Since 1968, Memorial Day has been a national holiday honoring those who died while serving the United States, but the celebration goes back as far as 1868.

On Monday, the university held a Memorial Day ceremony honoring the ISU employees, retirees and spouses who have died in the past year.

Celebrating these people’s deaths at a “Memorial Day ceremony” only serves to dishonor all the soldiers who died fighting for our freedom.

It is not that the everyday citizens who have passed are not worthy of our memories; this is just not the purpose of Memorial Day.

There was a playing of “Taps” at the memorial. The reason “Taps” is popular on Memorial Day is that it is a military song, hence we honor those who died while serving in the military.

If a person wants to use the day for honoring all who have died, it is his or her choice. But if the university decides to take part in celebrating the day, it should celebrate what is meant to be celebrated.

The university does not celebrate every person who has survived on Veterans Day, just as it doesn’t honor all people, including those who don’t work, on Labor Day.

There are plenty of other opportunities to honor deceased ISU workers, but Memorial Day is not one of them. It should be reserved for the heroes it was meant for.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Spangler, Cavan Reagan