Memorial Day weekend is always a big deal here in Leelanau County. Among other things, it marks the beginning of the busiest season of the year for everyone, visitors, locals and business owners alike.
We’re pleased to note that folks here in Leelanau County have always been good about observing Memorial Day at well-conducted and well-attended patriotic gatherings. It’s always worth the effort to review the real meaning of Memorial Day, however.
On most days of the year, for example, most living U.S. military veterans appreciate — or at least don’t mind — if you say to them: “Thank you for your service!”
The one exception is on Memorial Day. That’s because Memorial Day is the day to honor U.S. military service members who were killed during their service.
At least one veteran we know suggests that if you want to say something nice to a veteran on Memorial Day, you might say: “I hope you’re having a meaningful day.”
Don’t feel bad if you’ve ever thanked a living U.S. military veteran for his or her service on Memorial Day. Lots of people get Memorial Day mixed up with Veterans Day which is another day to honor those who have served in the military.
The day originally called Armistice Day and now called Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11 each year. In addition to being the day after the anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps, Nov. 11 is the day World War I ended in 1918.
It wasn’t until 1938 that the U.S. Congress recognized Armistice Day as a federal holiday Armistice Day was created to honor veterans of World War I. The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all veterans of military service. In France and elsewhere in Europe, the day continues to be known as Armistice Day.
Memorial Day, on the other hand, has its roots in the Civil War.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and it was intended to honor those who fought both for the Union and the Confederacy. The annual tradition of decorating fallen soldiers’ graves with flags and flowers is believed to have originated in Waterloo, New York, as the Civil War ended.
Decoration Day was originally observed on May 30 of each year. In 1971, Congress switched the official holiday to the last Monday in May.
Flag etiquette on Memorial Day is different than on most days. At sunrise, flags are to be raised to full staff briskly, then lowered slowly to half-staff where the flag must remain until noon.
At noon flags are to be raised to full-staff and are to be displayed there for the remainder of the holiday.
If you are displaying a flag on Memorial Day and cannot put it at half-staff on a flagpole, proper flag etiquette requires that you display the flag with a black mourning ribbon to show respect and acknowledge the somber meaning of the day.
It is inappropriate to wish anyone a “Happy Memorial Day.”
