Combine Memorial Day and Veterans Day Into One

[jamesrodom]

All right, all right, before everyone goes ballistic, let's acknowledge two points:

1. Of course there ARE differences between the two: Memorial Day memorializes all who gave their lives serving their country in war; while Veterans' Day honors ALL veterans.

2. Any time you talk about getting rid of any federal holiday there's going to be some constituency offended.

That said: there are occasionally discussions of making, say, Election Day a federal holiday as a means of encouraging more people to vote, but there are always economic considerations involved in adding a federal holiday to the roster.

So why not a trade? Combine Memorial Day and Veterans Day into one holiday.

Yes, veterans do perform honorable and noble service to the country and in some cases give their lives for that cause. But does there really need to be TWO federal holidays honoring veterans and their service?

 

[Drawdown]

They have different histories. VD roughly corresponds to Remembrance Day and the end of WWI observed around the world. Memorial Day corresponds to the tradition of families gathering annually to clean off and decorate grave sites in the spring of their family cemeteries.

 

[nota bene]

All right, all right, before everyone goes ballistic, let's acknowledge two points:

1. Of course there ARE differences between the two: Memorial Day memorializes all who gave their lives serving their country in war; while Veterans' Day honors ALL veterans.

2. Any time you talk about getting rid of any federal holiday there's going to be some constituency offended.

That said: there are occasionally discussions of making, say, Election Day a federal holiday as a means of encouraging more people to vote, but there are always economic considerations involved in adding a federal holiday to the roster.

So why not a trade? Combine Memorial Day and Veterans Day into one holiday.

Yes, veterans do perform honorable and noble service to the country and in some cases give their lives for that cause. But does there really need to be TWO federal holidays honoring veterans and their service?

Did you serve? Curious.

 

[Crosscheck]

There is some merit to that proposal.

I am a veteran and I have never had the day off for Veterans Day. Oh yes, you get the customary "Thanks for your service" from co-workers. But do we need a federal paid holiday for that?

And in reality Memorial Day has became that first weekend to go camping for many.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring those who serve in our country’s armed forces ― and yet most people don’t get the day off from work.
It’s a paid holiday for only 19% of American workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just 11% of private-sector workers get the day off.

Hardly Anybody Gets Veterans Day Off From Work, And It's Too Bad | HuffPost

 

[Moonglow]

All right, all right, before everyone goes ballistic, let's acknowledge two points:

1. Of course there ARE differences between the two: Memorial Day memorializes all who gave their lives serving their country in war; while Veterans' Day honors ALL veterans.

2. Any time you talk about getting rid of any federal holiday there's going to be some constituency offended.

That said: there are occasionally discussions of making, say, Election Day a federal holiday as a means of encouraging more people to vote, but there are always economic considerations involved in adding a federal holiday to the roster.

So why not a trade? Combine Memorial Day and Veterans Day into one holiday.

Yes, veterans do perform honorable and noble service to the country and in some cases give their lives for that cause. But does there really need to be TWO federal holidays honoring veterans and their service?

Sure there is a reason to honor us veterans twice a year..When I was in the army Veterans Day was a day off and while serving you have few days off and work seven days a week.

 

[ecofarm]

It's not the same sacrifice.

 

[gdgyva]

So you want to do away with one of the military holiday's so people can have a day off to go vote?

How about HELL NO

How about get the **** out of bed earlier....

Those veterans and hero's who gave their service and in a LOT of cases their lives, give you the right to voice your opinion. It also gives me the right to voice mine....

I will fight this to the end of time.....

 

[jamesrodom]

They have different histories. VD roughly corresponds to Remembrance Day and the end of WWI observed around the world. Memorial Day corresponds to the tradition of families gathering annually to clean off and decorate grave sites in the spring of their family cemeteries.

Again, no one is saying they're the same. Only questioning if two holidays honoring veterans should be federal holidays.

 

[jamesrodom]

Did you serve? Curious.

No....

 

[jamesrodom]

So you want to do away with one of the military holiday's so people can have a day off to go vote?

How about HELL NO

How about get the **** out of bed earlier....

Those veterans and hero's who gave their service and in a LOT of cases their lives, give you the right to voice your opinion. It also gives me the right to voice mine....

I will fight this to the end of time.....

Calm down; I doubt there will be anything to fight. I don't see many people suggesting it.

 

[jamesrodom]

There is some merit to that proposal.

