Memorial Day: How Do We Remember?

Traditionally, we celebrate Memorial Day with parades--parades that feature marching bands playing patriotic songs, and military and veterans units marching, and military equipment rolling down the main street of town.

But, continuing my theme from yesterday's post, is that the most appropriate way to remember our war dead? In doing so, are we not glorifying the very thing that resulted in their deaths? Now, I have no objection to the laying of wreaths or placing of flags on graves. Indeed, those activities were what gave rise to the original name of the holiday: Decoration Day (my grandmother called it that long after the official designation changed). Those are appropriate memorials to those sacrificed in war.

But wouldn't a better public celebration be one dedicated to peace? A celebration that said, "Let us never have to add to the men and women we honor this day"? No more speeches touting our military might, our preparedness for combat. Let us instead speak of our preparedness for peace.