Memorial Day; missing the point

Yes, I'm getting into these "missing the point" posts. Guilty as charged. And yes, this one is a little late, too. Bear with me. Moreover, as I write this, I realize that Memorial Day is claimed by multiple cities; I simply note that in my mind, the most compelling story of its origins is that of Columbus, Mississippi.

Why so compelling? Consider the origins; in April 1866, women realized that the many soldiers buried in this hospital town, both Union and Confederate, would never be honored by their families with as much as a simple wreath of flowers. Traveling that distance was simply a financial and logistical impossibility for the majority of Americans.

In response, these ladies collected some flowers, and placed some on each soldier's grave, Union and Confederate. You read that correctly; those who were likely to be bereaved of sons, a father, or a husband were placing flowers on the graves of those who had led the charge against their loved ones. Those who were under the rule of military governors, and whose livelihood had often been taken from them without compensation, placed flowers on the graves of the former comrades of the soldiers patrolling their city.

We too often try to make Memorial Day into yet another patriotic holiday like Flag Day or Independence Day, and in doing so, we miss the point; it's not about patriotism, but rather about showing basic human respect to those who never lived to tell war stories. It's a reminder of the cost of war, not of the glory of the state, or the fitness of our system of government.

Next year, observe it with flowers, not flags.