From the Newsroom -- tony dodero

There’s a funny, Murphy-type law in the newspaper business. It

commands that those things that are the most innocuous, the least likely

to offend, will almost always cause the most trouble.

So it was after one Memorial Day that I was confronted by reader of a

sister paper of the Daily Pilot.

She was red hot over a story that paper had done about the holiday.

In the story, the reporter interviewed veterans and discussed with

them their memories of war. Seemed like a nice story to me and it was our

way of giving the holiday the publicity it deserved, instead of the

typical unofficial kickoff to summer that many have made it, including

us.

But for our reader, the story did nothing but stoke her anger, and as

one of the paper’s lead editors, she targeted me with her wrath.

She would not sit idly by and watch as the true meaning of Memorial

Day was blurred by those of us in the media, she wrote me. Memorial Day

was not a day to focus on veterans, but to remember those who died in the

line of duty, she said.

She owed that much to her late father who was killed in World War II

and she vowed to keep Memorial Day alive in his honor. I was stunned at

her anger over a story that was borne out of such good intentions. But I

do understand it.

She’s right, Memorial Day and its meaning have been obscured over the

years. The origins of Memorial Day are much debated, as is how long it

has been celebrated.

But this much is for sure. Memorial Day is now celebrated on the

fourth Monday of May and is designed to honor those who died in the line

of fire, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Many do confuse it with Veteran’s Day and just use it as a time to

celebrate war heroes in general or those fighting in the military or to

just have a barbecue. But the day has a more somber tone that should not

be forgotten.

General John Logan was the one who officially proclaimed on May 5,

1968 that Memorial Day would be celebrated, according to the web site

usmemorialday.org.

It was observed 25 days later on May 30 with flowers placed on the

graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The tradition caught on and years later other traditions did as well.

The practice of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day became popular. To

this day, some still sell the poppies, with the proceeds going to help

servicemen in need.

And Boy and Girl Scouts now adorn the graves of serviceman with U.S.

flags as part of the Memorial Day tributes.

Still, with the knowledge of the holiday waning among many Americans,

the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed by Congress in

December of 2000. The resolution asks Americans to take a moment for

observation or respect at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.

Indeed, today’s remembrance should include about 3,000 more patriots

who lost their lives last September.

Because those who perished in the World Trade Center, Pentagon and

Pittsburgh terrorist attacks were just as much a victim of war as let’s

say those who died at Pearl Harbor.

Further, with American soldiers fighting and dying across the globe to

keep our freedoms intact, we have more reasons than ever to honor those

who have lost their lives in the name of our country.

So as you get ready to fire up that burger or take that dip in the

ocean, just remember there’s a good reason why you have the day off. And

while the holiday is really a time to honor the dead, it’s up to all of

us to keep the spirit of Memorial Day alive.

* TONY DODERO is the editor. His column appears on Mondays. If you

have story ideas or concerns about news coverage please send messages

either via e-mail to tony.dodero@latimes.com or by phone at 949-574-4258.

FYI

At Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa Fire

Chief Jim Ellis is expected to give a talk on “The heroes of Sept. 11”

at 11 a.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.usmemorialday.org