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On this anniversary, many Americans gather for a barbecue, enjoy a long weekend, and mark the beginning of summer. But in a festivities, one phrase you don't or shouldn't do is “happy anniversary.” Unlike Veterans Day, which celebrates past and present service members, anniversary is a rigorous opportunity and a time to honor American service members for their ultimate sacrifice. I hope someone will miss out on the purpose of the day completely.
Founded after the civil war and formalized as a federal holiday in 1971, the anniversary is dedicated to those who died in military service. Each flag of the half staff, each wreath placed at Arlington National Cemetery, represents a short cut life, of sons, daughters, parents, and friends who have never returned home. Their sacrifices secured the freedom we cherish.
That's why the words we chose on this day are a problem. Memorial Day is not about actually celebrating service members. There's no time to even defend the greater benefits for veterans. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices of a few brave men and women in uniforms who gave life to our nation. Therefore, you need to select words that promote the true purpose of the day.
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Last year, few people learned this lesson before “Squad” member Ilhan Omar and former MP Kori Bush. Both members of Congress posted messages that seemed to confuse the anniversary with Veterans Day. Omar writes, “To #memorialday, honors the heroic men and women who served our nation,” advocates access to mental health services, housing and work for veterans. Bush reflected similar rhetoric, saying that he “honored St. Louis veterans on this anniversary and every day,” and then sought Universal Health Care. The misguided message has won quick denunciations from Americans, including many veterans across the country.
Social media anger served an important purpose. The backlash was greater than the opportunity to score political points against the left. Americans on both sides of the aisle gathered together to defend the sanctity of a day of the year, completely dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, social shame attached to misunderstanding the purpose of an anniversary is not only justified, but is necessary. In a political age characterized by so many flirtations, Americans, especially Americans of elected leadership, were able to choose words that reflect today's gravity.
To be clear, this is not political correctness. It is not about signaling virtues. And it certainly isn't to promulgate more harmful “language policing” that often occurs on Ivy League campuses. It simply follows the strictness of the day.
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Anniversaries are not a celebratory holiday, they are worthy of respect. It's the day to pause. Simply put, today is to show proper respect to those who have made it possible to enjoy the freedoms they are today.
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It is not difficult to celebrate the rigour that is worthy of Memorial Day. You can spend a little time and make meaningful impacts to attend local memory practices and learn the stories of collapsed service members. Visit the cemetery, take part in moments of silence, and provide support to the Gold Star family. Organizations across the country are holding events to commemorate the fall. A group of local veterans laid out wreaths, play taps, and read their names aloud. Schools sometimes host programs that teach younger generations what the day really is. These rituals are neither political nor performance. They are collective acts of memory and are intended to live on the stories of heroes of our nation.
The sacrifices of more than a million Americans who died while serving in the military demand a language of respect and gratitude. Of course, we can celebrate people who are currently wearing uniforms on other days throughout the year. Their sacrifice deserves less.
