Memorial Day Weekend

[jerseydevil]

Well it's Memorial Day Weekend and I was wondering what people think about during this holiday. It seems like most of America's holidays - including 4th of July - it's mostly about picnics and fun, but people don't generally think about the meaning behind the holidays themselves.

Memorial Day is a time to remember the sacrifices of the US armed forces, present and past.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day - but also let people know they should be thinking about more than just when that hamburger is going to be done on the grill.

[Radagast The Brown]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Well it's Memorial Day Weekend and I was wondering what people think about during this holiday. It seems like most of America's holidays - including 4th of July - it's mostly about picnics and fun, but people don't generally think about the meaning behind the holidays themselves.

Memorial Day is a time to remember the sacrifices of the US armed forces, present and past.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day - but also let people know they should be thinking about more than just when that hamburger is going to be done on the grill.

You're going for picnics in the Memorial Day? Isn't it suppose to be a sad day?

[Artanis]

Happy Memotial Day Weekend!

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
You're going for picnics in the Memorial Day? Isn't it suppose to be a sad day?

No - we used to always go up to my cousins for a huge family picnic. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the New Jersey summer tourist season - so most people are thinking about the beach and the boardwalks.

[Beruthiel's cat]

Originally posted by jerseydevil
No - we used to always go up to my cousins for a huge family picnic. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the New Jersey summer tourist season - so most people are thinking about the beach and the boardwalks.

Also, it is designated a three-day weekend and people have extra time to get together and can travel farther to get to family and friends.

It's good to remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women, but we should also bear in mind the freedoms that these sacrifices have brought us and enjoy our days off with people we care about.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
You're going for picnics in the Memorial Day? Isn't it suppose to be a sad day?

Memorial Day is not a sad day, but a day of recognition to our fallen soldiers in all wars. Many go to cemeteries for ceremonies and salutes and put flowers and flags on their graves along with other loved ones that have died, not necessarily in battle.

[katya]

That's thoughtful of you, JD.

Here's my weekend: friday: school, nothing (sleep)
saturday: work
sunday: work
monday: work

(I'm not wondering when the hamburger's going to be done on hte grill- I'm wondering when the plate is going to be done in the dishwasher)

[QueenAnnesLace]

I am fully aware of what Memorial Day is about. I am reminded every year around or on my birthday. My B-day is on Memorial Day but it is observed on or the Monday after or before May 30th. My Dad is in the American Legion and ever since I was little I've went out on that weekend and put flags on all of the veterans' graves with my Dad. But I tend to focus on what I'm doing to celebrate my B-day instead of all that. But I make my constributions as far as it all goes.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by katya
That's thoughtful of you, JD.

Thanks. I figured since it's Friday and the traffic has now started on the Garden State Parkway with people heading down to the Shore I would post this. Maybe I should go down there and welcome the Bennies.

It's sad you have to work. I know my cousin works at a grocery store and he has to work a lot of times on holidays like this.

BC - I'll do fun things this weekend and I think everyone should - but I just wanted to remind people to remember what the holiday is about.

[Radagast The Brown]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Memorial Day is not a sad day, but a day of recognition to our fallen soldiers in all wars. Many go to cemeteries for ceremonies and salutes and put flowers and flags on their graves along with other loved ones that have died, not necessarily in battle.

Originally posted by jerseydevil
No - we used to always go up to my cousins for a huge family picnic. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the New Jersey summer tourist season - so most people are thinking about the beach and the boardwalks.

The Memorial day here is sad. There are 2... errrr.. sirens(?), which are heard all over the country, and in which everyone stop whatever they do and stand still, thinking about the soldiers. There are more some things in the parliament, ceremonies, etc... It's considered saddest of day in the year, with the Holocaust day.

Happy Memorial Day then!

[Starr Polish]

I'm going to a local Renaissance faire tomorrow, and I work on Saturday and Sunday.

[katya]

Oooh, I went to a Renaissance faire last summer....there was this crazy hippy guy trying to tell me about the vrtue of some polygon, and that I'll need his weird dress/skirt/shirt/pants thingy to get into never-never land or Oz or something.

Originally posted by jerseydevil
Thanks. I figured since it's Friday and the traffic has now started on the Garden State Parkway with people heading down to the Shore I would post this. Maybe I should go down there and welcome the Bennies.

It's sad you have to work. I know my cousin works at a grocery store and he has to work a lot of times on holidays like this.

.

Yeah, I'm not complaining (after all, I need the cash), but it'll be a little tiring. With school and exams and all...

