Memorial Day is an American Federal Holiday on which Americans honor our fallen troops and military personnel. Memorial Day has been recognized on the last Monday of May, annually, since 1970. Over the years, Memorial Day has come to be recognized as the first day of summer, and with that comes annual celebrations. Traditionally, Memorial Day sees families come together to celebrate. Many common American traditions include family gatherings, barbecues, and occasional parades. As Memorial Day is a national holiday, schools are closed, and many offices are closed. Memorial Day is a quintessential holiday and is one of the many things that Coronavirus was expected to steal from us.
The resilience of America during this pandemic was put on display this Monday, on Memorial Day. Despite the restrictions on gatherings and spending time with family due to Coronavirus, many people found ways to modify their Memorial Day plans in order to keep some of their traditions and celebrations alive. Leading into Memorial Day weekend, several articles were written in major publications detailing the modifications to plans that could be made such that the entire day was not ruined. For example, many Memorial Day walking parades became car parades. Additionally, backyard and outdoor celebrations were very popular this Memorial Day. Social distancing protocols meant that people might not be able to hug their loved ones but they could at least see them and speak with them at a distance.
A successful Memorial Day celebration during this pandemic required many specific modifications, according to Eric Bromage of the New York Times. These modification suggestions included staying outside, socially distancing, individually packaging any food, and limiting the number of people present. These changes were suggested only in hopes that they could help maintain some of the holiday traditions that many hold dear. With such a difficult health crisis around the country, the Coronavirus Pandemic, it took much optimism to expect any Memorial Day celebrations to be possible.
This Memorial Day was truly unlike any other. The most important parts were better appreciated than ever before. Many appreciated seeing their loved ones more than ever. According toAsher Zemmel, “Memorial Day was far more sentimental than ever, this year, without being marred by the distractions of the holiday, we were better able to honor our friends and family who have served in the armed forces.” Perhaps having Memorial Day this year without distractions was good. For many, it was sobering, as has the pandemic been, as a whole. As per an anonymous member of the Fieldston community, “This year on Memorial Day, although I was unable to be with those I love in the same way, I felt that I was much better able to honor those who this holiday is about, while changing the way I typically see my family, such that our traditions were not entirely missed, this year.”
The fact that many Americans were able to make changes to their plans in order to hold onto the most important facets of the holiday is representative of the remarkable resilience of this country, and the world, during such a trying, tragic time.
