Wednesday, July 9, 2025
As the last Monday in May approaches, many Americans look forward to Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer — a three-day weekend filled with barbecues, beach trips, travel and clearance sales.
But while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying time with loved ones, we must not allow convenience and celebration to overshadow the solemn significance of the holiday. Memorial Day isn’t just a day off. It is a day of remembrance — a national moment of pause to honor the men and women of the United States military who gave their lives in service to our country.
Established in the aftermath of the Civil War, Memorial Day — originally known as Decoration Day — was born of collective mourning. Families and communities across a fractured nation placed flowers on soldiers’ graves, uniting in grief and reverence.
The federal holiday was established in 1971.
Over time, the holiday expanded to commemorate all American military personnel who have died in service. It is not to be confused with Veterans Day, which honors all who have served, living and deceased. Memorial Day is specifically for the fallen.
Yet in our modern era, its meaning often gets lost amid the grilling, the chilling and the discount ads. It’s easy to be swept up in the excitement of an extra day off or the first beach trip of the season. But convenience should not breed complacency. Memorial Day deserves more than a casual nod — it demands deliberate remembrance.
Why does that matter? Because freedom isn’t free, and it never has been. The rights we exercise daily — to speak, to vote, to gather, to live safely — were defended by those who never came home.
Behind every headstone in Arlington National Cemetery, and in others across the nation, lies a story of courage, sacrifice and love of country. Behind every folded flag handed to a grieving family is a reminder that someone paid the ultimate price.
To ignore that reality — to reduce Memorial Day to little more than a festive long weekend — is to forget a fundamental part of our national identity. In honoring the fallen, we not only show respect for their sacrifice, but we reinforce the values they died protecting: duty, service, unity, and democratic freedom.
So what can we do differently?
Start small. Take part in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, when Americans are encouraged to pause for one minute in silence. Visit a local veterans’ cemetery or memorial. Attend a parade or ceremony in your town. Talk to children and young people about why the day matters. Share a story of a fallen service member. Fly the American flag at half-staff.
Better yet, turn remembrance into action. Donate to an organization that supports Gold Star families or wounded veterans. Write to an elected official in support of improved services for military families. Volunteer for a group that helps transitioning service members reintegrate into civilian life. Service should not end at the battlefield, and gratitude should not last only one day.
On Memorial Day, we’re not asked to stop living or celebrating. We are asked to remember why we can. We are asked to be present — not just at the picnic table, but in thought and in spirit, connecting with the sacrifices that afforded us this life of liberty.
Let this Memorial Day be more than an extended weekend. Let it be a day of purpose. A day of honor. A day to remember.
