This is a needed post, Sarah, thank you. The confusion surrounding the meaning of the commemoration of Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day bothers me too. My father was a Marine in WWII and we always wore poppies at the local parade on Memorial Day and my grandmother recited ‘In Flanders Field’ and it meant something to us. Wonderful you’ve provided this list of books. And to your husband: Semper Fi ❤️
Thank you for this, Jolene -- I always feel kind of hypercritical carping on it year after year, but, I was raised to know the difference and it matters to me 🤷🏻♀️ (I also grew up wearing poppies and I still buy them whenever I see the VFW selling them.)
Oh, I hear you, Alison. I will refrain from sharing my feelings about sales and other marketing tactics around these days -- ostensibly this is a G-rated newsletter 😉
I appreciate your perspective on this. I grew up in a small town in Wyoming far away from the few relatives we had. As a kid, Memorial Day to me signified the beginning of summer break, so I didn't really get it until too far long into adulthood. I was fascinated to learn a few years back that Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and that's some neat history.
I don't think you're alone in this -- many people (like a shocking number of people) barely know what Memorial Day is, much less that it differs (or how it differs) from Veterans Day. The history is very interesting, for sure.
This is a needed post, Sarah, thank you. The confusion surrounding the meaning of the commemoration of Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day bothers me too. My father was a Marine in WWII and we always wore poppies at the local parade on Memorial Day and my grandmother recited ‘In Flanders Field’ and it meant something to us. Wonderful you’ve provided this list of books. And to your husband: Semper Fi ❤️
Thank you for this, Jolene -- I always feel kind of hypercritical carping on it year after year, but, I was raised to know the difference and it matters to me 🤷🏻♀️ (I also grew up wearing poppies and I still buy them whenever I see the VFW selling them.)
I will pass it on to my husband -- thank you.
In Canada, we have Nov. 11 Remembrance Day, and don't have this distinction. But you are so right: it matters.
What bothers me is when retail businesses have "Remembrance Day Sales"--oh my! It makes me snap!
Oh, I hear you, Alison. I will refrain from sharing my feelings about sales and other marketing tactics around these days -- ostensibly this is a G-rated newsletter 😉
Beautifully and thoughtfully stated, Sarah
Thanks, Jessica.
Thank you for the distinction. I had never thought about it before - the distinction, that is.
I appreciate your perspective on this. I grew up in a small town in Wyoming far away from the few relatives we had. As a kid, Memorial Day to me signified the beginning of summer break, so I didn't really get it until too far long into adulthood. I was fascinated to learn a few years back that Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and that's some neat history.
I don't think you're alone in this -- many people (like a shocking number of people) barely know what Memorial Day is, much less that it differs (or how it differs) from Veterans Day. The history is very interesting, for sure.