For our friends and neighbors on the Gulf Coast of Florida, this headline might feel a bit misleading. After all, our temperatures are already straying into the upper 80’s to mid 90s. But according to the official calendar, the rest of the continent doesn’t technically enter Summer until June 20^th.

Well, blame it on a federal holiday that created a three-day weekend too close to the final days of school. Or, if you’re graduating, right afterwards. Oh, and don’t forget the BIG push from retailers. Memorial Day is like Black Friday, especially if you’re shopping for a mattress, a gas grill, a vacuum, patio furniture or home improvement materials. Some of that is likely the tail wagging the dog, while many fear the holiday is once again losing its true meaning.

Remembering the Fallen

“The unofficial start to summer” may be the popular tagline for Memorial Day nowadays, but it wasn’t intended to be that way.

The first Memorial Day – then called Decoration Day – was marked on May 30, 1868. It was a somber occasion at Arlington National Cemetery as future president James Garfield honored fallen Civil War soldiers with Major General John Logan, head of a veteran’s group – the Grand Army of the Republic.

Because people are people, eventually the quiet trips to the graveyard to put newly blossomed flowers on the graves of beloved veterans evolved into a quick stop by the tombstone and then on to much more fun summer-y activities

For better or worse, that was helped along by Hubert Eaton, who wanted to transform graveyards into cemeteries – or more specifically, memorial gardens, where loved ones could visit with those who had passed on and meditate on the hope of heaven.

As warfare fell deeper into America’s past, so did Decoration Day.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

That all changed on April 6, 1917, when Congress passed a declaration of war on Germany, entering the Great War (World War I). The lives lost due to the War to End All Wars, followed by World War II 23 years later, resurrected interest in the holiday.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. It established an official federal holiday called “Memorial Day” to be ‘celebrated’ on the last Monday in May. Calling the day a celebration is still troublesome for many. It’s less common now, but in the 70s and 80s it was considered highly insensitive to say “Happy Memorial Day.” It is much more appropriate to greet one another with "Have a meaningful Memorial Day" or "Remember those who gave all."

If you fly an American flag, you’ll want to lower it to half-staff until noon. Technically, you should then raise it to full-staff, but no one’s going to call you out for leaving it in a mourning pose. Some churches and cemeteries, especially military ones, will have memorial services. All military graves will be decorated by volunteers and families with flags and sometimes flowers or wreaths.

Living Honors the Dead

We don’t think it’s such a terrible thing to host a BBQ, go to the beach or gather with friends and family on Memorial Day. Yes, the holiday is designated to remember the soldiers that died to protect liberty from tyranny – for our country and others. But sometimes the best way to honor and remember those fallen soldiers is by enjoying that freedom.

So, yes, we can call it the unofficial start of summer. And we can even shop for a new mattress. But take a moment, even if it’s brief, to think about the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Say a prayer for their families and for our nation, that good people will always stand up against evil.

Our offices will be closed on Monday so our employees can spend the day with their loved ones. If you need to request an end of the month treatment or schedule a new service as we slide into the summer months, feel free to give us a call!