What is Memorial Day and why should we care?

Just what is Memorial Day? Who are these people we call veterans? What does this day mean to them or to you? Why should we care?

These are great questions. In the past I have tried to answer them. Every year I have written columns for this paper, which isn’t all that many to be honest, I have talked about it from my perspective as a veteran.

Now this year I want you — the reader — to find out for yourself. I suppose you can Google it or Bing it. Tweet, Twitter or whatever gimmick, gizmo or gadget you use. But that wouldn’t really answer the truly who, what or why of the entire issue. While these computerized gadgets and programs can answer some of the questions, they fail to really get down to the heart of the matter.

Those are machines and programs that run them. The questions and the answers to them are human. So it will take a human being to truly answer them. A computer just won’t cut it. That’s the whole point. Humans — people, to be precise — are the heart of it all. You won’t find the answer behind a computer screen. You must go out and talk to people. We used to do that a lot before those gizmos took over.

Think of it as an experiment. Think of it as game to be played, and not just by children or young people. I think everyone should take part — young and old, civilian and veteran. Yes, even veterans should asking these questions and try answering them too.

Just what does it all mean to you? Now, I don’t want a bunch of people to go out there like reporters from a movie from the 1940s with notepads clutched in hand, firing off rapid-fire questions to the unsuspecting. Better yet, do it while you are traveling to wherever you are headed this weekend. Ask those questions of the people you run into on the way. You might have relatives who are vets. Or there might be veterans at that cookout or picnic you are attending. Insert your questions between bites of that grilled hotdog or hamburger. By all means, talk to people face to face — without the gizmos, iPads and what ever. Really talk to people as we have done for centuries. The answers to your questions might surprise you.

To keep it simple, how about these questions to start:

1. What is Memorial Day?

2. Who are veterans?

3. What does this holiday mean to them or to you?

4. Why should we care?

The answers, especially the last one, should prove to be eye-opening. You would be surprised how many people out there just don’t get it, nor do they think about it. That alone is a sad commentary on our American society today. Or is it? Those questions and the answers that must follow are part of the equation.

There is one big rule in all this. No machines. No computers, iPads, smartphones or any other gizmo out there being used today. In other words, let’s keep this about humans. The holiday being celebrated is a thoroughly human one, and an American one.

Now as for myself, I could go on about my own take on this. But I won’t this time around. I will say it is deeply personal and spiritual as well. I am a proud veteran, but this year I want you, Valley readers, to try this little experiment. Try to find the human angle to it all. Let your minds expand and let the machines rest for a day or two. Let’s see what happens.

And please, have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Keep it on the side of family, picnics, camping, hiking and for myself, a retired U.S. Army veteran, honoring the fallen. Don’t become a statistic in an accident or far worse. Enjoy all that Alaska and America has for all of us during this beginning of the summer season. Above all, have fun.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.