What Will You Talk About This Weekend?

As I jogged this morning in Central Park I heard snatches of conversations about where people planned to spend their weekend (for you non-New Yorkers, there is feverish interest in long weekends outside Manhattan.  No matter how much people love living in the Big Apple, they can't wait to spend time--especially if the weather is nice--somewhere else.  It goes with the New Yorker territory.  So if you don't have a place to go on the weekends, you talk about how much fun it is to take advantage of the City when everyone else is gone...).

It made me think of Memorial Day weekend and what that means.  Memorial Day is the day officially set aside to observe the remembrance of men and women who have died in the service of this Nation, particularly in combat. Originally called Decoration Day (I'm still uncertain what that means...decoration as in "decorated veteran...referring to medals on their jacket?...or decoration of graves of fallen?), this day was officially designated as an American holiday enacted to honor those who died in the US Civil War, and later expanded to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Is there someone in your family who should be celebrated and honored this weekend?  What about at your work?  Are there former employees who lost their lives while serving in military service?  If so, does anyone say anything about that at your place of work?  Should there be a conversation about what that means for your company and its legacy?

I am always impressed when I walk into a building that has plaques, statues and the like, honoring those employees or alumni who worked or attended school or lived in that particular building.  At my high school there was such a plaque, and there was one at the first company at which I worked.  Whether or not your company has such a permanent commemoration of its veterans, it would be interesting to conduct a conversation among your colleagues about the service of those who were once members of that community.  Seems to me it could a source of pride for such a discussion to take place.  For one thing, it underscores the fact that as much as we are engaged in our work (or studies) and feel that is central to our lives, there are matters outside our circles that command our attention and should not be forgotten.  Such remembrance makes us focus on what's really important, including our national heritage.

Another interesting facet around Memorial Day:  I've heard many people say they know no one who has served in the military.  But once forced to think about it, it turns out there is that Uncle, that neighbor down the street, that classmate...all of whom served our Nation and have perhaps been forgotten.  Let's remember them all this weekend.