In the past, Memorial Day celebrations included parades, air force flyovers, military gun salutes, outdoor picnics, and concerts, and lots of retail sales. Well, this Memorial Day is different, not because there are no Persian rug clearance sales, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So how do we “celebrate?”
As a Vet, I hung an American flag on my balcony railing. But I am beginning to question what it represents to many Americans. Have we lost the spirit of Memorial Day because we cannot celebrate as we had in the past? Or is there something about Memorial Day that we should still celebrate, even if confined to our homes or if restricted to self-distancing gatherings?
For those of us who have never visited Arlington, a video scan of this iconic cemetery will leave you breathless. Endless rows of tombstones remind us of how many Americans died in our foreign wars—so many lifeless stones in a field of living trees and grass. The names engraved there remain known only by the few who grieved and mourned their deaths. Apart from those mourners, what should the rest of us memorialize? Why should we feel grateful for the sacrifice of those who accepted the call to military service and the risk of injury or death in that service?
Whether a draftee from the past or a volunteer in the present, each soldier accepts a call to duty, specifically, to serve the most vital interests of the United States. But a soldier is not asked to accept the foreign policy initiatives of a specific Administration. No, instead a soldier pledges allegiance to America as “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.” That pledge used to be made daily in every school in America. Its final words mirror the Preamble to our Constitution and reflect the values that inspired its authors.
Memorial Day provides us the opportunity to question and restore that fundamental allegiance that differentiates America from the history that preceded it. Not even a pandemic should interfere with our reflection upon and renewal of that basic allegiance. For it is the very definition of patriotism.
In our current reality, political divisions within our population and our government can test the strength of our patriotism. But it should not deter us from our allegiance to America. We can critique our elected representatives and still honor the offices they hold in our name. We can disagree on political matters, but still serve the greater good implied by our patriotism. There is an ebb and flow to politics—remember once there was slavery and the absence of women’s suffrage—but Americans have shown an ability to redirect their country towards a greater realization of its grand purpose. Memorial Day should remind us to renew our allegiance to America’s founding principles and hold accountable our elected representatives to their oaths of allegiance as well.
Certainly, being a patriot can be challenging when our government strays from its core principles or basic human rights. During such times, we must look past present circumstances and aim our efforts towards a future that builds upon our progress. There are times when we must rise above divisive issues, listen to all voices, and then choose a path forward that aligns with the long-held promise of America. We cannot be a country defined by ill-conceived wars, short-sighted foreign policy, caged children, and a government riddled with corruption and incompetence. We cannot allow ourselves to be sorted by race, economic status, gender, country of origin, or political party. We are Americans! And we define our future rather than have it defined for us.
Vote! And honor the patriots who went before us and who now stand by our side.