OT Isnt it kind of wrong

I heard fireworks on saturday night.I thought they should be reserved for Independence Day.To me Memorial Day should be a much more solomn occasion not warranting fireworks displays.What do others think about this?Thanks for your opinions.

I agree doc.

Not kind of wrong but downright sinful!!! A sin worse than removing the warning labels from pillows and my TRACTOR (OT) cushion. Now the offering and closing hymn

I agree with Dr.

I'm even bothered a bit when I hear people thanking veterans for Memorial Day, or the recent trend to include firefighters & police.

Veterans have Veterans Day. Memorial Day is remember those who died during their service to our country. When I see signs thanking veterans instead of "We Remember Those Who Died" or something similiar, it makes me wonder if people are losing touch with what the holiday was about even more.

Garrison Keilor on Prarie Home Companion this week made a nice point about ritual and traditions. I never really thought about it until he said it, and I'll take the liberty of applying his thoughts to my town.

I've attended my town's parade since I was little, and have participated in most since I wore a cub scout uniform.

A few details change slowly over time, but there are constants.

General Logan's Orders will be read, and the parade will start.

An honor guard will fire a salute in the center of town, first for war monuments. Then another volley will be fire at the grave of Gen. Israel Putnam (Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes!).

The parade continues to the cemetery, where Cover Them Over With Flowers will be read at the cemetery, and taps will be played.

Returning to the start at the fairgrounds, coffee, soda, donuts, and cheese will be served. It is lost to history why we serve cheese, but out of tradition the town will buy it and the volunteer firefighters will cut it into cubes to serve along the other refreshments.

And the thing is, since at least the World War I, those who we honor and remember in their sacrifice often attended these same ceremonies.

To think there are men who died in wars on those memorials who ten years earlier had been a fidgety scout participating in the parade, or a few years before they went off to war may have been in the high school band marching along.

These are the ceremonies that bind us together as a nation, not only among those of us here now, but to generations past and with generations future.

hmm, yeah I see your point.

I don't know.

Then again, fireworks are meant to CELEBRATE something - and the dead being celebrated doesn't seem to "click" with me.

Hmm, interesting thought.

Got to see an accident involving fireworks last night. They should be reserved for sober people so they don't get holes in their stomachs.

I'm with Matt and his response below. Memorial Day is, traditionally at least, observed as a MEMORIAL to those who have died, and as such should be observed as a solemn occasion, IMHO. For those who don't remember or who didn't know, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, one on which the graves of those who had served were decorated with flags, wreaths, flowers, and such to commemorate their service. It was always a day of visiting cemetaries when I was growing up, as we also paid our respects to family members who may not have served in the military as well as those who did.

These days, I guess it's not politically correct to mention death and reverence for the dead anymore...especially if it might put a damper on a party weekend.

Agreed. I've offered resolutions at our political caucuses to return Memorial Day to its original meaning...they failed. Memorial Day is the one day we honor our WAR dead. Veteran's Day is when we honor all living Veterans. 363 other days to honor deceased relatives who did not serve. Too many do not understand the significance of the day, and water down the meaning. I also don't understand why the local Legion and VFW, during the reading of the War Dead, include names of local Veterans who died since their military service. They should know the difference.

Agree. Chicago had a big fire works show on Navy pier last night.

I don't mind fireworks for Memorial Day as long as everyone knows the real meaning of the day. My personal opinion is that people in the firefighting and police profession are not part of this. Yes there was 9-11 and brave people lost there lives but, that just isn't part of Memorial Day. A couple years ago, some one thanked me for Memorial Day. I was wearing my fireman's jacket. I thanked the person and then told them that I had nothing to do with that special day. I said that in my opinion the day is to memorialize the men and women who are serving and have served this country to protect our freedom and especially for those who gave their lives doing this. I have not worn my fireman's jacket on Memorial Day since. To all the present and past members of the armed forces alived or deceased, THANK YOU!!!!