Actually, I didn't hardly realize that Memorial Day was coming up, but I was thinking about soldiers and all that earler today. Regardless of how I feel about Bush or any of that, a lot of those guys were very brave and honourable, each in their own way. I'll keep it in mind...

[Rían]

Originally posted by Radagast The Brown
The Memorial day here is sad. There are 2... errrr.. sirens(?), which are heard all over the country, and in which everyone stop whatever they do and stand still, thinking about the soldiers. There are more some things in the parliament, ceremonies, etc... It's considered saddest of day in the year, with the Holocaust day.

That's a nice tradition, Rad. I like that. I wish it was a little more thoughtful here, but it's really transformed over the years into a fun 3-day weekend with barbeques and picnics and family get-togethers and the like. People still put out flags at their houses, tho. But when I was young, we would go to military cemetaries and put flowers and flags on the soldiers' graves, and it was a solemn time, and a time to be very grateful for our blessings that had been bought by the sacrifice of our soldiers.

Thanks for the reminder, JD - I had a busy weekend all planned out and had forgotten to pause and reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

[Lizra]

Memorial Day is about the Indy 500, here close to Indianapolis. The veterns are honored also!

[Insidious Rex]

Well I for one am shrugging off the imminent threat of suicide bombings weve been told are just a matter of time and all the rabid cicadas and Im going down town (washington, DC) tomorrow for the WWII Memorial dedication so I can pay some respects to whats left of The Greatest Generation in person. Im suddenly amused that the guy who has been yelled at in other threads as an america hater and someone who should leave the country is the only one doing an actual formal memorial day event like that among all this talk of barbecues and partying with family and friends. but im barbecuing too so ill shut up about that... Anyway, my only real connection to WWII is that my grandfather served during the war in Italy. I found this website where you can find living veterans that may have known your relatives. Im hoping ill meet one or two tomorrow who may have served along side him.

[jerseydevil]

That's not really true IR - I did think about going to Washington DC for the World War II memorial - but I don't have the $100+ to spend on the train ride right at the moment. As of this moment - I have no idea what I am doing. So you may not and most likely are not the only person doing a formal Memorial Day event.

I went to the USS New Jersey (the most decorated ship in the US Navy, which has been in every war from World War II to the first Gulf War) before I went to Canada, so I don't feel like doing that right now. I went to the Trenton Barracks two weeks ago when my father was out here - that was where Washington defeated the Hessians and is the only surviving barracks from the French and Indian War. Even going there is a way of celebrating the sacrifice of the military who have fought and served this country, but again - I don't feel like going there - I just went there.

I might go to the Princeton Battlefield - where Revolutionary War soldiers are buried and where the first US marine died. I am on the board of directors for the Princeton Battlefield Area Preservation Society, but then again - we have our meetings there every month.

Maybe I will go to Morristown National Park - where Washington spent two brutal winters.

It doesn't have to be recent wars that are memorialized to be doing something related to Memorial Day.

As it stands right now - I have no idea what I'm doing. But I may do something to actually celebrate the soldiers - or I might just do something that celebrates the freedom they have fought and died for and that we sometimes take for granted.

I go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on 4th of July. On July 2nd I might go into Philadelphia to celebrate the actual day of Independence.

[Beor]

Memorial Day Weekend is where everyone gets drunk and has a good time in memory of the men and women who made it possible.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!! Drink one for me (actually, if you dont mind drinking several for me, that would be cool. I havent had a drink in more than a year (give or take some), so it will take a lot. Thanks)

[Troll]

Happy memorial day to everybody!

Are there similar celebrations in other countries?

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by RÃ*an
People still put out flags at their houses, tho. But when I was young, we would go to military cemetaries and put flowers and flags on the soldiers' graves, and it was a solemn time, and a time to be very grateful for our blessings that had been bought by the sacrifice of our soldiers.

I still do, my grandpop was in WW2 so every year we take him upstate to this one military cemetery. (it is in his hometown)

[Lady Ravyn]

happy memorial day!
i'm going to be in a parade on sunday with the pipe band. we play amazing grace at a cemetary then continue on with the parade; it's nice. afterwards we go to my grandma's house for a picnic with my family
on monday i'll watch the first parade i've ever seen! i've been in about 20 parades a year for the past three years, but i have yet to actually see one. it'll be the first parade my little brother has ever been in (he plays the trombone in a band) so i'm excited for him

hope everyone else has a good weekend!