I’ve noticed around here that just about every store is open regular hours for Memorial Day. It’s now yet another holiday that really isn’t much of a holiday anymore. Most people simply associate Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer, which runs through the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day (which, come to think of it, is another holiday that isn’t really much of a holiday anymore).

As a old-fashioned kind of guy, this makes me kind of sad. You see, I think in a world that is already moving way too fast and on the brink of catatrophe, we need (or, at least ought to respect) holidays. An extra day where people can sleep in, or lounge around the house, or spend time together as a family, or get in touch with nature – y’know, take a breather from their otherwise frantic schedules.

Or maybe, come to think of it, because we’ve become such a consumer culture and have an economy increasingly dependent on consumer spending, maybe we can’t afford – literally – holidays where businesses are shuttered against the consumer dollar anymore.

Or maybe, the whole idea of holidays is something left to the ages. I mean, if you’re a family-run business and want to be open for business on any given day of the year, who are the feds or states to tell you you can’t?

But I guess I digress.

The whole idea of Memorial Day is for this nation to take time to remember all of those who have fallen in the service and defense of our country. As someone who doesn’t take as much time as I should when I’m traveling through airports to thank members of our armed forces for their service, I nevertheless have an incredible amount of respect for anyone in this day and age who volunteers their lives (and let’s not forget those of their families as well) to the service of our country.

This week’s candle is lit in remembrance of all those who have given their lives in the service of this great nation.

Watching the final round of this weekend’s Byron Nelson Championship, it was cool to see the American flag being used as a flagstick on the 18th hole and tended by a Marine who would make sure it was handled properly and put back in place with formality and respect. And it was great to see some of the golfers as they walked off the green acknowledge that Marine, or shake his hand, or pat him on the shoulder to thank him for his service. I hope all they all did at one time or another during their round – I most certainly would after I tapped my putt in for an eight or 12. 🙂

So prayers and remembrances to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country on this special day.

Even if it’s not a holiday kind of holiday anymore.