Whose day is it?

As we were driving south on Main yesterday, we passed a cemetary. Many cars were parked and people were milling around, some obviously looking for a particular stone, others just browsing. C, my eight-year-old, asked why so many people were there. I then explained that this is Memorial Day Weekend. "Memorial Day" (or "Decoration Day" as it was once called) was set aside as a day to remember those who gave their lives in service to this country; people place flowers at the graves of those who died in wars. Many people have; however, made it into a time to remember anyone who has died.

C thought for a moment and then asked why people have "stolen the holiday from the veterans?" I can sometimes be a rules girl (note, sometimes, Kris). And, in truth, it has bothered me a tiny bit that we can't just let the dead receive a day of recognition for dying in battle and service to this great nation. I know that people have good intentions (obviously, they are trying to honor the memory of a loved one) as my good friend Kris always tries to point out to me (and has most recently in this post). But I admit to thinking the same thing that my eight-year-old does: why not let those for whom the day was made keep it as unique to their sacrifice and let's take another of the other 358 non-major holiday days to place a wreath or bouquet in rememberance of our family members?

Baldilocks has some very good thoughts here.