Memorial Day has become the traditional beginning of summer. Originally, and more importantly, Decoration Day, as Memorial Day was previously known, was established to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War.
By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service. Unfortunately, it is not taught in school the way it once was.
Today, the flag is burned, stepped and danced on, and spit upon, totally disrespecting it and the men and women who have died defending this country, our flag and the rights of those who defile and disrespect this great symbol of freedom.
We have allowed the education system to get away with ignoring the significance of Memorial Day, Flag Day (coming soon), July 4 (not just picnics and fireworks), and Veterans Day (not just a day off).
People have said that Sept. 11, 2001, is also fading from memory. It is shameful that we live in this great nation and our children and grandchildren are not learning about the history of our country and why hundreds of thousands of our citizens have died around the world defending the values of freedom.
People asking to become citizens know more than most college students about our history. Do you remember when you would hear the national anthem in the morning as TV stations would begin their day?
Now, with different residential communities setting up boards to regulate behavior, these boards feel it is their prerogative to reject a resident’s request to honor the flag by erecting a flagpole.
The residents of these communities would like to have the ability to raise and lower the flag and show it the respect it deserves, but it can be denied.
When I was a kid, we would play soldier. One side would charge the other and yell, “For God and Country.” Pretty soon, with all of the political correctness going on, we might not even be able to whisper it.
Steve McEnery
Manalapan