Happy Memorial Day?

As a holiday, Memorial Day sure has a split personality.

There was some discussion at work today as to whether to air a graphic that contained the phrase "Happy Memorial Day!"

Ultimately, the decision was to pull the graphic from the show. (Although for the record I have heard other "television personalities" use the greeting).

It's true, Memorial Day opens the doors to Summer. It signals the onset of endless afternoons spent at the swimming pool or at a weekend BBQ.

From a simple standpoint, everyone is "happy" when they have a three-day weekend.

On the other hand, clearly, it is a day of commeration, remembrance and sadness.

The first recorded Memorial Day was held in 1865 on the suggestion of Professor David Blight of the Yale's History Department at the historic race track in Charleston, SC. It was observed mostly by liberated slaves as the site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.

Memorial Day


For the soldier, war is seldom about politics.