Memorial Day, commenced in 1866 as Decoration Day, was at first specifically meant to honor the Confederate dead; when it became a national holiday in 1921, it was renamed to honor the dead in all our wars, another effort to erase differences and commodify mourning.
A Different Kind of Memorial Day
As a way to celebrate next Memorial Day, why not spend an hour asking at your favorite store whether they carry anything made in the U.S.A.?
Memorial Day
Does anyone visit cemeteries anymore? Here in Santa Fe, the huge Rosario Cemetery, dedicated to the war dead, is ablaze with small American flags planted in front of each identical