Today is Memorial Day in the United States, one of four martial holidays in my country:
Armed Forces Day, honoring servicemembers in general: 3rd Saturday in May
Memorial Day, honoring those who have died in the service of the U.S.: last Monday in May
Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrated as the major patriotic holiday in the country: July 4th
Veterans Day, commemorating the end of World War I and honoring veterans of service: November 11th
The first two come so close to one another that they tend to merge in public consciousness; Memorial Day tends to be treated as an all-purpose martial holiday, honoring all servicemembers, living or dead, active or retired. Plus it’s the beginning of (cultural) summer.
May 28, 2012 at 3:04 pm |
Memorial Day (previously called Decoration Day) was originally dedicated specifically to those who died in the Civil War, I believe. I’m not sure I see Independence Day as “martial” in the same way as the other three.