Due to the passings of millions of World War Two era veterans and very few of their younger veteran successors picking up the torch to maintain military holidays with high visibility, attention and attendance, Memorial Day has increasing become less of a national ceremony and celebration, deferring most ceremonies to local communities which have become fewer in number because cities cannot well afford to conduct them since 2001 when American leaders have allowed al-Queda and oil company prices to dramatically alter the core fabric of our 200-year old society previously known throughout the world as being the most secure, optimistic and fearless.
Additionally, newer and less Constitutionally-minded members of Congress who are more concerned with control over American's personal lives than the lives of veterans and the functioning of military personnel have worked to reduce and restrict federal involvement in public holidays such as calling for schools to remain open on Memorial Day, all government offices to operate, and public and independent workers unions to be excluded from government-sponsored Memorial Day events. Lastly, an eleven-year recession that has been largely extended by extraordinarily high gas prices that neither Congress nor the White House has shown no interest in lowering, are preventing millions of Americans from pursuing their traditionally annual travels to consecrated Memorial Day events around the country, and particularly in Washington DC.
These are facts that have persisted for the past eleven years.
QUESTION 1/6: Do you plan to attend a Memorial Day ceremony, celebration or other public event?
QUESTION 2/6: Do you plan to visit a military/veteran resting place on Memorial Day?
QUESTION 3/6: Are your personal or family's traditional Memorial Day plans now affected by high gas prices on auto and air travel?
QUESTION 4/6: Do you feel there are enough post-WW2 era veterans (Korea War and since) working to maintain the highest possible public attention to Memorial Day and the men and women who gave their lives so that we remain free and democratic?
QUESTION 5/6: If you are a military veteran, do you plan to wear one of your Service Ribbons on your collar or on your lapel this Memorial Day?
QUESTION 6/6: Does it bother you that no candidate for President of the United States has held a press conference to announce the name of the person he has chosen to take charge of the Military and Veteran section of his election campaign?
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