My 101 year old "great aunt" from Columbus, Elizabeth "Tillie" Ellenberg, who died last November, had one great wish. She wanted traditional Memorial Day observances returned by the City of Columbus and around the country. In years past, Memorial Day was observed with parades with university and high school marching bands, the American Legion in Uniform, veterans wearing their uniforms, and wreath laying at the graves of the fallen hero's of past wars. The tradition included huge barbeques at Probst Park, American flags hanging out almost every door, and speakers speaking about America and the freedoms we enjoy. What do the people here say? Should we honor the dead and fallen veterans as the Congress intended? This is a serious question.
Memorial Day Observances
- Thread starter Bulldog Backer
- Start date
I think we've gotten so far into our own agendas nowadays that people use this weekend as a semi-vacation and use today as the travel day. I don't think half the number of families that use to go to a firework show on the 4th do that anymore. I definitely don't think we appreciate these special days like we should (much less like we use to). As a 9th grade teacher, I can tell you first hand how pitiful we are at recognizing things like today as very important. Many people acknowledge what today is and take it as a holiday instead of a day of remembrance. History is one of the lowest thought-of classes anymore, by the students AND administration.
I think that today, every business and governmental office should close and we should celebrate the lives of those who serve today and the ones who died to allow us our liberty. This country is getting further and further away from the principles and sacrifices that people made to make this country great. For those who serve and for those who lost loved ones in the service of our country, I salute you and you have my gratitude.