# Idiot wishing a happy Memorial Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502 "2011-05-27T23:27:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/21 "2011-05-28T17:10:24Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > Hah. I just sent a text saying, “Happy M. Day. Thanks for fighting for my freedoms ;)” to a friend. > > I love the holiday, actually. I give due diligence to military members…and my best recipes. It’s a celebration of Americana. July 4th is about ideology and Memorial Day is about defending it, I suppose. That’s closer to Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is for the deceased. We don’t actually have a holiday devoted to Active Duty folks. I put “Have a great Memorial Day” at the end of any e-mail yesterday, and then deleted it because it seems rather contradictory. I know the chances are slim, but it’s possible that the person you say this to lost a close relative in combat. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/22 "2011-05-28T17:44:29Z")
Memorial day kicks off summer. Sorry somber folks, but you lost the holiday. You still have Veteran’s Day, if that any consolation. Heck, you can even use July 4 to get the uber-patriotic feelings out too. And you can visit peoples graves at any time of year, you know. Crass commercialism aside (which people fought and died for), this is a time of opening pools, cranking up the bbq, and celebrating the turn of the season to summer. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/23 "2011-05-28T18:09:04Z")
Hurray for the Good Guys. _Booya_. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/24 "2011-05-28T19:21:22Z")
Pardon an innocent non-American. Does Memorial Day always precede a weekend? It does not seem to coincide with VE Day, VJ Day, or Armistice Day; so what is the particular significance of the date? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/25 "2011-05-28T19:30:40Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > Pardon an innocent non-American. Does Memorial Day always precede a weekend? It does not seem to coincide with VE Day, VJ Day, or Armistice Day; so what is the particular significance of the date? All American holidays are on Mondays. We had to change the earth’s orbit around the sun to get the 4th of July (also known as Fireworks Day) and Christmas to work out. The only exception is Black Friday. In order to deal with this change in convention people are forced to eat large amounts of fowl and starchy foods the day before. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/26 "2011-05-28T19:31:19Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > Pardon an innocent non-American. Does Memorial Day always precede a weekend? It does not seem to coincide with VE Day, VJ Day, or Armistice Day; so what is the particular significance of the date? It’s actually on monday. It’s the last monday in May. The somber, reflective, honor the dead, BS is also pretty much ignored by the vast majority. Memorial day is functionally about grilling hot dogs and chugging beer. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/27 "2011-05-28T19:35:08Z")
Originally it used to be on May 30, because that was **not** an anniversary of a particular battle. It started as a thing commemorating the Civil War, but because War Happens, it expanded to encompass other conflicts. A handful of lesser holidays were moved in the 60s to their Monday position to create 3-day weekends. It’s always the last Monday of May–it’s bookend, the end of the summer season, is Labour Day, the first Monday of September. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/28 "2011-05-28T19:35:16Z")
It’s a paid day off. How can that not be happy? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/29 "2011-05-29T03:40:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > … > Wishing someone a “Happy Memorial Day” is about as inane a wish as I can think of. Back in the 50s, my dad arrived at his saintly mother-in-law’s house and bellowed “Happy Memorial Day!” To which this tiny, quiet, sweet old lady snapped “Ohhhh, SHUT UP!” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Presidente](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@El\_Presidente](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Presidente)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/30 "2011-05-29T05:16:49Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > At the grocery store today, an acquaintance of my wife told her to “Have a happy Memorial Day! Bye now!” > > Seriously? Do we have to make every holiday happy, especially one that is meant to remember military members who have died in battle? How can you even do that? “Have a nice three day weekend” I can accept, sure it’s the start of summer and all. > > I guess I’ll have a happy Memorial Day while visiting my parents’ graves at the Veterans Cemetery. Maybe the acquaintance was trying to be _gasp_ NICE to your wife. You and Frank need to get off your high horses. Yes both of you are better than the rest of us because you both remembered that Memorial Day is a solemn remembrance of veterans that died in service of our country, as if most of us ungrateful cocksuckers hanging out at the beach this weekend don’t know that. May I cook my fucking hot dogs and hamburgers now if that is OK with you? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/31 "2011-05-29T05:37:31Z")
Someone told me you guys were playing Jarts in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/32 "2011-05-29T10:02:53Z")
You honor the dead on Sunday. You celebrate their life on Monday. At least, that’s how everyone I know does it. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/33 "2011-05-29T10:30:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That’s closer to Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is for the deceased. We don’t actually have a holiday devoted to Active Duty folks. > > I put “Have a great Memorial Day” at the end of any e-mail yesterday, and then deleted it because it seems rather contradictory. I know the chances are slim, but it’s possible that the person you say this to lost a close relative in combat. Where I come from, we give a nod to service members (especially today, where many know more deceased than civilians may) . I was at the craft store yesterday and there was a bunch of Americana on sale. Same with Target. Veterans Day doesn’t make much of active duty members who have never seen combat but somehow Memorial Day, what with the 4 day weekend and start of summer thats e a tiny echo of the 4th, seems to be the catch all. I dont know any active duty member who hasnt lost a buddy, but im only 26. Because I know service members have their own protocol for the holiday, I kind of figure its only proper, eh? Anyway, that’s how I grew up. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/34 "2011-05-29T12:03:05Z")
Hmm, my veteran friend invited me, a veteran, to her house for a cookout on Memorial Day. I’ll probably go and behave in a festive manner, rather than somber and mopey. But who knows? Maybe we’ll turn out all the lights and cry. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/35 "2011-05-29T12:32:42Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That’s closer to Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is for the deceased. We don’t actually have a holiday devoted to Active Duty folks. We don’t? News to me. > **[Armed Forces Day | United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Day#United_States)** > > In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. It falls near the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May (or the fourth, if the month begins on a Sunday, as in 2016). > Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in the month of May. > First observed on 20 May 1950, > the day was created on 31 August 1949 as President... ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/36 "2011-05-29T18:27:07Z")
Come September, is it OK to wish people a happy Labor Day? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/37 "2011-05-29T18:37:11Z")
Do you not realize how BAD it hurts to give birth? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/38 "2011-05-29T18:57:46Z")
Totally unfair to those women who had cesareans. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/39 "2011-05-29T19:11:34Z")
Judging my the huge, loud street festival going on outside my window I’d say people are having a happy Memorial Day. Lame OP. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502/40 "2011-05-29T19:42:05Z")
Recently we’ve been treated to threads about bland pleasant greetings, being asked if you want a penny change, and the occasional graphical tributes on Google. I wonder if people realize they can actually just accept something. Not everything is an injustice worth memorializing on a message board. You can just stiff-upper-lip some of these breaches, mates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-wishing-a-happy-memorial-day/583502.md?page=3)