I gather that there are few veterans.......and even fewer who died in combat.......in your family. Post your flippant remarks......it's a free country.........thanks, in part, to those who are being honored. I doubt that you get a tear in your eye when the flag goes by........or can understand those who do.

Keillor is a good writer, but a flaming abundant. In his MPLS Tribune column (2-26-06) he 'doesn't apologize for dodging the draft in the Vietnam years', but complains about leaders who slip into public office without ever having been yelled at by a black sergeant and made to stand up straight.... Wants prez candidates to have two years of military service. On 3-5-06, he says 'the most basic job of government...is to defend this country'. My question to him is- "How many draft dodgers does it take to defend this country"?.

Hey JMS how exactly did over fifty thousand of our finest dieing in Vietnam protect our country. At least Keilor has the balls to say he dodged the undeclared war in SE Asia. How does that compare to a president who just went AWOL from a cushy appointment to an Air National Guard position in the safety of Texas while a whole bunch of poor saps got killed. They didn"t have a daddy in power to keep them out of harms way. Memorial Day is to honor our fallen service personell. Not the living one who may or may not be serving now.

my dad always referred to it as Decoration Day not Memorial Day it took long time to understand why.
as to Memorial Day being just another party weekend
another way of the liabels undercutting of what our military has done to serve our country.
M-i-l gets very upset about Memorial Day on day other than May 30.
That was day she and Mrs 730's dad were married
in 1941. He knew he would be going to war.
Both of our dads were in WW II.

Agreed - Dad always called it decoration day cause he always put flags on the veterans graves in the cemetery's he worked in.

I'm a Viet Nam vet and when I was growing up my dad (who was a WWI vet) use to stop whatever we were doing and stop at the hardware store to get a handful of little flags and take us to the cemetary on Memorial Day and have us place flags at all the markers of people who lost there lives during the war and say this is the cost of freedom all of us boys are military vets and proud of it. I was asked to be in a parade yesterday and at the cemetary the MC asked everyone to come up and thank a vet for our service to our country I spent a half hour shaking everyones hand but I felt a little guilty because it was supposed to be day for those who gave it all. I think I'm going to mention to the parade organizers to focus on the real meaning of the day but yes anyone who has been in the military knows Memorial day is for those who gave it all. As for the Viet Nam war comment I lost several commrades there I know they would not have been there if they believed the cause was not just and they still lost thier life nontheless so let them have thier day. IMHO CT

I would find out what the fireworks were for before I got all out of sorts for nothing. Could be it was just for a show after a ball game, they do that alot around here after baseball and soccer games (Professional). Could be tha's all it is. If it was for Memorial Day, then you would be right to say something to whoever put them on.

Well said Matt! Thank you.

You can bet your a$$ that any fireman that died in this country to save anyones life deserves memory on this day!!!!! Maybe you just dont appreciate those of us that run into a burning building to save your children, wives, husbands or even pets, while you stand outside and panic. Or cut someone out of a twisted vehicle and do our best to save their life, most of you have never experienced the horror of cutting your neighbors daughter out of a vehicle to save her life. How about the police officer that gave his life to save a civillian from some (home grown terrorist)? I have a brother in the military and relatives who died in wars to protect our freedom, so I know what memorial day is about. But if its all the same to any of you I will remember the ones before me who gave it their all to save someone else.............no matter what color of uniform they had on!

Memorial Day is FRIDAY.... this is the government holiday...



MAY GOD BLESS THE USA

I"ve been a cop for over 20 years, was involved in EMS/Fire Dept for over 10 years and was a US Marine for 4 years. Memorial day is for Military veterans and those we lost, not for cops and firemen. Create a special day to memorialize cops and firemen if you want, but lets not confuse the basic issue. This takes nothing away for cops and firemen/EMS, I was at Ground Zero from 9/12/01 on. They deserve recognition, but not on Memorial day.