NPR: Memorial Day: The Truth Is...

Memorial Day: The Truth Is...

Memorial Day 2007 has come...and is now fading away. Today's Final Thoughts was (and is) an attempt to bring you the sometimes complex mix of emotions, obervations this day can bring.

We are a nation at war. Thousands have lost their lives and...the truth is...for scores of Americans, today has a sole meaning -- it's a day of excrutiating pain. Being remembered are
ordinary citizens-turned extraordinary public servants, who sacrificed their lives...and for some, their politics...for what they perceived to be a greater good. The truth is...nearly a thousand troops who were with us just last Memorial Day have perished in the war. They're no longer here. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.

But also true for many, today is a much-deserved day off. A day to exhale. An extended weekend...a three-day vacation...a day at the beach...the grill...or however one should choose to spend it. (For what it's worth, we were working here). It's a day for raising a glass...or a rib...to relaxation.

Two different meanings in a nation divided by its politics, ideas...and experiences. As I mentioned, we wanted the show today to illustrate, in some way, the both AND....

Which best describes where you "are" today? Or, for you, is it a blendof emotions? Wherever you fall on the spectrum of observance, we hope this Memorial Day was a meaningful one...

Michel Martin

8:21 PM ET | 05-28-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

The truth is very much so, and each day adds up. I do not think that many in Europe are familiar with "The toll".
To be injured and suffer such a hell would be already something unbearable, but they died.
Do I know what does it mean? A cross. A box of belongings collected by a (busy) roommate.
At the end of 2005 I checked the numbers for the first time, I was shocked. And now I thought that telling 3.000 would have been a generous approximation. I was behind by far.

It should never had happened. Nor asked for such a sacrifice. I feel a terrible pain. And once they are deployed, they cannot come back, they must follow through.

Sent by lara pagani | 11:22 AM ET | 05-29-2007

I live in Zurich and this Monday was Pfingsten (Pentecost), which means that we also had a three-day-weekend. Truth be told, I hadn't realized that it was Memorial day until seeing the President on CNN just before the announcers presented a story about America-Iranian talks.
Truthfully, the lack of remembering that I heard in the speech, mixed with the dred that we will later need to remember soldiers in Iran, made Memorial day contunue to be superfluous to me.
On Pentecost Monday, there was little to do with religion going on. No tongues of fire and no speaking in tongues, but this was my first Memorial day without remembering. Was it for Americans in America as well?

Sent by Jessica Mijnsen | 12:36 PM ET | 05-29-2007

I forgot to comment on "We are a nation at war". Unfortunately THEY, the deployed soldiers, are.

Sent by Lara Pagani | 4:27 PM ET | 05-29-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

E-mail Updates from the Tell Me More Blog

Share Your Story

What would it take to get your vote? Share text, audio or video.

'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.