Welcome to Memorial Day weekend--a turning toward summer, letting the seasonal shift preview summer--or rather--images of the iconic summer fantasy. We will see what actually unfolds weather-wise in the next 3 weeks, before June brings Summer Solstice 2026. Over the years of reflection on Memorial Day weekend, I have churned on the American contrast and blending of both mourning and cavorting--grief and play. Memorial Day, reserved for honoring those who have died while serving in America's military, was established after the Civil War, in 1886. It has had an evolving history, that includes becoming a national holiday in 1971 and then, in 2000, furthered by President Clinton's National Moment of Remembrance Act, designating 3:00 p.m., in your local time, as a moment to stop, be silent,, and remember in gratitude, as well as grief, those who died in American military service.
Remember, too, that we are currently at war, somewhat paused (depending on which news outlet or social media you follow), with diplomatic negotiations. Silent remembrance at 3:00 p.m. Monday for the past, united with people throughout the country that you do not know and will most likely never meet, all in recognition of the price of war and its sacrifice is a powerful, collective experience. Why not extend that to pausing throughout this week for the collective goal of Peace? No specific time period required. I guarantee you, many people across the planet, pray for peace daily.
Prayer and silence is the inward turning, but Memorial Weekend is also a celebration of life; an affirmation that Life can be Joyous. Life is unfathomable, really. Rich in it's Wonders. Honoring those who have given their lives, ultimately in the hope of extending Life, whatever their personal understanding or intent was, adds to the balance--our individual balance of understanding of life and death, and adds to a collective recognition that we are not separate from those we have never met, or those we have lost and miss.
So collectively, Americans travel, explore, bask in nature, pretend Summer has arrived. We swim, sail, wave flags, hold parades, share our barbecue and picnics and eat. We remember the fallen. We remember Life's ongoing renewal of the seasons. We pray for Peace. (Susan Nettleton)
for poetry: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47380/in-flanders-fields
https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Peace-Prayer-of-Saint-Francis.pdf
https://americanliterature.com/author/kahlil-gibran/book/the-prophet/on-prayer