# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/41 "2014-05-28T04:14:12Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > 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? The term “warfighter” was coined by the DOD as a generic term for all members of the military, male or female, so they don’t have to say “soldier, sailors, airmen and airwomen”, they can just say “warfighters”. ---
**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 28, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/42 "2014-05-28T08:07:06Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > 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. Correct me if I’m wrong, but poppies being distributed is a Veteran’s Day thing (in November, formerly known as Armistice Day, Brits and Canadians distribute them, too, the flower is assiciated with the poem _In Flanders’ Fields_, which my great uncle, a WWI vet made a point of reciting every November, up until his death at age 101). So just hang in there for six months, **flatlined** ; the poppies will be there in time. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/43 "2014-05-28T09:43:47Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The term “warfighter” was coined by the DOD as a generic term for all members of the military, male or female, so they don’t have to say “soldier, sailors, airmen and airwomen”, they can just say “warfighters”. And I suppose it’s more butch than the previous term, “service personnel.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/44 "2014-05-28T13:41:18Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but poppies being distributed is a Veteran’s Day thing (in November, formerly known as Armistice Day, Brits and Canadians distribute them, too, the flower is assiciated with the poem _In Flanders’ Fields_, which my great uncle, a WWI vet made a point of reciting every November, up until his death at age 101). So just hang in there for six months, **flatlined** ; the poppies will be there in time. Poppies being distributed is a Remembrance Day (the one in November) thing. It never really caught on in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/45 "2014-05-28T14:44:53Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > > [@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. Grill all year round, sure, but Memorial Day is about the grand opening of summer–the _first_ BBQ of the season. There might be some jingoistic nonsense out there about soldiers or something, and I’m pretty sure there are a handful of WWII vets and people who remember them stopping by with flowers, but hopefully most people are out there celebrating the onset of summer. ---
**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 28, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/46 "2014-05-28T15:09:38Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The term “warfighter” was coined by the DOD as a generic term for all members of the military, male or female, so they don’t have to say “soldier, sailors, airmen and airwomen”, they can just say “warfighters”. But that’s the thing - it’s so aggressive. In your face. WARfighter. It’s all camo and Oakley sunglasses. We don’t do disaster relief, patrol the open seas, stop pirates, maintain MAD, defend? No, we WAR. We are WARRIORS. Hu rah. What are they gonna do when the WoT ends? Will they still be warfighters? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/47 "2014-05-28T15:24:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > What are they gonna do when the WoT ends? What makes you think they’ll let the WoT end? Of course they won’t. They may find another word for it, and possibly a different approach, but is there anyone out there naive enough to think the WoT will come to an end? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/48 "2014-05-28T15:33:53Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But that’s the thing - it’s so aggressive. In your face. WARfighter. It’s all camo and Oakley sunglasses. We don’t do disaster relief, patrol the open seas, stop pirates, maintain MAD, defend? No, we WAR. We are WARRIORS. Hu rah. > > What are they gonna do when the WoT ends? Will they still be warfighters? I vote for WIW - warfighter in waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/49 "2014-05-28T17:38:49Z")
Boredomfighter. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/50 "2014-05-28T21:08:06Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > What makes you think they’ll let the WoT end? Of course they won’t. They may find another word for it, and possibly a different approach, but is there anyone out there naive enough to think the WoT will come to an end? Right, we’ve declared war on an emotion. It’s going to be like the war on drugs, just something we can feed money and people into forever. Sometimes it will cool down, but it will always be there for a photo op. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/51 "2014-06-26T01:38:55Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The term “warfighter” was coined by the DOD as a generic term for all members of the military, male or female, so they don’t have to say “soldier, sailors, airmen and airwomen”, they can just say “warfighters”. It’s kind of funny, to me… reminds me of ‘draft resister’. ---
