How Will You Remember This Memorial Day?

I come from a long line of family members who have served in all branches of the armed services and overall, we are a patriotic family. Currently, I have cousins who have made the decision to make the military their life’s work. To protect the standards and liberties our country was founded upon and I am so proud of them. We have been proud to fly the American flag in our yards, and we honor and respect those who have served our country, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives. Memorial Day is a time when we pause to say thank you and honor those who have fought for us to have the freedoms we have today.

Originally, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, and it was to honor those who died in the Civil War, but over time the occasion expanded to include all American veterans who died to serve and protect our country. As a bi-racial woman, as I look back over both sides of my family history, it is much easier for me to locate and identify those who served during the Civil War on my maternal side because historical records documented white people and their service much better than those who were African American.  However Black infantry regiments served on the Union side and the one we hear about the most is the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment (the word voluntary because technically they did not want to admit colored people and or slaves). We must remember, there were several Black men and women who gave their lives during the Civil War. However, Black soldiers were not formally recognized until after the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Although I cannot give specific names of my ancestors who served in some form or capacity during the Civil War, from family folklore, I have heard that we had those who helped the Union Army in various ways that would be considered service.  Although they may not have acquired official titles, their service and sacrifice were just as important. Over the years I have relatives who I do know by name who served in World War I and II, the Korean, Vietnam, and Iraq War. Each of them, men and women, gave a little piece of themselves to help the rest of us live and enjoy the liberties we have today. We need to celebrate our people and say their names.

Memorial Day is also a time when many see as the kick-off of summer.  It is a time that families get together, barbeque, have picnics, and gatherings of remembrance.  I encourage you to take this time to gather family oral history about the role any of your ancestors may have played in the military and learn their contributions to helping make this country a better and hopefully safer place for all of us. We are in a time when if we do not document our history, it will not be remembered.  The current administration has ordered the Army and Air Force libraries to review all books for DEI (aka African Americans) material and have it removed. Currently the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland has removed close to 400 books from its library. It has also been noted that the Defense Department removed thousands of pages and images honoring the contributions of women and people of color. Others cannot erase our history if we are determined to keep it alive.

We do not need permission to tell our own stories, but if we do not do it now, much of our history, including the contributions are forefathers made to this country will be completely erased. Robert Heinlein made a great comment about how essential it is for us to know our history so we can understand the present and for shaping our future when he said, “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” What do you plan to do for future generations on your watch? Use this holiday as a time to reset and journal the contributions your family made to this country by serving in any capacity for the freedoms we experience today.  Remember, freedom is not free, there was a cost.

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Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is a life strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.