Americans have been celebrating Memorial Day on the last Monday in May since the 1970s. The federal holiday is marked by parades and cookouts, picnics, and graveside visits, but the purpose of the day isn't always clear. Military servicemen and servicewomen want you to know that Memorial Day is not a day to thank them for their service.
'Don't thank us for our service'
"It's not about us," Staff Sgt. Jay Arnold, a soldier with the Illinois Army National Guard, told Business Insider in 2019. "It's about those who went before us."
It's a day of remembrance
Memorial Day is day of remembrance. More than 1 million men and women have died while serving in the US military since 1775. This annual holiday is a time to hold them in our thoughts and consider their service — without the filter of politics.
"Memorial Day isn't about romanticizing war or worshiping military veterans. It's a day to recognize personal sacrifices of veterans and active military alike, regardless of their inclinations toward war," Tech Sgt. Bill Monahan, an airman serving at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, told Business Insider. "Too often today, one's political beliefs skew opinions on what constitutes honorable service so it is important to have a day where we can look back at who laid it all on the line."
It was once called Decoration Day
Veterans also want folks to know more about the history of Memorial Day, which didn't arise out of nowhere. It started during the bloodiest of American wars — the Civil War. Three years after the Civil War ended, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Decoration Day was declared a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The May date was likely chosen because it was a time when flowers would be in bloom.
Learn more about soldiers
Of course, veterans want you to enjoy grilling and time at the pool on Memorial Day, but they'd also like you to take time to talk to your kids about what the day means. You can make a card or care package for those serving in the military overseas.
It is not Veterans Day
Veterans would also like you to remember that Memorial Day is not Veterans Day, which is every November 11. While Veterans Day is when you want to thank those serving or who have served in the military, Memorial Day is specifically for those who lost their lives in that service. Living veterans want the focus to be on those lives that have been lost.
It's losing its meaning
Today, with an all-volunteer military, most Americans are far removed from the daily life, high stakes, and sacrifices experienced by members of the military. One consequence of that is that the significance of Memorial Day is slowly diminishing. That's why during this time of year, we see calls to teach kids about Memorial Day, its history, and what it means for not only families directly affected by the death of a soldier, but for all Americans.
It's been a national holiday since 1971
Before Memorial Day was federally recognized in 1971, it was celebrated in towns and states around the country about this time of year for decades, as an extension of Decoration Day. Even before that, soldiers and families gathered to mark memorials for those who gave their lives. One of the earliest Memorial Day celebrations was organized by former enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina. According to History.com, "On May 1, 1865, more than 1,000 recently freed slaves, accompanied by regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops (including the Massachusetts 54th Infantry) and a handful of white Charlestonians, gathered in the camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead."
It's not meant to mark the start of summer
So, while it's great to get a day off from work or school, veterans want you to know that Memorial Day is not meant as a day to mark the start of summer or to find great deals on bedsheets and sandals. It's a day of remembrance, for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans want you to have fun and enjoy the day, but also think about those who are no longer able to do so.
