May 30, 2016

As soon as you flick on the television, all that comes blaring out of the speakers are commercials for the big, blowout, summer sales, starting today! Whether it be cars, clothes, furniture or party accessories, Memorial Day has turned into one big commercialized holiday honoring the almighty dollar.

Memorial Day is undoubtedly an important day in United States history.

Once called Decoration Day, it was a holiday where citizens took part in honoring our veterans by decorating the graves of our fallen heroes. The tradition started sometime after the Civil War, although there is no clear date when the observance of fallen soldiers became official. Individuals began Decoration Day, but the idea spread quickly to the masses.

According to History.com, several places including "Columbus, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; and Carbondale, Illinois," claim to be the birth place of Decoration Day.

The name did not officially change from Decoration Day to Memorial Day until after the Second World War.

Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971 and made it the last Monday in May.

I can only speak from my own personal experience when I say that throughout the years, the meaning of Memorial Day has gotten lost on the American public. We think less and less about honoring our dead and more about the amount of money we can save on a new bikini or how great our backyard barbecues will be.

This Memorial Day, I rode my bike to the annual parade my city puts on, and was astounded to see the amount of kids lined up at the edge of the parade route, ready to receive candy that is traditionally passed out. When the National Anthem came on, ,however, less than five of those fifty plus children stopped to put their hands over their hearts as a sign of respect for our country.

The meaning behind a day of remembrance is being forgotten.

You know those kids you graduated High School with but haven't heard anything about because they moved to different areas of the country, or even different areas of the world after they joined the service?

Take a moment to thank them. Take a moment to appreciate the fact that on days like today, you do not have to worry because there is someone out there fighting for your safety.

You can enjoy your Coke and your hot dog because someone fought for your right to do so.

Say thank you to your grandparents, your co-workers, anyone out there that has dedicated their lives to something bigger than themselves.

Thank you to all the veterans who are no longer with us, thank you to those who have served us before and thank you to all those actively serving our country today. America would not have the opportunity to be what it is today without your brave souls.

If you're looking for more meaningful Memorial Day Traditions, check this out.