Author: Cindy Chou

Memorial days in most countries have special cultural or historical meaning. Many countries even hold unique ceremonies for those special days. The USA is no exception. Each year the American celebrate different memorial days in various ways. I think that some of the most important memorial days in the U.S.A are: the Independence Day, Lincoln’s Birthday and the Memorial Day that reveal the key milestones of American history.

The Independence Day, a day for celebrating the birth of the United States of America, is on 4th of July. It is originated from the Declaration of Independence at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, which was signed on July 7th, 1776. This declaration lists the crimes that the English colonialist committed in the United States of America and proclaims the independence of the country from the United Kingdom of Britain. What is more, it defines all human beings are born equally and have the rights to go after happiness and freedom. It manifested and established the very American spirit thereafter. Today every year on the fourth of July, people get together in the park or the public place to celebrate the national birthday with dancing or having a picnic with live music. At this joyful time, the mongers may be busy selling souvenirs to visitors, and the politicians may take chance to attract voters with various campaigning activities.

The next important memorial day is Lincoln’s Birthday which is on 12th of February. Abram Lincoln was a great Emancipator in many American people’s mind. He led the American Civil War for the abolitionist movement. Because black slaves’ miserable life not only prohibited the development of capitalism in the United States but also went against the fundamental belief in people’s equality and freedom since the establishment of USA, Lincoln started to give speeches all over the country for setting black people free. In 1860, he won the election and became the 16th president of the United States. However, seven southern states, insisting on the slavery system, formed a United Nation to oppose against Lincoln’s government. This dramatic political separation led to a devastating civil war. Finally, in 1863, the war ended and President Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation, which claimed black people’s human right. There was no more black slavery. Up to then, the United States of America could be called genuinely a country where ensured ‘human beings are born equally and have the rights to go after happiness and freedom.’ Nowadays, people deliver speeches, publish memorial writings and visit Lincoln’s Memorial Hall (in Washington DC) to pay their respect.

Another meaningful national holiday is the Memorial Day on May twenty-sixth. This day was set in memory of great and brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their families and nation. In early history mentioned above, a lot of military men were killed in the Civil War. In the end of the war, many families in the States held a memorial ceremony for their beloved, no matter they belonged to the northern or southern side. A commander at that time realized that it was a crucial moment to unite the people from the whole nation again; thus since then he ordered to present bouquets on May thirtieth to those sacrificed soldiers every year. Later after the First World War, people started to hold ceremonies for those who died in the war. Gradually, the day became a special day for many people to remember their passed-away family members. In 1971, the American government made sure that federal employees could also have this holiday, and many states followed to institutionalize it as the last Monday of May. Every year since then, the military and many elder soldiers line up in a procession of cemetery to salute the warriors who were killed in the battles.

The memorial days mentioned above all have great stories behind. The legends involved in love and tears, suffering and success, and more importantly, a lot of human lives. No pain, no gain. These memorial days reveal early American people’s pain that contribute to the nation’s gain in happiness, freedom and wealth today.

References:
http://www.cbwchina. com/big5/index.htm
http://www.chinatranslate.net/big5/