And can I vent about a Memorial Day pet peeve?

[Recursion]

This isn't for those of us vets who survived. That's in November.

It isn't for those still serving. That was earlier this month.

This is a day for honoring our fallen. Not selling furniture.

[hlthe2b]

1. I just wish someone would tell the politicians...

that it isn't THEIR day... (one in particular, who will remain unnamed)

[Recursion]

3. That too. Good point.

In fairness, the pols who served (on both sides) still seem to respect that.

[efhmc]

2. Sorry, wrong. In America it's always about selling stuff.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Or swimming.

When I was a kid, the pool around here always opened on Memorial Day. Now they open Sat before the holiday.

[Recursion]

6. Hey, you might know this: regional distinctions in school start/end dates

In Mississippi we started school in August and ended it in May; when I was in Boston they started way after Labor Day and ended in late June. Is there some geographical or theoretical thing there? Or just contingencies?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I don't know.

East coast schools seem to start after Labor Day though. Maybe it's a weather thing. :shrug:

[Recursion]

8. Could be; I assume Boston has to keep a lot more snow days in reserve

Though this speaks to my personal hobby horse of year-round schooling (as long as summers include a lot of unstructured play).

[Morning Dew]

5. By Grabthar's Hammer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgv7U3GYlDY

[kestrel91316]

9. Hey, my dearly loved maternal grandparents used to go to the cemetery

on Memorial Day and decorate the graves of ALL their loved ones.

I never said a word. I figured there was no harm in that little faux pas.

[Recursion]

10. Ah, actually that's a parallel tradition I don't mind

Another "branch" of memorial day was remembering all we lost through any reason; I have no problem with that.

I do have a problem with conflating it with Veterans' day, or making it a furniture sale.

[KT2000]

11. No matter what

I think we are always supposed to go shopping. That's what GW Bush told us to do!!