Happy Memorial Day to the Americans – the traditional first week of summer here in the United States.
We don’t need scientists to tell us when summer starts.
If you’re old school it is now acceptable to break out the white sweat pants and pajama bottoms on Zoom calls.
If you’re kind of a stickler for these things, Memorial Day is a time to remember the sacrifice of men and women who died while serving in the defense of the United States.
One date – May 25, 2020.
But it may have a very different meaning to different people. For most of the planet it is just Monday May 25, but even in the US the thoughts we attach to this date vary widely.
-Is it a time to focus solely on our military dead in battle?
-A time to remember all our service men and women?
-Is it a time to remember those we have lost in other ways, like the US Veterans who died from Covid 19 recently at the Holyoke Massachusetts Soldiers Home? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/us/they-survived-the-worst-battles-of-world-war-ii-and-died-of-the-virus.html
-Do we enlarge Memorial Day 2020 to include the approximately 100,000 who have died so far during this pandemic in the US?
-Is it a day to remember to stock up on the veggie burgers and charcoal for a cookout in the backyard or try and get to the beach?
OR is it a day to judge one another for observing Memorial Day incorrectly?
Masks or no masks?
6 feet distance?
Day off or workday?
US flags on the graves of our veterans?
Veggies on the grill or meat?
Beaches open or closed?
Can we visit our elderly family?
Solemn observance of our fallen fellow Americans?
White slacks and shoes now permitted?
There is one fact. May 25, 2020. The last Monday in May. It is only a date, but think of how many thoughts we may potentially have about it. Some may be very very casual and others may be enough to cause angry arguments.
Like it or not, we are all free to think whatever thoughts we want about this date.
Happy Memorial Day to Americans at home and abroad.
Happy May 25, 2020 to the rest of the world.
May this day be filled with peaceful thoughts of love and respect and appreciation.
