Memorial Day 2012
or
Veterans Memorial Day?
Excuse us for living, but what better way to begin a Memorial Day post than with the American Flag. In this day and age in our country, it represents the only common ground we have left that says, “Cease fire. We all agree about this.” (Well, most of us!) And if you are reading this, my compliments for taking time from your holiday weekend preparations &/or celebration for a patriotic moment.
Briefly, Memorial Day is set aside to take the time to remember and commemorate those who have died in the military service of our country. That is the essence of Memorial Day. But in practice, it is a day we also recognize all veterans of military service who are deceased. This is documented by the practice of the VFW, of which I am a member, and the American Legion, of which my father was a member, of placing a small American flag on the gravesites of as many veterans as they possibly can.
Then we have Veterans Day every November 11. This day is dedicated to honor veterans of military service to our country. It is usually associated with living veterans as opposed to the deceased. It has been suggested to combine both Memorial Day and Veterans Day into one day commemorating all who have served, both the deceased and the living. It does make more sense than forcing veterans to identify with Veterans Day because they are alive, only to slip into the Memorial Day “class” for others to honor once they are gone! And, in my opinion, Memorial Day is the more prominent and has the right “ring to it,” to combine both sentiments, honoring all veterans once a year, the deceased and the living. Naturally, this will never happen as long as we have enough living “vets” in the VFW and the American Legion to lobby Congress, waving that flag, to preserve November 11th as Veterans Day. Anyway, for the record, a “Veterans Memorial Day” would “do the trick,” as they say. We could all come together and put our arms around the living veterans at our annual barbecues and thank them and remember all our fallen heroes and veterans who have passed on in the process.
If how we identify personally is any measure, then I cast my vote for a “Veterans Memorial Day.” You may have relatives and friends, living or deceased, who are or were veterans. –Your grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, uncle, aunt, sister, brother, cousin, neighbor, schoolmate, friend. You pause on Memorial Day and remember him or her, that special person. If they are still alive, do you say to yourself, “Oops, I can’t include him?” Of course not, you just did! You don’t wait for Veterans Day.
“Buck Sergeant” Joseph A. Fontana, on the island of Saipan, southeast of Japan, Medic in U.S. Army Air Corps, July 1944 to Sept 1945, WWII
For me identifying means my father, SGT Joseph A. Fontana, medic in the U.S. Army Air Corps, pictured above sitting on a jeep in Saipan. He is long gone now. But like so many in “The Greatest Generation,” he spoke little of his fourteen months there. We have the old photos and even some WWII artifacts. We know he endured Japanese aircraft strafing the island. And I say “identify” and close with the following photo of another “GI” who is still alive, standing next to a jeep in Vietnam. Who? Check me out and the caption below.
Specialist Fourth Class Philip Fontana, Republic of South Vietnam, 97th Military Police Battalion, January to December 1970
Excuse us for living, but a “Veterans Memorial Day” just seems more appropriate.
Comments: What do you think?
Excuse Us for Living 
Great Peice-
My Father long gone now served in the Navy in the Pacific Theatre- my oldest Brother served in The Korean War, my youngest Brother James class of 66 is a decorated purple Heart veteran of the Vietman War and my cousin Michael La Bianca a Marine was Killed in Vietnam he was 21 a decorated sergeant and i have been to the wall many times in DC to lay flowers by his name-
By: robertlabianca on May 25, 2012
at 2:31 pm
Bob,
Your family’s service & sacrifice is humbling. What a history of patriotic service to our country by one family. I am certain you are very proud of this. Wish I could know more about each of their assignments, stories, & wounds. Wonderful re your visits to the Wall in honor of Michael. Bob, honest, my first visit to the Wall was not until 1992. And with 58,000+ deceased, my first gut human emotion/thought was, “I’m glad my name is not on that Wall.” We were trying to help Wende’s people, but we made so many mistakes in the process. I am sure you & Wende have spent hours talking about this.
