I found myself explaining the Memorial Day Holiday weekend to granddaughter No. 2 the other day, and it reminded me of how far this nation has slipped.
Begin with the concept of some holidays being rescheduled to Mondays, the better to provide three-day weekends to the masses.
I first noticed this sort of push with Thanksgiving. I know, it has yet to be relocated to Monday, but Thanksgiving creep has engulfed Mondays, and many other days.
As a youth, antlered deer hunting season often began the Monday following Thanksgiving and, no, we didn’t get Mondays off back then for the holiday. But, many of us went hunting and in the case of students at Greater Johnstown High School, that meant standing in a massive line down the hall from the Room 422 attendance office Tuesday morning to have one of the curt attendants there let you back into school after an UNEXCUSED absence.
It would be no problem now, because Thanksgiving holidays, in schools and the work world, have swelled to almost a week away from things. Now, many have off the Wednesday before because, well, it just makes sense.
Of course almost all are off the Thursday of the holiday itself. But Friday is a given now, too, because, I mean, why come back to school or work for a single day?
Just add in an off day Friday and we’re into the Saturday and Sunday traditional weekend off days. We’re at four days off, and counting.
But it’s such a downer to have to go back to work on a Monday after a prolonged off stretch, so what the heck, take Monday off, too.
Bumping traditional holidays to Mondays are mini-examples of such holiday creep.
It wouldn’t be so irritating if somewhere along the line people remembered what holiday we are observing, and why. In the past such things were taught in schools. Today, not so much.
Granddaughter No. 2 having recently had only her kindergarten graduation, I knew she would have learned little about Memorial Day in school. So, I pointed out it’s a day to celebrate the military service of those who have worn the uniforms of the various armed services.
From my son’s best friend, to other family friends, to fathers, uncles, grandfathers and cousins of the family who have served, I told her this is a holiday to honor that. For those who didn’t return, it’s time to reflect on how some have paid a great price to protect the freedoms and opportunities we take for granted.
She listened politely and probably forgot about it even before my words had stopped echoing around the SUV.
But I tried. And, in advance of our Saturday holiday cookout, I put out a fresh American Flag. She noticed what I was doing and, again, I gave her the brief meaning of Memorial Day.
Maybe not now, but my hope is someday she might recall what I said and observe the holiday as something more than a component of a three-day weekend.
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