Memorializing Memorial Day

I realize that this is not the life that most American teenagers lead. Memorial Day is not Memorial Day anymore. Memorial Day was established after the Civil War, where every American was impacted by the conflict. This war is debated over heavily in society today and as we view it critically, we should also recognize how much death and destruction ravaged the entire country. Memorial Day was established because it was needed; there were so many deaths, we had to create a holiday of remembrance. As we spend the last Monday of May gathering to honor fallen soldiers in generations past and present, we should remember the sorrow and tragedy that created this holiday in the first place.

Some more patriotic, pro-military individuals may criticize those who only see Memorial Day as an excuse for a party, a department store sale, or a day off work. They would be justified in doing so, as this holiday should be celebrated to recognize the great sacrifice men and women have given to this country. However, the fact that modern society can turn Memorial Day into something other than its intended purpose should comfort us: there is less death to memorialize.

In the late nineteenth century, every family had someone to mourn. National cemeteries had to be founded simply to create room for the bodies of the slain. People debate today about who won and lost the Civil War. From my perspective, no one won. Each side saw almost as many American deaths as World War II claimed. Every family lost. America lost. There are no winners when every hill and valley run with the blood of those who died. The Civil War Era is a dark period in American history, and for good reason, but we cannot ignore the tragedy and mourning that every individual experienced at this time.

I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and since stepping outside its borders, I have come to understand that my relationship with the Civil War is different than most Americans. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. In some ways, Richmond still is the capital of the Confederacy, not because pro-slavery movements still exist but because the city is still healing. If I could sum the Civil War up in one word, I would choose the world ‘destruction’. Even though Richmond is an old city and is one of the earliest colonial settlements, you would not know it by looking around. This is because the city was set ablaze in the final days of the Civil War. The old, historic buildings that exude New England charm are a privilege that Richmond is not allowed. The scorch marks are still burned into the earth, even though you cannot see them. The spirit of Virginia is not one of Union or Confederate but one of complete and utter loss. Hollywood Cemetery is a landmark of Richmond which holds the final resting place of many leaders, presidents, and fallen soldiers. On the hillsides, you will find headstones that do not read ‘army’ or ‘navy’ like most military cemeteries have. Some headstones say C.S.A: Confederate States of America. Their blood bleeds red too.

Growing up in this backdrop, I have always understood and appreciated the destructive power of war. This notion may be foreign to people who did not grow up in towns healing from war, even more than a century later. In a modern world where war feels very distant and impersonal, it can be easy to forget the magnitude of such diplomacy. Memorial Day should be a time to reflect on this.

The desolation witnessed in the Civil War continued into the twentieth century with both World Wars claiming the lives of sons and daughters. However, there is less death in the world. This may surprise us, as the media seems to be proliferated with images of violence and unrest all over the world, yet this is false. The world is seeing less violence. This is a trend that scholars have recorded globally where the amount of war, armed conflict, and combatant deaths have decreased. We tend to think of the World Wars being the most devastating wars ever fought and their tragic nature should not be ignored. However, the Civil War claimed more American lives than both World Wars combined. Setting aside the politicized nature of the conflict, can we reflect on how tragic that statement is? The greatest number of combatant deaths did not occur as a push for democracy, equality, and human rights in a distant country of dictatorship. It happened in our own backyard.

So, while we may spend the end of May perturbed by the lack of respect being shown by individuals who spend their holiday shopping instead of paying tribute and remembrance to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we should supplement that with appreciation. We have grown from a time where everyone knew someone who had died in combat to a generation where most people are simply distantly related to a veteran. The call to duty of the present-day armed forces is something we should be greatly thankful for and our Memorial Day celebrations should be reminiscent of this spirit. But we should also find solace in the shift in the tone of Memorial Day itself. Being a soldier in modern America is not the certain death that it once was. The sacrifice being asked of soldiers is not what it has always been. One can serve their country and picture a life after their service has ended. Memorial Day is not Memorial Day anymore. Thanks be to God.