Thanks as always! And this one wasn’t a recipe, Buddy!
Phil
By: philipfontana on May 25, 2012
at 2:52 pm
Good article Phil. However I STRONGLY disagree. I think too many of us take for granted our freedoms and lifestyle that has been earned for us over centuries by those who were willing to sacrifice for us and to serve. I personally think 2 days out of a year is a paltry amount of time to honor Veterans, both living and dead. It doesn’t matter what you call the day. At least those two days do serve as reminders.
Sara
By: Sara on May 26, 2012
at 12:19 pm
Exactly! Glad I have gotten people to think & talk about our Veterans. I guess where I am coming from is too many people ignoring the ultimate sacrifice made by our service men & women & just having a holiday weekend & BBQ. And then come November 11, hardly a sole even thinks of what day it is. Speaking as a veteran, the only greeting I have ever received on Nov 11 was from a fellow veteran because they are the only ones who even know who is a veteran.
So thanks for honoring the deceased Veterans on Memorial Day & the living Veterans every November 11. I still have the beautiful emailed photos of, I believe it was, your dear Uncle. So I appreciate where you are coming from & wish there were more people like YOU!
And “hi” Dave!!!! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 26, 2012
at 12:38 pm
Hi Phil-
First off, let me say a sincere THANK-YOU for your service to our country!
I try and remember to say that when a veteran is identified to me….
My dad, like your dad, is long gone. But my dad was on Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed. Luckily he was across the bay on Ford’s Island sleeping at that time. My dad was on Submarine duty and I often wonder how he endured being on a sub for MONTHS at a time!
Thanks for reminding all of us that respect is due our Military, living or dead…
Margaret
By: margaret on May 27, 2012
at 10:38 am
Margaret,
So glad you all had a safe & enjoyable trip & that you are HERE BACK COMMENTING!!!! Missed you!
Thank you for your recognition of one soldier’s service time, me. Those were hard times emotionally. I was drafted out of Wayne State Law School, imagine, & young men were running off to Canada as you know to evade the draft.
Nice that you say thanks to veterans.
What a war record your Dad had from Pearl Harbor Day presence to submarine duty! You should be very proud of him. Have you ever been on any of those WWII subs? They were not like the ones we have today. Those subs were like “submerged closets.” Talk about claustrophobic!!! There is one up here in Hackensack, NJ, docked on the river open to tourists. It’s from WWII & you have to strain climbing into & about it! And your Dad being away months at a time on one of those!!!!! Hope you have a photo of him proudly on display.
Maybe the real answer is to expand Memorial Day to the living as well as the deceased…. we really are starting to do that already. And just keep Veterans Day because the vets deserve it & it sounds so ungrateful to take it away from them
Good talking as always.
Phil
By: philipfontana on May 27, 2012
at 11:56 am
Phil. I never knew you were a Veteran. Thank you for serving. My Dad (Harry Ricker) serviced on the USS Newport News from (~1961-1965). He was in the blocade in ’63 and went on several cuises around the globe. Both my grandfaters were cooks in WWII, one in the Navy, and the other with the 82nd airborne. Keep blogging…I enjoy reading your posts!
By: Brian on June 6, 2012
at 7:52 pm
Brian, Thanks for your comments about your Dad & Grandfathers! –Very distinguished service! The 1963 blockade…are you speaking of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis? Forgive me if I am mistaken. You must be very proud of him & your family history. And I appreciate your encouragement re “Excuse Us…” Thanks! Phil (fontana14@optonline.net)
By: philipfontana on June 6, 2012
at 9:14 pm
I came right here and I’m glad I did – excellent post, Phil!!
By: gpcox on May 21, 2014
at 11:42 am
gp, Thanks so much for checking this out! Sort of in line with what you do with your Dad’s WWII service! Many thanks for the nice comment! Phil
By: philipfontana on May 21, 2014
at 2:53 pm