I'm even bothered a bit when I hear people thanking veterans for Memorial Day, or the recent trend to include firefighters & police.
Veterans have Veterans Day. Memorial Day is remember those who died during their service to our country. When I see signs thanking veterans instead of "We Remember Those Who Died" or something similiar, it makes me wonder if people are losing touch with what the holiday was about even more.
Garrison Keilor on Prarie Home Companion this week made a nice point about ritual and traditions. I never really thought about it until he said it, and I'll take the liberty of applying his thoughts to my town.
I've attended my town's parade since I was little, and have participated in most since I wore a cub scout uniform.
A few details change slowly over time, but there are constants.
General Logan's Orders will be read, and the parade will start.
An honor guard will fire a salute in the center of town, first for war monuments. Then another volley will be fire at the grave of Gen. Israel Putnam (Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes!).
The parade continues to the cemetery, where Cover Them Over With Flowers will be read at the cemetery, and taps will be played.
Returning to the start at the fairgrounds, coffee, soda, donuts, and cheese will be served. It is lost to history why we serve cheese, but out of tradition the town will buy it and the volunteer firefighters will cut it into cubes to serve along the other refreshments.
And the thing is, since at least the World War I, those who we honor and remember in their sacrifice often attended these same ceremonies.
To think there are men who died in wars on those memorials who ten years earlier had been a fidgety scout participating in the parade, or a few years before they went off to war may have been in the high school band marching along.
These are the ceremonies that bind us together as a nation, not only among those of us here now, but to generations past and with generations future.
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