Special to Northeast News
By Lt. Governor Peter Kinder
May 25, 2012

For many people, Memorial Day is the official start of summer. The three-day weekend will include a backyard barbeque, a campout or a trip to the lake. If the forecast calls for sunshine and fair skies, all’s well in the world.

There is a lot to be said for enjoying an extended weekend with family and friends, but it shouldn’t replace the true meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.

It originally was called Decoration Day, after the way in which graves of those who had fallen in the Civil War were decorated with flowers and flags. A federal holiday since 1971, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who died in our nation’s service in the armed forces.
On Veterans Day, we rightfully recognize all those who have made the sacrifice to serve their country, but Memorial Day is reserved for those who gave all – the ultimate sacrifice.

And yet many towns and cities no longer hold Memorial Day parades or special ceremonies, which once were a mainstay on the holiday.  There are some notable exceptions.

Since the late 1950s, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure each flag remains standing.

In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, a practice that continues today. Since 1998, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of the 15,000 or so grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

These acts embody the true spirit of Memorial Day. I wish that everyone would embrace the original purpose of this holiday. Is it too much to ask to set aside one day out of the year for the nation to unite to remember, reflect on and honor those who gave all in their service to their country?

I encourage my fellow Missourians to enjoy the three-day weekend, but I ask that they also embrace the true solemn spirit of Memorial Day.
If Independence Day is the patriot’s equivalent of Christmas Day, full of celebration, joy and hope for the future, Memorial Day is more akin to Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate Christ’s death – sacrificing Himself for the sins of all.

Memorial Day should be a holiday in the literal “holy day” sense, as a reverent commemoration of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of freedom for Americans and millions of people around the world.

In the words of the country singer Billy Ray Cyrus:
“Love your country and live with pride
And don’t forget those who died
America, can’t you see?
All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all”