# It's Memorial Day, NOT Veteran's Day! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341 "2014-05-27T02:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/21 "2014-05-27T16:20:25Z")
I think this rant is going to get about as much traction as my insistence that Mother’s Day is about, you know, _mothers_. When you’re buying Mother’s Day cards and flowers for girls who haven’t even hit puberty yet, I think you might be missing the point. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/22 "2014-05-27T16:33:32Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Every sporting event is an honor-the-troops occasion now. It didn’t matter that it was Memorial Day. It’s also a test-your-patriotism occasion. If you don’t partake in the standing ovation you’re suspect. If you roll your eyes because of the cheap lip service we give troops instead of actually weighing the value of their lives before sending them off to war, you hate the USA.(snip) Since 9-11 I can’t even go to baseball games because I’m tired of spending the seventh inning stretch explaining that the reason I don’t stand for “God Bless America” isn’t because I hate America, it’s because I hate God. Of course, that almost always raises a whole new problem so I just stay away. I guess it’s a good thing there hasn’t been another big attack, or we’d have to add “The Stars and Stripes Forever” to every pitcher change or ground rule double or something. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/23 "2014-05-27T16:58:08Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > I think this rant is going to get about as much traction as my insistence that Mother’s Day is about, you know, _mothers_. When you’re buying Mother’s Day cards and flowers for girls who haven’t even hit puberty yet, I think you might be missing the point. Holy shit, people do that? Glad I haven’t come across that particular stupidity yet. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/24 "2014-05-27T17:01:16Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Since 9-11 I can’t even go to baseball games because I’m tired of spending the seventh inning stretch explaining that the reason I don’t stand for “God Bless America” isn’t because I hate America, it’s because I hate God. Of course, that almost always raises a whole new problem so I just stay away. I’m a coward. I always manage to be in the concession line, or the bathroom, during the Stretch. That way I have an “excuse”. > [@](#): > > I guess it’s a good thing there hasn’t been another big attack, or we’d have to add “The Stars and Stripes Forever” to every pitcher change or ground rule double or something. This is America - we have sponsors for those! “This pitcher change brought to you by the Change Bank. We do one thing-make change” “There is a Double-Bubble Ground Rule Double. When you think double, think “Double-Bubble.”” ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/25 "2014-05-27T17:03:24Z")
My mom sent my husband an excard for Memorial Day. _sigh_ I don’t have the heart to inform her that he’s not dead yet. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/26 "2014-05-27T17:34:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > There was also a commercial during the game about an organization that the viewer could donate to, an organization to help our wounded veterans get the help they need. > > I thought we already had such an organization? The VA is supposed to be doing that. Maybe we should fix the VA first?.. Maybe the Republicans can stop cutting the budget for the VA… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/27 "2014-05-27T17:37:34Z")
I’m a retired Vietnam veteran and I concur with all of these sentiments. In 23 years, I received no free plane tickets, no free dinners, no discounts on merchandise, saw no adoring crowds when I returned from deployments, neither asked for nor accepted charity or public assistance of any kind, and never had anybody offer to “help” my family when I was deployed. None of that would have occurred to me. I signed my reenlistment contracts knowing full well what I was signing up for and expected nothing in return other than the pay and benefits I received as a result. It also never occurred to me or my spouse to complain bitterly about my being gone much of the time, as it was my chosen career at that point. I get half my retirement check as a result of a divorce settlement, and it comes to about $900/month. I don’t use the VA, rarely visit a PX or commissary unless I happen to be near a base for some reason, don’t use recreational facilities, etc. The only real benefit to me (and it’s a big one) has been the medical insurance that comes with retirement from military service. I don’t belong to any retirement or vet group, as I have no interest in sitting around listening to people bitch about how bad they had/have it, or in hearing the same old tired stories, (which are largely lies) that every military guy tells. I find it particularly annoying to hear about how Vietnam vets were ‘spit on’ when they returned, as it has zero basis in fact. I hate that the local symphony plays the anthem before a concert. Really? I hate that every holiday and sporting event has to be accompanied by maudlin tributes to our troops (a word I have come to loathe), and that July 4th parades seem to be largely military marching bands and floats that pander to those who serve. I sympathize with those who return home damaged beyond belief. For that, I blame politicians who start discretionary wars to bolster their own images, while artfully dodging any personal skin whatsoever. They need and deserve help from those who put them in harm’s way without a thought to the consequences. And most of all, I detest the phrase “Thank you for your service.” It’s become the “Have a nice day” of our age. In large part, it’s an automatic response with no thought or feeling behind it; an _obligation_, if you will. End rant. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/28 "2014-05-27T17:38:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I thought it was a day to observe the first BBQ of the season. You’re telling me it’s not??? _Real_ Americans BBQ year-round. I have to shovel snow around mine to cook sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/29 "2014-05-27T17:39:41Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Maybe the Republicans can stop cutting the budget for the VA… That’s what I’m saying. I read something about possibly dismantling the VA, and just paying for vets to go to regular doctors and hospitals. It would cut the redundancy of VA hospitals (and cut the crappy service at VA hospitals!). While on the surface it sounds like the same ridiculousness of privatizing Social Security, maybe they have a point. Without the bureaucracy, maybe more money can get to the people that need it. (Hey, a guy can dream…) ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/30 "2014-05-27T18:02:32Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Holy shit, people do that? Glad I haven’t come across that particular stupidity yet. Yeah, my wife for one. My church is similar to some extent. They started giving flowers to non-mothers so as to avoid hurting the feelings of women who want children but haven’t been able to have them. But then where do you draw the line? So the last time I was in church on Mother’s Day, every female got some sort of flower as she came in, regardless of age or parental status. