It seems that no one in this area cares to remember what this day is all about. When I was a kid, and up until last year, there was always a parade in which the Veterans of this area were honored as well as those who had died in service to our country. I had hoped to take Gidget today, but they decided NOT to have the Parade of Veterans this year. In fact, the newspaper put it as a very tiny "oh, by the way" at the bottom of a full page listing all the sales going on in the area. "The annual Parade of Veterans is canceled this year due to lack of interest." They ACTUALLY put it just that way! So, I guess Memorial Day is just a day that we can save a little $$... paid for by the lives of our soldiers! Pathetic. Disgraceful. (I'm just a little annoyed as you have probably noticed.)
No, I'm not against picnics or other celebrations on Memorial Day. I just think that time should be taken to remember the sacrifices that have been made & are still being made by our soldiers! Many gave their lives to make it possible for us to feel safe enough to have a picnic! I couldn't even find anything really good on TV. They used to have parades on TV on Memorial Day. On St. Patrick's Day parades were on every major network! I looked and looked, but couldn't find one. Maybe I just don't have enough channels. I don't know.
I remember going to our town parade each year as a kid. I remember feeling proud to be an American as I watched the Veterans march or ride in a car. Some were being pushed in wheelchairs because they had no legs. Some would be proudly smiling and saluting the crowd. Others would be in tears. The crowd would all fall in behind them and walk all the way to the town cemetery and decorate the graves. I remember feeling saddened as I saw all the flags on the graves of the fallen soldiers from our small town. There were so many! This year, I guess it was too much of a "sacrifice" for this town to give up their little league baseball games and car shopping. I live beside 3 little league fields. Usually I hear the National Anthem at least 4 or 5 times a day. Not once today. NOT ONCE!!!!
So, today, I'm choosing to remember. Won't you take at least a moment to remember what this day is truly about?
2 comments:
I'm right there with you on this! God bless our veterns and our fallen heros!
I don't even have the words to express how I feel about that newspaper blurb. Disgraceful comes to mind, but it just hurts my heart thinking about the veterans and families of veterans who read about the "lack of interest." So incredibly sad...
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