**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, 2025, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/52 "2025-05-27T04:04:06Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > During today’s Dbacks game (against the US Military’s honorary team, the Padres) every mention of the day seems to be about families of serving military, etc. Maybe talking about dead people is too much of a bring-down, but still. B umping this because 11 years later nothing has changed. Dbacks were still talking about those served, not those that died. Plus, we got a bonus of Ken Jennings describing Memorial Day as honoring those who _served_. Maybe I’m fighting a losing battle and should just let this thread stay dead. But goddammit it posses me off. I should be glad it hasn’t become Dear Leader Remembrance Day about how those traitorous dems stole the election day. Yet. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/53 "2025-05-27T04:58:00Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > When did Memorial Day become another all-purpose “honor the troops” day? Was it so gradual I missed it? You’re fighting a losing battle, not that I disagree with you. Hell, when did _every damn sports event in the country_ become an “honor the troops” day? When did the national flag change to represent the troops instead of the nation? Which reminds me, maybe Trump was right to fuck the flag on stage since he’s been fucking the troops ever since he took office. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/54 "2025-05-28T23:34:32Z")
OT, but I’ll take this opportunity to promote my pet idea: veterans should get Veteran’s Day off, and everybody else can work. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/55 "2025-05-29T14:47:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Hell, when did _every damn sports event in the country_ become an “honor the troops” day? And why do we have to have the national anthem played/sung at every damn sporting event? I hate fake nationalism like that. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/56 "2025-05-29T15:05:41Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’re fighting a losing battle, not that I disagree with you. Hell, when did _every damn sports event in the country_ become an “honor the troops” day? When did the national flag change to represent the troops instead of the nation? And another thing: for the first time in 24 years we don’t have any troops in an active war zone. \* Thank god. Serving in the military now is a relatively low-risk job with good benefits. There’s no reason for “thanking the troops” any longer; any more so than “thanking the certified public accountants”. \*yes, I know…we have so many troops in so many places and so many people hate us that the risks in serving are \> 0. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/57 "2025-05-29T15:18:40Z")
I don’t know what would be more correct, but wishing someone a “happy” Memorial Day seems a little off, considering that the day is supposed to be more than cookouts and a day at the lake. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/58 "2025-05-29T15:19:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Maybe I’m fighting a losing battle and should just let this thread stay dead. But goddammit it posses me off. I should be glad it hasn’t become Dear Leader Remembrance Day about how those traitorous dems stole the election day. Yet. Trump posted on Truth Social > HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY THROUGH WARPED RADICAL LEFT MINDS, WHO ALLOWED 21,000,000 MILLION PEOPLE TO ILLEGALLY ENTER OUR COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM BEING CRIMINALS AND THE MENTALLY INSANE,THROUGH AN OPEN BORDER THAT ONLY AN INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT WOULD APPROVE, AND THROUGH JUDGES WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO KEEP MURDERERS, DRUG DEALERS, RAPISTS, GANG MEMBERS, AND RELEASED PRISONERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN OUR COUNTRY SO THEY CAN ROB, MURDER, AND RAPE AGAIN — ALL PROTECTED BY THESE USA HATING JUDGES WHO SUFFER FROM AN IDEOLOGY THAT IS SICK, AND VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR COUNTRY. HOPEFULLY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, AND OTHER GOOD AND COMPASSIONATE JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE LAND, WILL SAVE US FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE MONSTERS WHO WANT OUR COUNTRY TO GO TO HELL. BUT FEAR NOT, WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST 4 MONTHS, AND AMERICA WILL SOON BE SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN! AGAIN, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA! ---
**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 29, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/59 "2025-05-29T15:36:25Z")
Scum? Says the toxic rapist who murdered millions of people by not acting on COVID? If I was still in the military, I would never salute this piece of shit and just suffer the consequences, and then get out at the first opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341/60 "2025-05-30T04:54:00Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > 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. I was at a Fourth of July fireworks & concert in a public park in a Chicago suburb during Trump’s first term, and they gave prominent place to “[They’re Coming to] America” which the crowd loved. We would likely NOT have reacted well to “Proud to Be an American” being played. The next year on the Fourth, I was at a different venue (Arlington Park racecourse, I miss you!) and they played “Proud to Be an American” followed by “[They’re Coming to] America”. I joked to my friends that they played the right-wing national anthem then the liberal national anthem to include everyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-memorial-day-not-veterans-day/689341.md?page=2)