Is Memorial Day a day of remembrance and thanksgiving or is it a day to celebrate?  Maybe it's both.

            Have people forgotten the real reason for the day?  People younger than 50 may not even know that it was in 1968 that Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act that moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May.  Three other traditional holidays were also moved so people could enjoy a long weekend.

            Viewed by many as the official start to the summer season, Memorial Day has become filled with parties, picnics and trips to the Jersey Shore or to the Pocono mountain region for many area people.

            Some point to the move of the holiday from the traditional date in order to guarantee a three-day weekend in May as the beginning of replacing remembrance with recreation.

            But, think for just a moment.  While we need to remember the people who died for our freedoms every day, Memorial Day was created to remind everybody of that.  Special services, programs and more all geared to remember and give thanks to those who gave their tomorrows for our today.

            It was because of them that we enjoy what we have today, honoring them is the right thing to do.

            As far as enjoying the three-day weekend, I don't think those who made the ultimate sacrifice would frown on you for doing it – after all the holiday was just one of their many gifts to you.  And, it shouldn't be so hard to find time in your life to say a prayer and remember their sacrifice.

            No matter how thankful you are throughout the year, did you pause on Monday to give a special remembrance and thanks?  Did you take the time to visit a military grave or a municipal memorial?  Did you attend a veterans' or municipal service?

            Did you fly your flag at half-staff till noon on Memorial Day then raise it to full staff for the rest of the day?

            Did you reach into your pocket and pull out a few bucks to purchase a poppy and support a veterans' group?  Did you proudly wear that poppy all day?

            The most important thing is that you can remember our veterans who gave their lives for our freedom any day and every day.

            Go to a local memorial and read the names.  Pick a name or pick a few from those killed in action.  Find out a little bit about their life and how they died.  In today's internet society, it isn't that hard.

            If you do that, chances are you'll never forget to remember them on the next Memorial Day or any other day either.