The Meaning of Memorial Day (opens in new tab)

Editor’s note: To mark Memorial Day in the United States, we are republishing this article, originally published on May 28, 2019. I’m writing this on Memorial Day, a day dedicated to remembering those who died fighting for the United States and to enjoying the first outdoor gatherings of the summer. For some, marking the day by enjoying the pleasures of a barbecue seems a betrayal of the dead. For me, it is a celebration of life. The dead put themselves in harm’s way, some out of choice and s...