What Does Memorial Day Mean Anymore?

I don't know about you out there, but I've lost the meaning of Memorial Day. I know the basics, that it is a day to honor our armed forces and those that made the ultimate sacrifice in battle or more likely throughout history (particularly in the 19th and early 20th century) from the fact that they fought in harsh environs where disease took the lives of many. Yet for many years now, as long as I have been alive the day has meant a shorter work week, the "unofficial start of summer," a day to barbecue or to make a trip out of the long weekend. Somewhere in the background, there is the impetus to fly the American flag on the side of the house or apartment and the stores that have sales put patriotic decor on the things they sell.

Considering the war we are in now, and the fact that many people have no connection to it in their everyday lives, it is disheartening that there really isn't much done for our soldiers and our veterans. Sure, we all support them in spirit, even if we don't buy those yellow magnetic ribbons for our cars that are made in China. Those things aren't worth the chemicals they're printed with because they have no meaning to the men and women in uniform.

The one person that can help them the most prefers to help defense contractors and their lobbyists way before the private making a salary less worthy than the poverty line. An executive at Halliburton or a lobbyist for the Carlyle Group is far more likely to benefit the President and his friends than some grunt in the field risking his life everyday. So while George Bush makes a mockery of our soldiers, his true feelings are voiced in the legislation he is in favor of and that of which he goes against. He also promised they'd be greeted as liberators. Now look at how the locals think of us.

So as we barbecue, shop, relax or even visit the graves of our dead heroes as the soldier above did, take the time to remember how we have treated our soldiers through the actions of a President who clearly has no regard for them. Then take another moment to envision how we want our next President to honor them as well.