When you think of Memorial Day, you probably think of sunsets at the beach or hot dogs sizzling on the grill—not mourning members of the military who died in combat.
But if you do, you’re not alone. Due to the force-feeding of summer goodies like fireworks, American flags, and pool tubes, the true meaning behind summer holidays often goes unnoticed. Holidays like Memorial Day were well-planned out to honor specific Americans, and the failure to acknowledge this is unintentionally disrespectful.
Memorial Day began as a holiday to honor those who fought and died in the Civil War, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. However, the holiday changed after World War I to recognize every American who died at war, and became an official United States holiday in 1971.
According to a survey conducted by USAA, only 46% of people could determine the basic definition of Memorial Day: “to honor military service members who lost their lives in military conflict.”
This means that over half of those surveyed did not understand what is supposed to be celebrated on Memorial Day. Sophomore Lindsey Micklin was shocked by these results.
“I thought it would be more [people]. It’s really sad that people don’t know the general basis of Memorial Day,” Micklin said.
I’m so used to hearing about department store sales, the day off and barbecues that the topics of military or death seem so detached from the holiday. Why did this happen?
Junior Gordon Morris thinks that the lack of awareness stems from the way that society is set up in America.
“We’re in a capitalist society. If they can get money from something, they will,” Morris said.
Think about all of the people who died wretched deaths while fighting for their country, and their grieving family members. Wouldn’t they prefer to be revered on Memorial Day instead of seeing people making red white and blue candy baskets on TikTok?
Americans are not entirely at fault—who would want to be sorrowful on a holiday that kick-starts the countdown to summer? History teacher Mr. Jeffrey Kahn agrees that the timing of holidays like Memorial and Labor Day contributes to the lack of awareness.
“Those holidays mean summer…the beach, and hot dogs,” Kahn said. “[They’ve] become disconnected from their original meaning…I can’t imagine anyone on Memorial Day thinks about what they’re memorializing.”
Still, there are plenty of solutions our society could put in place to remind all generations of why we have these federal days off. Maybe cemeteries could make special flower arrangements for the graves of those who died at war.
Freshman Natalie Boghosian thinks that community participation is essential for awareness to be spread on Memorial Day since school is out.
“Maybe [we could] set up activities relating to Memorial Day locally…[since] a lot of people would prefer to have a day off,” Boghosian said.
Morris believes that more people would value the meaning of the holiday if they took a break from consumerist practices.
“Spending less, especially on the holiday stuff. Use what you already have, you don’t really need those themed candies,” Morris said.
