family doctor for the situation that caused the secondary problem of the heart attack. I spent Memorial Day Monday driving to Chicago to be there for him. That same day (Monday), my wife had to bring her mom to the hospital, again, for a condition that could possibly have been treated by a family doctor, had it not been a holiday.

Memorial Day to me as a Pastor means that I hope I can take the day off Momday without feeling guilty, and without thinking too much about the extra workload I'll likely have on Tuesday from not being in the office Monday, and not having all the information in to complete my reports until at least Tuesday.

I guess it would have been difficult to get all of that into the poll options! :)

[BobHunt]

It means so much to me especially after watching former soldiers march by, some in a wheel chair, or some only having one leg or one arm and still they can look at you and smile and wave. You know it has been a very hard life. I feel so unworthy.

[Jeff Scott]

I have always taken a moment to think about and remember the members of the military that have given their life for my freedom. However, this year it is a bit more meaningful for me since it has been a little over a year since my family lost a loved one in Iraq. Bobby Moscillo was my parent's foster son, which makes him a foster brother to me and my siblings (though he moved into my parent's house after I had moved out.) Last memorial day was so close to his death, it just felt like an extension of his funeral. This year, I have thought about him often with a sigh. I just hope he didn't die in vane.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

We are about to commemorate Memorial Day in the U.S. What does it primarily mean to you?

Besides what it "means," this year (rare) it will also include traveling for me. After worship this morning, my daughter and I will spend the rest of the day driving the 500 miles to my mom's. My wife and son can't go due to school. Thus on Memorial Day itself, we'll be having some extended family time. We'll return on Wednesday evening. (Likely no NazNetting for me while I'm gone.)

Wilson

[Mike McVey]

I would probably be one of the Americans that would say it doesn't mean much to me. My family never really celebrated it despite the lineage of military. Once I turned 16, all Memorial Day meant was getting off work at 6pm. That was true until I was 25. In fact, I didn't even realize it was Memorial Day weekend until Friday afternoon when I saw that the bank was closed on Monday. I was in preparation for Pentecost and I completely forgot it was Memorial Day weekend.

Because of Pentecost and my bad memory, we had our Memorial Day service during the evening. All we did was read some facts about the day, share a few stories and enjoy a good meal. Oh yeah, Scripture and prayer, too!:basic03

[Jim Franklin]

If the NazNetter is in another nation of course it is not a designated Memorial Day. For the day not to mean anything to a US citizen is appalling.

[Judy Hamilton]

If the NazNetter is in another nation of course it is not a designated Memorial Day. For the day not to mean anything to a US citizen is appalling.

Jim
Appalling is visiting the cemetery yeserday to find three children ages 7-8 using the head stones on the graves for sport, standing on them playing "King of the Mountain" jumping from them
having a great time as children do. Their parents were not in sight..actually it would have been more upsetting had their parents been near-by and were ignoring their behavior

as i would have been severely tempted to teach the parents as well as the three school aged children.
you know me well..i told the children to get down, this was not a play ground, and these head stones were there to honor a person who had died and was buried there



I do not believe we have children and teens who are inherently bad, for the most part they just have not been taught by their elders

this is dismal..as we as adults lead the way..and with the three who were using the headstones as a playground, the parents failed to instruct these children on the meaning of respect

this photo below reveals a dad who i caught on camera..showing and teaching to his son the meaning of respect

Judy

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Viewing the movie The Good Shepherd several months ago, got me thinking a great deal about all the people, both men and women, who spend their career life in intelligence work for the U.S. Government. It was a sobering movie to watch and made me shudder to think about what those people endured and the negative effects their work had on them and their families. My heart went out to them as it does the ones today who are continuing that work for our safety and good.

Whether they be in the military or other government agencies, they are remembered today for their contributions to our nation. They are some of the many unsung, unknown, and unacknowledged heroes of our land. I have even heard that when they are buried, often no eulogy can be given for everything they did was classified and had to remain that way. Their work is literally taken to their graves with them.

One man, who was in this type work his entire career, was buried several years ago with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His daughter worked with those at Arlington who co-ordinated everything and was very surprised when his gravestone noted all the various wars of which he was named a hero. She told the person in charge that there must surely have been a mistake to engrave his grave marker the way it was. He replied, "No, Mrs. ________, your father was literally a hero in all those wars. She had had NO clue because his work was always kept from her. Very different way to live!

Perhaps there are people on Naznet who have had family members in this category and I pray God's richest blessings on you!

Remembering with gratitude,

[Jim Franklin]

My grandmother raised an acre or more of flowers, mainly irises and peonies which were just in bloom for what we called "Decoration Day." She put out tubs of water and a sign in front of her home on Highway 75 in Missouri Valley, Iowa between Council Bluffs and Sioux City. She sold them in bunches of 6 or 12 for 25 and 50 cents and made as much as $75 to $100 dollars in the 40s. Decoration Day sales was her way of providing floral decorations for those wanting to decorate their loved ones graves.


Then to read of the desecration of the graves and markers in Washington and the kids throwing eggs at the veterans as they were forming marching ranks for a parade in Massachusetts. Wondering if in the future it will become a day of degradation.

[Judy Hamilton]

Then to read of the desecration of the graves and markers in Washington and the kids throwing eggs at the veterans as they were forming marching ranks for a parade in Massachusetts. Wondering if in the future it will become a day of degradation.

Children lean by example and by parental and adult guidance

what they are doing in Washington and Massachusetts was taught sometime, somewhere at the family table

perhaps to be leinent on the children, they have not parents who care and are passing lack of character down as their lineage?

Judy

[Judy Hamilton]

Then to read of the desecration of the graves and markers in Washington and the kids throwing eggs at the veterans as they were forming marching ranks for a parade in Massachusetts. Wondering if in the future it will become a day of degradation.

Children learn by example and by parental and our adult guidance

what they are doing in Washington and Massachusetts was taught sometime, somewhere at the family table, doing chores, just living life daily.

perhaps to be lenient on the children, they have not parents who care and are passing lack of character down as their lineage?

http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=11721

Judy

[Barb Bouldrey]

All my life, Memorial Day has been a day to visit cemeteries and place flowers on the graves of EVERYONE, not just military. I understand that it was begun to honor the military who have given their lives. But everywhere I have lived, people have visited the graves of their loved ones even if they did not serve in the military.

We honor the military on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veteran's Day. Our community has services on those days to honor the military.

I have always loved the Memorial Day concert from Washington D.C. but I did not see it this year.

I don't ever remember being in a church service on Memorial Day when the entire service was dedicated to Memorial Day.

Barb