Guest commentary: Memorial Day observances
By federal law, Memorial Day in the U.S.A. is observed on the last Monday in May. That legal holiday arrives about three and a half weeks from the date of this edition of the Ramona Sentinel. Memorial Day is set aside as a national observance to honor the memory and sacrifice of those in the U.S. Armed Forces who’ve been killed as a result of enemy action in the wars in which America has fought, unlike November’s Veterans Day, which honors all American veterans, living or deceased.
Memorial Day in the U.S. is observed by special cemetery ceremonies as well as picnics, parades, concerts and sports activities. It is regarded as the unofficial start of the summer’s travel season.
America’s Memorial Day harkens back to the American Civil War period, when more Americans died in combat than in all of its subsequent wars. It was first officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868. Many American communities laid claim to originating Memorial Day, but Waterloo, N.Y., was declared its official birthplace on May 26, 1966, by the federal government.
America’s Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day for about its first century of existence when graves of service personnel killed in action (KIA) were decorated by flags and flowers. Then, in 1967, Decoration Day officially became Memorial Day by federal law.
Some other foreign countries also have their versions of a Memorial Day to honor their military dead who’ve died as a result of combat, although they might refer to this day by another name. Among these foreign countries are Australia, Belgium, The British Commonwealth of Nations, England, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands and New Zealand. Some of these countries’ version of Memorial Day are observed in November, a throwback to when the Armistice was signed, ending the fighting in World War I.
The State of Israel observes its memorial day in the spring. It occurs the day before Israel celebrates its Independence Day, Yon Ha-Atzma’ut. Because Israel is relegated by a lunar calendar rather than our solar calendar, in 2016 its Memorial Day occurs closest to that of the U.S.A. It has a rather lengthy name, however.
Translated from the Hebrew, its full name is the “Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism.” It will begin this year after sunset on Tuesday, May 10, almost 21 days before America’s Memorial Day on Monday, May 30. It will be observed in Israel until sunset on Wednesday, May 11, the fourth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. In Hebrew it is known as Yom HaZikaron for short. Its date was established by the Israeli Knesset (parliament) in 1963. That law was expanded in 1980 to include civilian victims of terrorism who were murdered since 1860.
Yom HaZikaron is different in its character and mood from the American observance of its Memorial Day. It is much more solemn. For 24 hours (from sunset to sunset) all places of public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, restaurants, nightclubs, bars and taverns, etc.) are closed. An air raid siren is sounded for two minutes at 8 p.m. Israeli time after sunset on the 3rd of Iyar and at 11 a.m. on the 4th of Iyar before public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries.
Everything stops for these two minutes. All Israelis stop what they are doing for two minutes of silence in respect to Israel’s fallen military personnel, its killed border guards, and its victims of terrorism. Traffic stops. Activities stop. People stop and stand silently at attention. Probably emergency measures or surgery in progress when the siren sounds continue.
Almost every high school in Israel has a Memorial Corner with photographs of the school’s graduates who fell in battle, while on military duty in the service or their country or who were border guards who were killed. Might that not be a respectful practice to adopt in this country?
America’s KIA number more than 1 million armed forces men and women. Israel, a much younger and less populated country, has some 24,000 dead that it honors on Yom HaZikaron.
In December of 2000, a resolution was passed in the U.S. Congress decreeing that everything should stop for two minutes of silence in America as well at 3 p.m. in the American’s local time zone, to honor this nation’s armed forces who were KIA. It’s doubtful that most Americans are even aware that our Congress passed this resolution 16 years ago.
Do we value the sacrifice of our KIA any less?
Harold Schachter is a Ramona resident.