...And now to honor those men and women who are serving...

 5/25

Camo 

Today as we meet we are midway between “Armed Forces Day” and Memorial Day.  To be honest, I can’t remember Armed Forces Day growing up. It only seems to have come to my attention in  a really backwards kind of way. 

From 2008 tp 2019, Major League Baseball would “honor the men and  women serving our country” on Memorial Day Weekend by wearing camouflage hats and some years even uniforms with proceeds of sales going to veterans.

Finally someone pointed out that Memorial Day was to remember those who had died  in  military service and had nothing to do with currently  serving  troops. Its origins go back to 1868 and a proclamation by John A. Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic to “decorate” the graves of those who had fallen in the Civil War and the sho it was first known as Decoration Day.  (Southerners argue that the idea was stolen from Confederate Memorial  Day.)  At any rate, that was the beginning. In 1970 it was  established  as a Monday holiday as another of our 3 day weekend specials. 

Armed  Forces Day, on the other  hand, goes back to President Harry S. Truman combining the days of all five services  into one day of commemoration in 1950 on  the third Saturday  of May. It has remained relatively unnoticed until MLB decided to no longer wear came on Memorial  Day and shifted to the lesser known Armed Forces  Weekend instead.  So now for the third weekend of May , come  Camo hats on top of all teams.

"Dress Up Soldier"

My hat is the 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates  official Armed Forces Weekend Hat.  Every team wears the same hat  with their regular uniforms which leads to some very jarring aesthetic  combinations. Its was actually better the years they went to camo uniforms as well.   My shirt is from the Uni Watch blog, dedicated to  the careful study of athletic aesthetics, especially uniforms. On the back name plate, are  the words Dress Up Soldier to critique the appropriation of came by non-military people as if that actually honors those on active duty.

My Quaker cousin objects to my use of camo and I generally agree.  Though coming from Pittsburgh, camo has more various uses including deer  hunting and the colors worn by the United Mine Workers Union in protests, My oldest son grew up. identifying camo with minrs. So I’m okay with a a few days of camo wear each year.

As for Memorial Day, it was for my family a day of remembrance. My dad would ‘decorate’ the grave of his father. No one does that anymore. But my sister made a trip to our old hometown to decorate my father’s grave. It wa a great weekend fo 4th reopening of our swimming pool and barbecue go the back yard.  Though the New York City beaches are opening this weekend, I really miss the cookout and the burgers and dogs and beans.  

As for honoring  those serving in the military, first we should have some kind  of mandatory national service so that  everyone of us shares  in the responsibility. And second, we should never  send them to pointless wars of empire protection. Bring them home, that’s the way to honor them.

I do have nothing  but the most profound respect for those veterans who  are honored I the ballparks for what they have given.  So today, hats off to veterans and hats on for  those who serve….