Memorial Day

I was reading this article about Memorial Day to get an idea of what kind of ceremonies would be taking place today, because I've never really done anything special in the recent years because I'm pretty sure finals have fallen around this time every year. President Obama will not be at Arlington National Cemetery's wreath-laying ceremony. Vice President Biden will be taking his place and Obama will be attending a similar ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery outside of Chicago.

Apparently, it's a big deal that Obama is not going to be in Virginia and is here today. This reminds me of how some find it odd that Obama doesn't say "I love America!" in every one of his speeches. All Major League Baseball games will stop at 3 pm, the National Moment of Remembrance as deemed by Congress, to remember our fallen troops. The moment was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying themselves on Memorial Day. The baseball players will also be wearing hats with stars and stripes.

It seems to me that Memorial Day is kind of artificially constructed. Is this the only way you can display your patriotism to your country? Is Obama preferring some troops over the other by not being at Arlington today?

At the end of the article, it says that what most kids know about Memorial Day is that it's the day when the pools open. Perhaps Congress and politicians are more concerned with the appearance of the day than the education that comes along with it.

For example, I didn't even know that seven CIA personnel were killed in December in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. They will be honored at Arlington today.

How many of you will stop whatever you're doing at 3 pm? How many of you have done something over the years to honor the fallen (not bbqs)?

I would be very interested to know. Post please!