Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the U.S.A. Its purpose is to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving our nation in the United States Armed Forces. 

Memorial Day began shortly after the American Civil War. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was a way to commemorate Confederate and Union soldiers who had died in the war. The day was not an official national holiday at first. Instead, it was started as a simple occasion for decorating the graves of fallen soldiers from both sides of the war in various places around our country.

The significance of Memorial Day has changed through the years to encompass and recognize all American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard, active and reserve, who have died in war. It is now a U.S. federal holiday which happens every year on the final Monday of May.

Unfortunately, the meaning of Memorial Day has become blurred over time. For example, it is often confused with Veterans Day, which honors all people  who have served honorably  in our armed services. In the words of Billy Ray Cyrus, “All gave some, some gave all.” As good songs often do, that phrase captures the essence of the difference in Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Veterans Day honors all those who “gave some” in service to our nation. Memorial Day is meant to honor those who “gave all.”

Worse, in my view, is the crass commercialization of Memorial Day in recent decades. The three-day weekend is exploited fully by merchants and media in the pursuit of luring Americans to sales of everything imaginable. And it works.

Now I’m all for capitalism, in moderation, that is. However, I’m against it in the extreme, especially when it is used to profit from what should be a solemn and sublime holiday.

I realize my opinion on this matter will be controversial to some, perhaps to many. Still, I feel compelled to state it and strongly so.

Fortunately, the true meaning of Memorial Day is being preserved, primarily by patriotic organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League, and  Vietnam Veterans of America. Locally, they will be in action at the Warren County Memorial Airport tomorrow morning, starting at 8 a.m. I hope to see many of you there.

As for the rest of my vast reading audience around our country, I urge you take time to reflect on what Memorial Day means to you, and if you’re so inclined, find a Memorial Day service near you and attend it.

Retired Army Colonel Thomas B. Vaughn may be reached at tbvbbwmi@benlomand.net