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/31 "2014-05-27T18:06:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > …our troops (a word I have come to loathe),… I know what you mean. The one I hate even more (and that we hear a lot at work) is “warfighter” to refer to a soldier. Gawd that makes me wanna slap whoever came up with it. Are we going to rename the DoD as the War Department again? It’s like we’re going backwards. We’re supposed to be the “good guys”. We’re supposed to fight only to defend, not attack. Since 9-11, we seem to be turning into a warrior culture. We’re not supposed to be so cavalier about killing people. Killing is supposed to be an unwanted necessity for the military in certain cases (like WWII), not a selling point. Anybody remember “Peace is our Profession.” Even though that was under LeMay, I don’t think it was meant to be a wry joke. Maybe that’s all corny, but that’s the America I believe in. (insert flag waving smiley here) So when someone says, “why do you hate America?”, I guess in some ways they are correct. I hate the America we are now. (yes, yes, to forestall the SD nitpickery I will note that even in the America I describe, we weren’t anywhere near perfect. But we tried to live up to the ideals.) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/32 "2014-05-27T18:07:22Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Yeah, my wife for one. > > My church is similar to some extent. They started giving flowers to non-mothers so as to avoid hurting the feelings of women who want children but haven’t been able to have them. But then where do you draw the line? So the last time I was in church on Mother’s Day, every female got some sort of flower as she came in, regardless of age or parental status. They should start giving the men flowers, just in case there’s a man that wants to bear a child. It seems to me that handing flower to woman who is unable to have a child would be the more hurtful thing. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/33 "2014-05-27T19:32:58Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Since 9-11 I can’t even go to baseball games because I’m tired of spending the seventh inning stretch explaining that the reason I don’t stand for “God Bless America” isn’t because I hate America, it’s because I hate God. Of course, that almost always raises a whole new problem so I just stay away. 😕 I thought the seventh-inning stretch song was _Thank God I’m a Country Boy._ Although, having said that, I can see where the same problem applies. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/34 "2014-05-27T19:49:51Z")
For this weekend the flag at half mast makes sense, but how 'bout we leave the god damn flag at full mast once in a while. Half mast used to be a big deal, people would ask each other who just died, now it’s simply a 24/7 sign of patriotism. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/35 "2014-05-27T20:07:53Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I’m looking forward to some way to honor those who died while serving as farmers. I personally know more farmers who died doing their job than I know war dead (disclaimer - my mother’s brother was KIA in WWII). I suppose the same thing could be said about miners and truck drivers. People sometimes die doing their jobs, and some jobs have more immediate impact on our lives than far-off combat. Shouldn’t they be honored with a special day? The difference is that nobody is trying to kill farmers, miners or truck-drivers. Soldiers unfortunately are very often in the cross-hairs and they are in those cross-hairs representing their country. Why shouldn’t that country pay them honor, and especial honor because of the especial position they are in? To resent the honor paid to them seems to me just plain curmudgeonly. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/36 "2014-05-27T20:37:53Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Since 9-11 I can’t even go to baseball games because I’m tired of spending the seventh inning stretch explaining that the reason I don’t stand for “God Bless America” isn’t because I hate America, it’s because I hate God. Of course, that almost always raises a whole new problem so I just stay away. > > I guess it’s a good thing there hasn’t been another big attack, or we’d have to add “The Stars and Stripes Forever” to every pitcher change or ground rule double or something. Pussy. I hate God so much that I don’t go to any sporting event nor do I look at the flag. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/37 "2014-05-27T21:28:49Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The difference is that nobody is trying to kill farmers, miners or truck-drivers. Soldiers unfortunately are very often in the cross-hairs and they are in those cross-hairs representing their country. Why shouldn’t that country pay them honor, and especial honor because of the especial position they are in? > > To resent the honor paid to them seems to me just plain curmudgeonly. I don’t think anyone resents them being honored. It’s more of a desire to include other folk who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the public good. Firefighters and law enforcement, for instance, routinely put themselves in harm’s way without benefit of national holiday. Least there isn’t one of which I’m aware. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/38 "2014-05-28T00:18:46Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > I don’t think anyone resents them being honored. It’s more of a desire to include other folk who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the public good. Firefighters and law enforcement, for instance, routinely put themselves in harm’s way without benefit of national holiday. Least there isn’t one of which I’m aware. There are national Memorial days for both [law enforcement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Officers_Memorial_Day) and for [firefighters](http://weekend.firehero.org/). I was rather disappointed that I didn’t find anyone selling poppies over the weekend. When I see those little old guys with their paper flowers I always get one. Some years I get more than 10, some years I never see a single one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/39 "2014-05-28T00:44:14Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Even worse, last year the local TV station ran a veterans story on Labor Day. As a union member, I was not amused. Maybe soldiers should have a union . . . ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/40 "2014-05-28T01:39:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And _God Bless America_ is not the fucking national anthem! I’d rather hear _that_ played 12 times badly on an ocarina than that goddman Lee Greenwood “proud to be and American” abomination. That seems to be the go-to jingoism hymn around here in the Bible Belt. Ok, deep breath. My actual post: here in northwest Arkansas, Memorial Day is when _everyone_ goes to the cemetery to put flowers on ancestors’ graves, not just vets. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341.md?page=3)