I am a veteran and I have never had the day off for Veterans Day. Oh yes, you get the customary "Thanks for your service" from co-workers. But do we need a federal paid holiday for that?

And in reality Memorial Day has became that first weekend to go camping for many.





Hardly Anybody Gets Veterans Day Off From Work, And It's Too Bad | HuffPost

What you say is sadly true about most federal holidays, particularly the ones that have been moved to Friday or Monday so as to allow a three-day weekend.

 

[Drawdown]

Again, no one is saying they're the same. Only questioning if two holidays honoring veterans should be federal holidays.

If you are trying to make room for election day off with no additional federal holidays, you definitely are not trying to pick the lowest hanging fruit. Go with President's Day or Columbus Day.

 

[Crosscheck]

So you want to do away with one of the military holiday's so people can have a day off to go vote?

How about HELL NO

How about get the **** out of bed earlier....

Those veterans and hero's who gave their service and in a LOT of cases their lives, give you the right to voice your opinion. It also gives me the right to voice mine....

I will fight this to the end of time.....

Oh for good grief.

How does giving the mail man the day off honor us vets who are working that day? I guess it is the honor for us to pay taxes so they can have the day off.

Why not make Veterans Day a Saturday then more of us could enjoy it ?

 

[dave8383]

Memorial Day isn't just for fallen soldiers. It's a day for us to remember all of those we've lost. Family, friends, etc.

 

[bomberfox]

Wouldnt want the proles to have a day off to perform their patriotic duty now!

 

[bomberfox]

If you are trying to make room for election day off with no additional federal holidays, you definitely are not trying to pick the lowest hanging fruit. Go with President's Day or Columbus Day.

This is good.

 

[Fledermaus]

Memorial Day isn't just for fallen soldiers. It's a day for us to remember all of those we've lost. Family, friends, etc.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is now observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day having been observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. Wikipedia

 

[Superfly]

Again, no one is saying they're the same. Only questioning if two holidays honoring veterans should be federal holidays.

Yes. :roll:

 

[dave8383]

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is now observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day having been observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. Wikipedia

Memorial Day isn't just for fallen soldiers. It's a day for us to remember all of those we've lost. Family, friends, etc. Go to your local cemetery on Memorial Day and see people visiting the graves of their loved ones no matter the cause of their death. And God bless them all.

 

[jamesrodom]

If you are trying to make room for election day off with no additional federal holidays, you definitely are not trying to pick the lowest hanging fruit. Go with President's Day or Columbus Day.

I'd have no problem removing Columbus Day, not only from federal holiday status, but forgetting it altogether. I think most historians now acknowledge that his role was way overblown.

 

[Fledermaus]

Memorial Day isn't just for fallen soldiers. It's a day for us to remember all of those we've lost. Family, friends, etc. Go to your local cemetery on Memorial Day and see people visiting the graves of their loved ones no matter the cause of their death. And God bless them all.

Except that is exactly what it was intended to do.

By all means do as the spirit moves you but Memorial Day was originally intended to memorialize the military casualties.

 

[dave8383]

Except that is exactly what it was intended to do.

By all means do as the spirit moves you but Memorial Day was originally intended to memorialize the military casualties.

Originally doesn't last forever. And it's not my spirit, it's America's spirit. People see it as a day to remember all those we've lost along the way, not just the fallen in battle.

 

[j brown's body]

All right, all right, before everyone goes ballistic, let's acknowledge two points:

1. Of course there ARE differences between the two: Memorial Day memorializes all who gave their lives serving their country in war; while Veterans' Day honors ALL veterans.

2. Any time you talk about getting rid of any federal holiday there's going to be some constituency offended.

That said: there are occasionally discussions of making, say, Election Day a federal holiday as a means of encouraging more people to vote, but there are always economic considerations involved in adding a federal holiday to the roster.

So why not a trade? Combine Memorial Day and Veterans Day into one holiday.

Yes, veterans do perform honorable and noble service to the country and in some cases give their lives for that cause. But does there really need to be TWO federal holidays honoring veterans and their service?

This is an excellent idea, and make election day a federal holiday, and make voting a requirement.

 

[Moon]

Wouldnt want the proles to have a day off to perform their patriotic duty now!

In my state all ballots are mailed in, why would we need a day off for that? A lot of states have multiple days for voting, so including weekends, you going to give them a week or two off?

 

[bomberfox]

In my state all ballots are mailed in, why would we need a day off for that? A lot of states have multiple days for voting, so including weekends, you going to give them a week or two off?

Just one day.