Viewpoint: Memorial Day a time for reflection
By Alex Wong, Getty Images
A bugler plays "Taps" during a ceremony to celebrate V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) at the National World War II Memorial on May 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Or, that day we set aside to honor those who lost their lives fighting for America.
Memorial Day came about in the years after the Civil War as a way to pay tribute to the deceased military personnel from that war. In years to come it evolved into what it is now: a day to honor military men and women who died in American combat.
For many, the true meaning of the holiday has been lost somewhere amid the barbecuing and tanning. But the reality is, an approximated 1,243,460 Americans have died fighting for our country in some capacity, according to figures compiled by CNN. That’s a staggering amount of people who deserve respect and thoughts on a day that is designed for it.
Now, I’m not suggesting you spend the day in bed solemnly reading a copy The Red Badge of Courage cover to cover. (Really, don’t. It was assigned summer reading for my high school English class ... I came, I saw, I Sparknote-ed). But, the holiday is not something to brush off. Here are some simple ways you can pay tribute and get into that military mindset:
Start reading a war book
As Lyon Burke muses in The Valley of the Dolls, all war veterans feel like they have a few good war novels in them. Why not pick one up?
Dust to Dust, written by Benjamin Busch, a former marine who was deployed to Iraq twice, is rated on GoodReads.com as one of the best memoirs on the subject. The book, published last March, takes the reader through Busch’s childhood, teens and eventually time in the service.
Another piece is American Sniper by recently deceased U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Kyle is known as the most lethal sniper in United States history, surpassing a previous kill record of 109 by at least 50. In this autobiography he speaks about being thrown into the front lines post 9/11 and the pains of war.
Go to a parade
Chances are there is some sort of celebration in your town; if not, there is definitely one within your state.
At many of these celebrations, war vets are invited to walk through the procession. What better way to honor fallen soldiers than standing and physically showing your support for those in his or her line of work?
Even if it means waking up early (most have a start time of 9:30 a.m.) go stand on the sidelines, listen to some Taps and thank these people for the work they’ve done. Vetfriends.com has an exhaustive list of celebrations nation-wide, so check it out.
Visit a war memorial
Our nation’s capital is the best place to do this with tons of national memorials and monuments in its vicinity. If you are in the area, try the World War II memorial located on the National Mall. Opened in 2004, the memorial is oval-shaped and features one pillar for each state or U.S. territory at the time of the war. The columns surround a large pool with fountains. Next to the water is a wall with 4,000 golden stars on it -- each representing 100 U.S. deaths in the war. It is a good place to sit and reflect, and is my favorite of the bunch.
If you're not in the D.C. area, many towns have smaller tributes as well. Even my little Colts Neck, N.J., has some options. And this year, I think I will visit one.
As for the partying and thematic clothing -- save that for the Fourth of July. Or better yet, Flag Day -- it’s sooner and I just bought a red hair bandana.
Jackie Tempera is a Summer 2013 Paste BN Collegiate Correspondent. Learn more about her here.
This story originally appeared on the Paste BN College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.