Don’t Forget The Real Meaning of Memorial Day
People seem to get their priorities skewed when it comes to the Memorial Day weekend.
They think it’s a time for picnics, barbecuing in the backyard, drinking beer and essentially just enjoying a long weekend with family and friends.
Far too many forget the real meaning for the holiday: to honor the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have given their lives in preserving this country’s democracy and freedom, a meaning too often lost on far too many folks.
So, while you’re enjoying a cheeseburger and beer or a hot dog and soda, and then go toss horseshoes in the yard with Uncle Bob or Aunt Millie, try and remember the real reason why we celebrate Memorial Day. Because if it wasn’t for the ultimate sacrifice of so many, there’s a good possibility many – if not all of us – would not be here today.
At the same time, say a prayer this weekend not only for our fallen soldiers, but also for racers who have been killed over the years. They gave their lives not only pursuing a sport they loved, but also brought a great deal of enjoyment to millions of race fans over the years.
We should never forget NASCAR racers like Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki, Davey and Clifford Allison, Neil Bonnett, Joe Weatherly, Fireball Roberts, Tiny Lund, J.D. McDuffie, Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, John Nemechek, Tony Roper, as well as the 10 people on the Hendrick Motorsports plane that crashed in 2004.
But death isn’t just a NASCAR province. Let’s also consider greats from other motorsports series:
Formula One: Peter Collins, Lorenzo Bandini, Roger Williamson, Peter Revson, Mark Donohue, Gilles Villeneuve and Ayrton Senna, among so many others.
Champ Car, Indy Racing League and Indianapolis 500: Gordon Smiley, Jovy Marcello, Bill Vukovich, Eddie Sachs, Dave MacDonald, Swede Savage, Jerry Unser, Art Pollard, Gordon Smiley, Jeff Krosnoff, Greg Moore, Scott Brayton, Tony Renna and Paul Dana, among others.
NHRA drag racing: John Hagen, Lee Shepherd, Blaine Johnson, Carrie Jo Neal, John Lingenfelter, Darrell Russell, Shelly Howard, Eric Medlen, John Shoemaker and Scott Kalitta, among others.
I’m not, nor would I ever, put race car drivers in the same category as military heroes that died for us. But at the same time, would it really hurt us as a people to say a prayer for all those drivers that brought us so much entertainment and who many of us proudly followed through good times and bad?
For those who might think of my idea as sacrilegious, how about a compromise: say a few prayers this weekend for all our fallen soldiers, who were someone’s father, husband, son, uncle, brother, mother, wife, daughter, aunt or sister.
And then, once you’ve done that, lift a glass to toast the memory of our fallen racers, as well.
I can live with that. Can you?
In the meantime, have a good and safe holiday, and we’ll catch you back in this corner on Monday.
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