Memorial Day is a sad day but needed, as mentioned above, as an annual reminder of those who died when serving in uniform. Not all died as a result of combat, many died in accidents too.

As far as protecting "us", this is a sadder tale. Tens of thousands have needlessly died in past decades in military actions that arguably were unnecessary for the protection of our country. It may have been as long ago as the Second World War since there have been real threats to the US that required the fighting of our military to push back.

The best way to remember and respect those who lost their lives in uniform is to think twice or three times before sending our forces into areas and conflicts where little or no protection of our country can be accomplished.

Originally Memorial Day was Remembrance day, which is it called in countries outside the USA--but celebrated on 11/11. My dad and brother were in the USAF but I am blessed to not have any relatives who had to give the ultimate sacrifice. Even so war has impacted every corner of the world. We remember so we won't repeat. The point of all those history lessons in school is so we 'learn from our mistakes'. More reason to stop all the crazy cancel culture. We need to KNOW and remember what came before if we have any hope of doing things better.

I’ll admit it, Memorial Day is kick-off to Summer for me. Sailed Saturday, fishing yesterday, about to go sailing again. I do find myself trying to have a meaningful thought about it, but then end up thinking morr about how meaningless the thoughts are to anyone. Of course I’m thankful for those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our country, and of course the holiday would take on an entirely different meaning if I had lost someone in service.

Perhaps the best way to honor our fallen heros is to do our best for those still with us. I don’t recall an Armed Forces Day post but maybe I just missed it. That, along with Veterans Day, perhaps more important to think about the living. Even then, our "thoughts" are lovely but there I do feel guilty for not doing more. My primary support is voting for those who would strive to better take care of those who need help, while and after serving. Seems more patriotic than flying a flag off my pickup. It's the least I can do.

I agree, foodonastump, which is why I'm voting for the party who voted in favor of the PACT ACT and will never again vote for the other party. My fellow Hahn veterans went to the Gulf war in early 1991 when I was taking a month's leave and then getting out. A lot of those veterans have medical issues from their time there. A heck of a lot of those who claim to be pro military, aren't. They turned their backs on veterans who gave their health and some their life serving their country.

Actually, the origins of Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, began shortly after the Civil War:

"On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a politically powerful organization of Union veterans led by Major General John A. Logan — issued General Orders No. 11 or the "Memorial Day Act." This issuance formally established "Memorial Day" as a Decoration Day on which the nation would remember its war dead and decorate their graves with flowers."

It's Veteran's Day on 11/11 which marked the end of WWI (at 11:11) which was called Armistice Day and is called Remembrance Day in some other countries.

Memorial Day is to remember those who lost their lives in battle. Veteran's Day is to remember all who served.

Thanks for posting that info, Annie.

Memorial Day is more of a serious holiday for me as well. Later today we will be going to the local military cemetery where my dad, and now my mom, are interred. They have a huge ceremony in the morning, and every year local BSA and other volunteers place flags on every one of the thousands of graves there. The sight of acres of those tiny flags can be overwhelming.

This weekend always brings memories of my dad, who was a photographer for the U.S. Army in WWII. We still have his photo albums - some of his photos are in the Nat'l Archives.

Here are a few:

This one is another reminder that it wasn't just men who served:

Beautiful pictures Carol. 💕

All of my veterans came home as well, so I am happy to hang with my vet today.

We watched the documentary called Blue Angels on Prime. Highly recommend it.

(From Wikipedia —

Allex Langié - Own work

Le célèbre poète est tombé à Ors en 1918. Une salle du château lui est dédiée)

Wilfred Owen, English soldier and poet. He was killed in France, one week before WWI ended.

Among his poems, he leaves us this:

Arms and the Boy

Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade

How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood;

Blue with all malice, like a madman’s flash;

And thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.

Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-leads

Which long to nuzzle in the hearts of lads,

Or get him cartridges whose fine zinc teeth

Are sharp with sharpness of grief and death.

For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.

Wilfred Owen

" Memorial Day is to remember those who lost their lives in battle. "

No, not exactly. It's as I said in my comment - it's to honor those who died while in active service, whether as a result of active combat or not. Service members die in car accidents, aircraft crashes, explosions, fires, and what have you.

A terribly tragic event of this nature was the 1944 Port Chicago Disaster. In the segregated forces of the day, African American sailors were used for the dangerous work of loading munitions on transport ships. Safety conditions were lax. A large explosion occurred at the loading docks and hundreds of black sailors were instantly killed. They lost their lives in honorable military service, no less so than someone dying from a bullet wound or shell explosion in combat.

According to Wikipedia:

"Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day)[1] is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces"

I suggest that in ”modern” warfare, there are many thousands who have survived serious injuries that leave them maimed for a lifetime.

In addition, we now better understand the mental and emotional long lasting effects and costs or war — soldier’s heart, war neurosist, PTSD and so on.

We have updated our weaponry, and thus the nearly ”living dead” should be includes. Someone dear to me survived two torpedo attacks from German Uboats and returned to his family physically intact, able to earn a good living, but, because of the stigma of being labelled, did not (like many other returning soldiers) dare to convey his state of war nerves. There was probably little if any help to be gotten in any case.

The families of both the living, war dead, and survivors also suffered greatly and quietly.

Think long and carefully. Don’t elect a psychopath, liar, criminal, or near criminal who talks big.

Don’t get your news from one source or similar sources. A big-talking loud mouth who spews divisiveness may cause you and yours and our nation, and the decent world more harm than you can ever imagine.

Because today’s technology can make things convenient as well as imprisoning with its reach, a lawless, ambitious candidate or regime can be locked into power longer than you’d care to imagine.

Be informed, aware and careful.

PS You don’t need to have a beer with a candidate. I can think of one who would quickly spit on you, after you paid for his beer.

Petalique, your political comments aside, you likely know that Veterans Day honors all who previously served in the military. Memorial Day is not for veterans who died after their service ended.