MEMORIAL DAY 2020

Today in the US is Memorial Day, the origins of which stem from Decoration Day, a day set aside to decorate the resting places of those who had fallen in military service to the nation. Although we also commemorate the service of Veterans on November 11th--known as Veterans Day here the US--Memorial Day, as its name suggests, is more specifically about memorializing the dead--a point that often seems to get lost given that this long weekend is also the kick off of the summer/vacationing season. I won't belabor the point any further other than to say that with the staggering loss of life brought on by the COVID 19 pandemic across the globe, and with the US closing in on the 100,000 death mark, this year's pause has room to commemorate not only the loss of the service men and women whom we traditionally honor, but also the memories of all who have been lost in these trying times.