From Military.com:
“It's Time You Know the
Difference Between Veterans Day and Memorial Day”
A few years ago, there was a
viral Facebook post about a woman getting a haircut before Memorial Day
weekend. She had lost her husband in a Navy helicopter crash months prior. He
died on deployment, never having met their youngest son. So, when the smiling
receptionist wished her a "Happy Memorial Day" after she had buried
her spouse, the words cut extra deep. Before you tag every veteran and service
member on Facebook and wish them a Happy Memorial Day, remember that, in this
community, Memorial Day means something much, much bigger than the start of
summer. The day feels fraught with memories of those we've lost, mixed with
gratitude for the times we've had. While it is true that every day is Memorial
Day for the families of the fallen, they aren't asking that you stay inside and
wallow. But we do owe it to them to pause. Reflect. Remember. Honor. Gold Star
wife Krista Simpson Anderson, who lost her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Michael
Harrison Simpson, in Afghanistan in 2013, said, "I get upset when people
scold others for enjoying the weekend or having BBQs. What do you think our
service members did before they died? Mike sure did enjoy his family and
friends. What better way to honor them than to be surrounded by family and
friends living. But we are also so grateful for your pause and reflection as
you celebrate our heroes and the lives that they lived."
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are
different holidays with unique purposes -- and unique ways to honor each.
How to Honor Veterans Day
Veterans Day is the day to tag
all your people, posting photos with your brother in uniform or the selfie with
your bestie before he or she deployed. Veterans Day celebrates the living who
served our country. Offer veterans a discount at your business. Call your
favorite vet on the phone and thank him or her for their service. Attend a
parade. Celebrate a veteran.
How to Honor Memorial Day
Memorial Day is about remembering
and honoring every single man and woman who has died for our freedoms -- men
and women who were mommies and daddies, sons and daughters, husbands and wives,
brothers and sisters, patriots, incredible Americans and really, really great
friends. You want to honor and celebrate patriotism and the military this
Memorial Day? Then you have to honor the complicated feelings surrounding it.
Express your knowledge that this day is about remembrance. Attend a memorial
service at a national cemetery. Run or walk a mile to benefit the non-profit
Krista Anderson started in memory of her husband, and then pledge your mile for
wear blue: run to remember. Talk to your kids about sacrifice, about service
and about what this three-day weekend really means. Observe the National Moment
of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. Monday with a minute of silence. And then, like
Krista said, live.
^ Despite being a military brat and
growing up surrounded by the US Military my whole life I have to admit that I am
guilty of saying “Thank You” to those that have served and those that have lost
someone who served in the Military – even on Memorial Day. This
article helped me (and hopefully others) to learn how those that have never
been in the US Military should treat soldiers and veterans and to honor them on
the different holidays and remembrance days. ^
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