Honoring Heroes, Holding Space, and Remembering Why
Let’s get one thing straight: Memorial Day is not about mattress sales or BBQs with suspiciously dry hot dogs (you know the ones). It’s not about extra 30% off codes or who brought the best potato salad to the cookout. It’s a day of memory, not markdowns.
So… what is Memorial Day really about?
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It was originally called Decoration Day, established after the Civil War as a time to honor soldiers who died in military service. Over time, it grew to include fallen soldiers from all American wars. But somewhere between then and now, the meaning got a little… lost in the smoke of backyard grills.
This day isn’t just about honoring sacrifice—it’s about pausing. It’s about remembering the cost of the freedoms we post about on social media. It’s about reflecting, even if just for a moment, on the lives behind the flags, the names etched in stone, and the stories never finished.
Ways to honor the day (beyond fireworks and flip-flops):
- Visit a cemetery or memorial site. Lay flowers. Say their names out loud.
- Pause for the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 PM local time. Just 60 seconds. One minute of collective gratitude.
- Share stories of loved ones who served—and especially those who never came home.
- Support a veteran’s organization. Even though Memorial Day is for the fallen, many veterans carry invisible wounds from losing brothers and sisters in arms. Honor them too.
- Teach your kids the real meaning. Give them a reason to be proud of their country and the humans behind its history.
To the families who spend this day at gravesites instead of on getaways—our hearts are with you.
To the servicemembers who came home missing more than limbs—we see you.
To those who gave everything—we remember you. Today. And always.
Memorial Day isn’t just a day off. It’s a day on.
To remember. To reflect. To respect.
So go ahead and light that grill. But maybe also light a candle.
For someone who no longer can
Until next time,
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