It comes around each year toward the end of the month of May, and this is yet another holiday that is not date-bound; rather, it is tied to a certain day of the week– if it’s the last Monday in May, it must be Memorial Day! And while the holiday was first established to honor the memory of our servicemen and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice to their country with their lives, the long Memorial Day weekend also marks the unofficial start of the summer season.
What follows below are three posts that were all initially published in my private blog on the occassion of Memorial Day for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. This year, Memorial Day is just as special as it has been every year, only I am prepared to publicly share my joy with one and all via this post to my public blog. And although I don’t know what exactly is in store this weekend, I’ll bet good money it will be something very much along the lines of the last three years. One thing for sure is that we’ll certainly have some Cactus Lime beer on tap, and my thoughts about the reason for the holiday will also be the same. Check out the stream of thoughts from the last three years, and wherever you are, raise a toast to the brave men and women of these great United States of America who serve with valor and honor– in life and in death.
This picture was taken last April when we visited Arlington National Cemetery where our national heros are laid to rest. The other pictures were attached to the old posts from years past. Happy Memorial Day!
Tuesday, June 01, 2010: It’s Here Again!
The unofficial start of summer, that is. Memorial Day weekend has been traditionally marked as the kick-off to summer– a season that lasts a mere thirteen weeks in this part of the Upper Midwest in the US. And so, a holiday that commemorates and recognizes the valor and courage of our armed services, and remembers the lives of the fallen ones also serves a dual purpose of reminding us that we have been privileged to witness the wrapping up of winter and spring and the unfolding of yet another glorious summer in our lives. And what a privilege it is! To be alive and healthy, to love and be loved, to laugh and share food and conversation with family and friends, and to pause for a weekend to reflect on these gifts even as we anticipate a busy and relaxed summer all rolled into one is a privilege indeed.
We wrapped up the month of May in style with our first official Barbeque (aka cookout) of the season on Memorial Day. Tandoori-style grilled chicken, hot dogs with the works, bell peppers in red and yellow, sweet and tender corn-on-the-cob, a fresh-green salad of romaine lettuce, vine-grown tomatoes and dill cucumbers, crispy kettle chips, pink lemonade, cactus-lime beer, and for dessert an apple crumble pie with the finest french vanilla ice cream. What says summer more than that? Well, maybe a sudden thunderstorm– which is what we got right in the middle of our afternoon soiree!
Well, here’s to all the memories made this month. And to the hope that more of the same will be on tap over the course of the rest of the season. It’s here again– summer, that is. Let’s make the most of it!
Thursday, May 28, 2009: Remembering Again
To some it is a day to commemorate the memory of a loved one lost to war, or even a loved one who is fighting in a war, or perhaps only standing ready to serve his/her country– so as to ensure the freedom of the ones left behind at home. To others, it is a day that marks the official beginning of summer.
And so when Memorial Day rolled around this past weekend, I did what many people in small towns and large cities do on this day: I enjoyed the long weekend doing some fun stuff to mark the beginning of the summer: I went to the beach (Lake Michigan, that is) to spend the better part of a day with family and friends; walked around the small beachtown looking in shops only to window-shop; got some white-chocolate-raspberry ice cream at one of two icecream shops on Main Street; and finally, enjoyed the two-and-half-hour drive back home.
Another thing of note that was done with much relish was firing up the grill in the backyard for the first time this season. And that indeed marked the beginning of summer in our own small way– the chicken tenderloin marinated overnight in home-made yogurt, ginger, garlic, and a host of spices; the corn-on-the-cob with butter and salt wrapped up in foil; the portobello mushrooms drizzled with olive oil and lemon-pepper seasoning; a freshly chopped salsa of red-ripe tomatoes, red onion and cilantro; and for dessert, succulent and sweet mangoes.
So, here’s to remembering again– remembering the reason for Memorial Day, and remembering that summer is a time to enjoy the outdoors– be it for a day at the beach, or a barbecue in the backyard. For more mouth-watering fare, just come on over next weekend!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008: Set Aside A Day
I realized yesterday that I really do appreciate this concept of setting aside one day each year (always the last Monday in May) to commemorate and honor the memory of all those who have perished in wars while serving this country. What a noble concept, really.
Although I myself have no family who have served or perished in war in this country, my heart goes out to everyone who has ever experienced the pain and loss that must come from losing a loved one under those circumstances. Not to say that the eventuality of death or even being wounded at war is ever a matter of surprise. Of course they knew what they were signing up for, and of course, their loved ones knew that they might not see them again, but still: going off to war takes courage; courage which is most likely depleted by the day as the reality of the grim, dark and ugly face of war begins to unfold before their eyes each day on the battlefield. But they must serve their country as they have promised, and they must last out their tour of duty if they can, and they must defend and protect, and do all those things that are done in order for freedoms to remain intact both here at home and hopefully even overseas where they serve. And if they are fortunate, they will one day come home (with eyes that have seen too much suffering too soon), and will live to tell their stories of misery and triumph (whilst battling a lifetime of nightmares). But if they are not so fortunate so as to return to their loved ones at home, well, then, they do come back, but only to be honored as a fallen hero.
And so, on this one day in the month of May, we pause to remember that fallen hero whose sacrifice must be acknowledged and recognized. Do it any which way you please, by the way. If you don’t have a personal connection with a fallen hero, its all right to join your neighbor or friend in having them show you pictures or recount the lives of their loved ones who are being celebrated in this way on this day; and to join in the many community observances from parades to cookouts to television specials and the like to make the day a cause for celebration and thanksgiving.
And no matter what your political leanings, on this one day, put them all aside, and take pride to be part of a nation that resolved in the year 1911 (my grandmother was an eight-year old on the other side of the world at the time!) to honor the brave service men and women in this way each year.
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Memorial Day reflections from the last four years: This is why I write!