The line between honoring those who died in service and celebrating those who served can often blur for many Americans. Our podcast delves into this crucial distinction, exploring why Memorial Day and Veterans Day carry profoundly different meanings for military families and veterans.
Memorial Day bears a weight that many civilians don't fully comprehend. As veteran DJ Mikey D shares from personal experience, "It brings back bad memories and often ignites our anxiety." Having served 12 years between Army Reserve and Active Duty, he's lost dozens of military family members to war. This reality creates a painful disconnect when well-meaning Americans wish veterans a "happy" Memorial Day while they're mourning fallen comrades.
We unpack the historical origins of both holidays—how Memorial Day evolved from "Decoration Day" after the Civil War to honor the dead, while Veterans Day transformed from Armistice Day commemorating World War I's end to celebrating all who've worn the uniform. Beyond history, we share proper observance traditions like displaying flags at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day and resources for veterans experiencing emotional distress during these triggering times.
The confusion between these holidays reflects a broader disconnect between civilian and military communities. By understanding the distinction—Memorial Day's solemn remembrance versus Veterans Day's celebration of service—we can better honor both the ultimate sacrifice and the commitment of those who returned. Take time this year to reflect on the true meaning behind these observances and consider how you might meaningfully participate beyond the sales and barbecues.
Great Day Radio Sources:
Episode Transcript
You are listening to the People Station on
GreatDayRadiocom.
In honor of our fallen militarybrothers and sisters this
Memorial Day.
May we never forget what wasgiven for our freedom.
Listen, if you do anything thisweekend, please take time to
reflect on the real reason.
We observe Memorial Day andhonor all the brave men and
women who paid and made theultimate sacrifice to make the
(00:21):
United States the land of thefree and the home of the brave.
With the constant barrage ofcommercials and ads touting
Memorial Day weekend discountson cars, cheap furniture and
more, it's easy for manyAmericans to be distracted from
our understanding for the truereason.
We observe Memorial Day andwhile it's nice to cook up some
family barbecue, enjoy athree-day weekend and get
excited about the unofficialstart of summer, simply put,
(00:44):
it's a time to honor, toremember and to reflect.
The following are traditionsyou should know.
In accordance with flag codesection 7M, the United States
flag is to be displayed athalf-staff from sunrise until
noon local time on Memorial Day.
Attaching a black ribbon to thetop of a US flag is an
acceptable alternative for flagsthat cannot be lowered to half
(01:06):
staff.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Thank you, dj Mikey D , for that information.
Honestly, I did not know aboutthe flag tradition until now.
In our conversations youmentioned how you and many other
soldiers get a level ofanxieties and even face
depression during Memorial Dayweek.
First, if you feel down andneed to talk, there are
resources out there that canassist you, such as the Veterans
(01:26):
Affair or local shelters.
If you are a veteran in crisisor concerned about one, you can
connect with the Veterans CrisisLine 24 hours per day to reach
caring, qualified responderswith the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Many of them are veteransthemselves.
Call 988-PRESS-1 and or text838255 and or chat by visiting
(01:49):
veteranscrisislinenet.
Let's kick off this discussionafter this message from our
supporters.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
You are listening to the best podcast from the USA to
the UK on GreatDayRadiocom.
Welcome Great Day Radiocom fansfor this short podcast on
reflections on our history,where we dive deep into the
events and traditions that shapeour nation.
I'm DJ Mikey D here with myco-host, dj DeMarie.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Welcome.
This is DJ DeMarie to discussMemorial Day versus Veterans Day
.
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Speaker 1 (03:05):
Welcome back my party peeps.
I would like to salute myfellow soldiers who have died at
war while we served together.
If you do not know, I haveserved in both Army Reserve and
Active Army for 12 years.
In my active duty time I havelost several dozen military
family due to war.
Hi everyone, thank you fortuning in.
While this is a short versionof this podcast, we encourage
you to visit GreatDayRadiocomfor longer discussions on the
(03:28):
subject.
This episode is particularlytimely as we're exploring the
distinct meanings and traditionsof Memorial and Veterans Day.
These are two importantholidays in the United States
that honor military service, butin different ways.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
First, thank you, DJ Mikey D, for your service to our
country.
These particular days are oftenconfusing, but they both serve
unique purposes.
Let's start with Memorial Day.
This day is observed on thelast Monday of May each year.
It originated after the CivilWar as a way to honor those who
died in military service.
Originally called DecorationDay, it was a time when people
(04:04):
would place flowers on thegraves of fallen soldiers.
The purpose of Memorial Day isspecifically to remember and
honor the military personnel whohave died while serving in the
United States Armed Forces.
Dj Mikey D, you have expressedthat you feel a certain way when
it comes to Memorial Day.
Can you briefly share yourthoughts?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Exactly, it's a day of remembrance and reflection.
You will see many communitiesholding parades, people visiting
cemeteries and flags beingplaced on graves of veterans.
It's a somber occasion forhonoring the ultimate sacrifice.
For me, like many of my veteranbrothers and sisters, it brings
back bad memories and oftenignites our anxiety.
So it is very challenging formany of us to accept when the
(04:44):
civilian populations pats us onthe back and wishes us a happy
Memorial Day.
For me, it's far from beinghappy.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Veterans Day, on the other hand, is celebrated on
November 11th each year.
It was originally known asArmistice Day, marking the end
of World War I on the 11th hourof the 11th day of the 11th
month.
Unlike Memorial Day, VeteransDay honors all who have served
in the military, both living anddeceased, during times of war
(05:12):
and peace.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
That's right.
Veterans Day is a celebrationof service, thanking those who
have put on the uniform.
Across the country, there areparades, ceremonies and
opportunities for the public toshow appreciation to veterans.
Tools and organizations oftenhold programs to thank service
members.
A key difference lies in thetone of the holidays Memorial
Day has a more solemn tone,while Veterans Day is more about
(05:35):
celebrating veterans and theircontributions to our nation.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
It's important to respect these differences and
honor them appropriately.
Whether it's attending a localevent, volunteering or simply
taking a moment to recognize thesacrifices and service of our
military members, both daysoffer meaningful ways to engage.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Absolutely DJD.
That's a wrap for this episode.
We hope this helps clarify thedistinctions between these two
important holidays.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Thanks for tuning in to Reflections on Our History.
Don't forget to subscribe formore episodes at
greatdayradiocom.
If you are interested inbecoming a sponsor of our social
media short videos, pleasevisit greatdayradiocom.
Click on advertising.
Until next time, take care anddon't forget to thank a veteran
for their service and sacrifice.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
God bless.
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