My history with Memorial Day obviously goes back many years but not quite to the beginning. Originating as Decoration Day following the Civil War, it has gone through several transformations but has always maintained its focus on honoring our veterans of all wars and conflicts who have given so much to protect our country. For decades, it was on May 30th, until 1971 when Congress established Memorial Day as the 4th Monday in May and made it an official holiday.
My earliest memory would be at the Smolan Lutheran Cemetery, north of Smolan, where we have our family plot and where my parents are buried. A small service was held each Memorial Day until the church was closed in 1955. It was my sister who played Taps for the service, which led her to say that on her tombstone she wanted, “She Blew Her Horn Here.”
A more recent experience was being in Washington D.C. for the Annual Memorial Day Celebration on the Mall. The impressive musical talent from all branches of the Military, combined with other nationally-recognized talent, made this experience one to remember. It was again a vivid reminder of the sacrifices of so many for the benefit of us all.
This year, once again, the Memorial Day service at Salemsborg Lutheran Church will take place. Large American flags will line the cemetery. There will be special music, the recognition of all veterans in the community, and a message appropriate for the occasion. It is also a visual reminder for me of just how many were called from this small rural community to fight in WW2. As personal memories decline of the sacrifice they made, I see a change in our culture. For many of us today, we’re spoiled. We take too much for granted. What we individually are willing to do for our country is hard to detect, much less highlight. Our attitude towards government, our total dislike of any tax, our struggle to help someone in need, paints a pretty selfish picture that doesn’t, for me, show respect for all those who gave so much for our country.
My earliest memory would be at the Smolan Lutheran Cemetery, north of Smolan, where we have our family plot and where my parents are buried. A small service was held each Memorial Day until the church was closed in 1955. It was my sister who played Taps for the service, which led her to say that on her tombstone she wanted, “She Blew Her Horn Here.”
A more recent experience was being in Washington D.C. for the Annual Memorial Day Celebration on the Mall. The impressive musical talent from all branches of the Military, combined with other nationally-recognized talent, made this experience one to remember. It was again a vivid reminder of the sacrifices of so many for the benefit of us all.
This year, once again, the Memorial Day service at Salemsborg Lutheran Church will take place. Large American flags will line the cemetery. There will be special music, the recognition of all veterans in the community, and a message appropriate for the occasion. It is also a visual reminder for me of just how many were called from this small rural community to fight in WW2. As personal memories decline of the sacrifice they made, I see a change in our culture. For many of us today, we’re spoiled. We take too much for granted. What we individually are willing to do for our country is hard to detect, much less highlight. Our attitude towards government, our total dislike of any tax, our struggle to help someone in need, paints a pretty selfish picture that doesn’t, for me, show respect for all those who gave so much for our country.
RSS Feed