“Memorial Day” and “4th of July” Two Major US Holidays

Dr. Constantine G. Fountzoulas

There are two days in the US that are celebrated by all Americans regardless of their religious and ideological beliefs. These holidays are “Memorial Day”, and “American Independence Day” also known as “4th of July”.

“Memorial Day” began to be celebrated after the end of the Civil War on May 30, 1868, as “Decoration Day” in honor of the dead soldiers of the devastating Civil War, the end of which, however, marked the creation of the modern United States. Many cities in the United States claim its paternity. By 1890, every state had adopted it. The world wars transformed it into a day of remembrance for all members of the American military who fought and died while on duty. In 1968, Congress changed its celebration to the last Monday in May and in 1971 standardized its name as “Memorial Day”.

All people, all nations honor their dead soldiers, all of them who fell at the battle fields for their freedom and independence. These dead gave the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of their homeland, their lives. Let us not forget, “Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie” of the ancient Spartans. As Americans of Greek descent, let us always keep in mind that Greece gained its independence from the 400-year Turkish yoke through continuous wars, sacrifices in both humans and materials continuously for the last 205 years, resulting in the creation of a modern Western state named Hellas, which is a member of all contemporary organizations, the UN, the EU and NATO.

It was inevitable, with the passing of time, that on this day the memory of all our beloved dead would also be remembered and honored. Many of us, on this day, visit the cemetery where we “talk” with our loved ones, at the same time by leaving flowers on their graves. In my opinion, they are also “Veterans” of life though, but who, with their hard work, contributed to the making of America, and they deserve our respect in their memory.

The other big day is July 4th, or “Independence Day.” On July 4, 1776, the colonists of America (USA) declared their independence from Great Britain, the empire of the time, and the birth of the Republic. It commemorates the historic adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which severed the political ties of the 13 American colonies with Great Britain.

The result of Independence Day was the creation of the United States Constitution, which was written in 1787 and came into effect in 1789. It is the first complete, codified written constitution for a sovereign nation in the world.  Other nations around the world have created their own written constitutions, following the example of the United States. In contrast, England does not have a written constitution but uses ancient charters such as the Magna Carta (1215) and the Bill of Rights (1689).

“One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” (from the Pledge of Allegiance). As Americans of Greek descent, who celebrate Greek Independence Day, we understand very well the significance of this Great Day that became the reason for the creation of our present empire, an empire of immigrants from all corners of the world. Most of the inhabitants of this empire, wherever they came to the hospitable shores of the New World, where they were probably celebrating the independence of their own homeland, embraced the 4th of July as their own day from the very first moment.

Freedom is not given, it is earned with blood. May the soil of our dead be light, men and women who gave us a free, democratic country.

The celebration of these two national American holidays, which indirectly touch all the peoples of the world, is usually celebrated with music, food, and entertainment in general, without emphasizing their great importance for the development and continuous renewal of the unique experiment in world history, namely America. The creation of Western civilization began with the Battle of Salamis on September 29, 480 BC with the victory of the free Greeks against the Persians, the despots of Asia. Schools and the media should emphasize the importance of these two days more.

Perhaps our communities besides March 25, 182, known as The Greek Independence Day, and October 28, 1940 known as OXI (NO) Day, should also add in their calendars these two days  for the reasons mentioned above.