May

26

The Real Meaning Of Memorial Day

Filed Under Real Estate Investing | 3 Comments

Memorial Day


Here’s a short history lesson on Memorial Day:

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates US men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War 1 to include casualties of any war or military action.

Memorial Day formerly occurred on May 30 and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and myself advocate returning to a fixed date so the significance is remembered. The public has a nonchalant observance of Memorial Day and the day should either be a real holiday or dropped completely.

Sadly the day has become a meaningless 3 day holiday weekend and a time for picnics, parties and family gatherings with a complete loss of the real meaning and what the day stands for.

USMC Logo Gerald RomineWhen I was in the the Marine Corps I was fortunate to have served with many veterans but my eyes were really opened when I was part of a select group tasked with going through Vietnam MIA (Missing In Action) files and selecting which ones could be declassified and available for public access.

There is no polite or politically correct way to phrase my thoughts on those MIA files. Imagine serving your country and being shot down behind enemy lines. Surviving the plane crash. Avoiding capture. Surviving alone in the bush for a week or more. In radio contact reporting on a schedule. Then being left to die because no rescue mission was ever attempted. I wish I could tell you such scenarios were rare… but I cannot.

As a veteran I understand casualties of war.

But Memorial Day has a special meaning for me because of the Vietnam MIA project. I’ve handled the military files and read the accounts, seen the communication logs, viewed the maps, and know the real story of many veterans who perished while serving their country. Men for whom no rescue attempt was made even when their location was known.

And on this and every Memorial Day I honor and remember the many men and women who have died serving their country. I hope this day has more meaning than a 3 day weekend with beer and a barbecue but I fear I am one of the few who understand and appreciate the real significance of Memorial Day.

In Memory Of Our Honored Dead,

Gerald Romine

Note: The Marine Corps Hymn is the song below.