Memorial Day 2010 | 
The last Monday of May rolls around and Americans everywhere celebrate. A three day weekend that means the beginning of summer for most people, Memorial Day begins what Labor Day brings to a close. Around the nation everything turns to summertime: pools open for the first time, theme parks expand their schedule, families barbecue in their yards, family reunions are planned, and kids start their summer vacations. The amazing moments of life that we won’t even trust to Kodak will live forever in our minds and be played back through our memories like eight millimeter, crackling film that seems to take a black and white property, even in the twenty-first century. Many of us have these black and white film memories accompanied by a soundtrack, and that soundtrack is baseball.
Baseball has always seemed to epitomize the nation’s struggles, celebrated the nation’s triumphs, and reminded us just how connected we can be. We gather by the tens of thousands in stadiums for hours at a time to watch our favorite teams battle against each other on a daily basis for the majority of the year and we do so, for the most part, peacefully. Baseball has helped this nation break down color barriers, overcome gender bias, and helped us heal after many tragedies. We connect with the players, broadcasters, and executives to the point that we mourn when they pass and we celebrate their achievements as our own. Baseball has, in every aspect, been historically indicative of what happens in the nation.
Memorial Day is a holiday set aside to commemorate those soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives to protect the freedoms that this great nation has been built on. Those brave men and women from all over this country that unselfishly stepped into areas of the world that they did not fully understand and never returned to their families never asked anything in return. They did not put on that uniform and tell any one of us that they would do so only if we, as a nation, would provide anything for them. Thousands of them have died in that uniform protecting our freedoms and providing new found freedom to people all over this world. Some were lucky enough to return with their lives, only to return to a nation that despised them for what they did, despised them for the actions they took, and left them in their hours of need.
Baseball led the charge and reminded us, throughout time, that the larger then life personalities that we worship and place on pedestals are, in fact, citizens that do not project to be better than the rest of the nation. They fought, most notably in World War II, side by side with their countrymen, sacrificing their careers, futures, and lives so that we could continue to file into stadiums and reserve the right to boo them mercilessly when they let us down in front of our friends and families.
Today, all across America, all thirty major league ball clubs will done special made caps from New Era featuring a “Stars and Stripes” logo in honor of these great soldiers. God Bless America will replace Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh inning. Members of the Armed Forces will be recognized, honored, and remembered in the cities that inspired them to take an oath on their life to protect. The National Anthem will be sung across this land and send goosebumps down the spines of people that stop and listen to the meaning of the song.
It is a great holiday with great meaning to many people around this nation. It is a great time to teach the lesson of the true meaning of this holiday to the next generation. All around America we will mark the beginning of summer today. However you choose to celebrate this moment with your loved ones, your family, in your life, take a moment and say a toast, a prayer, or a kind word in honor of the men and women who gave their lives so that we could have the freedom to express ourselves in any way we see fit. Shake the hand of a soldier. Pray for the safety of those defending freedom right now. Drink a beer for those who may never again. Lay a wreath, or a flag, at a local cemetery.
And God Bless America.
If you would like to learn more about those soldiers that have a connection to the national pastime, you can read more at baseballinwartime.com.
Topics: Baseball Baseball, Beginning Of Summer, Brave Men, Color Barriers, Crackling, Daily Basis, Family Reunions, Film Memories, Gender Bias, Labor Day, Last Monday, Live Forever, Memorial Day, Millimeter, Stadiums, Summer Vacations, Triumphs, Twenty First Century, Ultimate Sacrifice, White Film
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I like your article. I think the link at the bottom is incorrect. The correct link should be
http://baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/p/baseball-in-wartime-website.html
[...] Today, all across America, all thirty major league ball clubs will don special made caps featuring a “Stars and Stripes” logo in honor of these great soldiers. God Bless America will replace Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh inning. Members of the Armed Forces will be recognized, honored, and remembered in the cities that inspired them to take an oath on their life to protect. The National Anthem will be sung across this land and send goosebumps down the spines of people that stop and listen to the meaning of the song [Source: Baseball Digest]. Click to see rest of article… [...]
Good article, Bill. I have stressed to everyone I’ve come in contact with the past few days to remember this holiday for what it truly means – it is more than the start of summer. You’ve expressed it well, both for what our service people and baseball have done for us. Well done.
Let’s hope Pujols celebrates Memorial Day with 3 more HRs.
That’d be pretty OK.
ATH
Your article expressed my thoughts. My older brother fought in the Battle of the
Bulge, My other brother served in the forgotten war, Korea, and I served 2 years in the “cold war”. No parades in my town,few flags, lots of ads for mattresses and jewelry. Well, that is the
American way. God bless the souls of those who paid the ultimate price, and God
Bless America.
Stellar work, as always, Bill. You really captured the spirit and meaning of the day.
[...] Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend, everyone. Remember those who have sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy a day off with nothing better to do than catch up on the national pastime! [...]