Memorial Day also good for making new memories

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Anthony Polashek
  • 514th Operations Group
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Greetings and salutations to all as we approach another great New Jersey summer!

Many base the beginning of summer not on astronomical or meteorological data, but rather on the arrival of Memorial Day weekend (a federal holiday instituted in 1971, making a three-day weekend when the weather is generally good for most of the country).

Though Memorial Day has only been officially recognized by this name since 1966 when declared by President Lyndon Johnson, the roots of this recognition go back to the period following the Civil War (also referred to as the "War between the States" by some in the South or even "The War of Northern Aggression" by those who are serious about being from the south!).

The custom of decorating the grave sites of fallen veterans, along with numerous other community tributes and remembrances in recognition of the tremendous loss of life experienced in the terrible war, was for the most part, celebrated separately by those affiliated with one side or the other.

Regardless of which side your family was on, it's hard to imagine the magnitude of the devastating losses our country bore during this incredibly difficult time or the intensity of the emotional pain from those losses that remained very powerful throughout the following decades.

Other wars followed, and after World War I, the focus of Memorial Day expanded to recognize the sacrifices of fallen veterans from all conflicts. If you are curious, a synopsis of Memorial Day's history can be found at www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.

If, for you, Memorial Day has primarily been about a great weekend to barbecue, I offer the following experience for your consideration.

My hometown has about 300 people in it, and the Memorial Day observance there is one of the biggest events of the year.

I remember as a small child watching the parade and seeing the veterans from the local American Legion post march by in their uniforms. My grandfather was a World War I veteran, and he would be there, as was my father and his brother, both World War II veterans, and their younger brother, who served later.

Our neighbor across the street led a contingent of Korean War vets, and eventually, we had our share of Vietnam vets as well. The parade would travel through about half of the paved streets in the small town, and end at the church on the top of the highest hill, where a service was held, followed by a very moving outdoor ceremony with a 21 gun salute in the cemetery.

The Ladies Auxiliary would deliver decorations to the deceased veteran's markers, the formal ceremonies would end, and families would visit the final resting places of their veterans.

Over the years, those who marched in the parade part of the event eventually migrated to being the recipients of attention in the final part, most after long rewarding lives.

In a small town, it may be easier to follow these changes and appreciate them, since every family is familiar with the others. Walking through that cemetery was like reviewing the chapters of our town's family history, recognizing the losses our friends and relatives had borne in the century or so of that town's existence (dating back, oddly enough, to the Civil War reconstruction era), and particularly so for the veterans whose plots were decorated for the occasion.

I was always proud of our veterans, and proud of the townspeople who honored them. As the people would finish their private visitations, we would make our way the few blocks to the American Legion Park and have a wonderful, all-day picnic. The weather was more often good than bad, and for a young sprout like me, it was always a great day.

I remember the pride with which these generations of veterans had marched, the somber visages as they recalled their fallen comrades, and the pride they shared in our community recognition during this great traditional event. These same folks that I saw around town seemed very different when they were in uniform, and it was clear they were very proud to honor their fallen comrades in this way.

After the solemn ceremonies and not a few tears in the crowd, I also remember the great sense of community and fun at the very well-attended celebration where the older folks could relax and visit while the younger generations engaged in more active events, with good food and drink for all.

So, that's my personal anecdote and plug for Memorial Day.

Thanks for all you do in the service of your country. Please join me and all who love the United States of America by participating in Memorial Day in a way that honors those who have fallen for our country. Please be safe and have a great holiday weekend.