Memorial Day was earned by the sacrifices of the Civil War. July 4th was earned by winning a war of independence against Great Britain. Labor Day was earned by the struggle that working classes endured to gain the right to bargain collectively. Thanksgiving was earned by the starvation and cold that the Puritan Pilgrims suffered in their first winter in the New World.
Also, half of these are serious stretches. Labor Day was ‘earned’ only by the need to supplant May Day to prevent expression of Communist sympathies/solidarity. Memorial Day celebrations, such as they are, never include mention of the Civil War in my experience. Even Thanksgiving’s mythology is much more about commemorating the spirit of cooperation which helped the Pilgrims get through the winter than about the difficulty of the situation.
Also, half of these are serious stretches. Labor Day was ‘earned’ only by the need to supplant May Day to prevent expression of Communist sympathies/solidarity. Memorial Day celebrations, such as they are, never include mention of the Civil War in my experience. Even Thanksgiving’s mythology is much more about commemorating the spirit of cooperation which helped the Pilgrims get through the winter than about the difficulty of the situation.