There appears to be a continuing confusion over Memorial Day. The Hound will clear it up for all you bolos.
Memorial Day, which started out as Decoration Day until the politicians got ahold of a remembrance of those who died in this nation's wars, was always May 30. But, to give federal and state workers a day off, Congress decided in that "me decade" of the '70s to make Memorial Day the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day, aka Decoration Day (because they would decorate graves) dates back to honoring those who died in the Civil War.
Veterans Day is Nov. 11, although Congress tried to change the date to a Monday until veterans' organizations griped about that, considering Veterans Day marks the 11th hour of the 11th month of 1918, the date the Great War ended. Veterans Day remembers all veterans who have served in the nation's armed services.
Armed Forces Day, usually June 14, the date the Continental Army began, honors those currently serving in the nation's military.
So let's review: Memorial Day, honor the dead; Veterans Day, honor those who served; Armed Forces Day, those who are serving.
That should clear up confusion of all of you who want to honor veterans who happened to be lucky and survived combat. Regardless, few of you will be flying flags today saluting any warriors, living or dead.
That's because, as Thomas Paine pointed out a few decades ago, most of you are sunshine patriots. And it's not even summer.
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