Living in Poland for a year means I've seen most of the American holidays come and go with little fanfare. Anyone of my friends back home would answer a resounding YES! if asked if I'm patriotic.
For example...after the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., my family would have lengthy motorcades to support the troops as we started an invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. While not all of us had the same political ideas, the love of country and our servicemen and women united us on more than one occasion...as did the shared lack of car horns after a two hour drive through the city!
Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays...between barbecues and fireworks, there is no where I'd rather be than enjoying a cold beer with my family!
Which makes being abroad so freaking weird.
First off, obviously people in other countries don't celebrate American holidays. I didn't even realize it was Memorial Day weekend until my dad mentioned not having to go to work Monday when I talked to him Saturday. In the U.S., people would be making plans for barbecues, and reminding each other to not forget the real reason we have the day off, honoring our war dead. In Poland, it's just another day.
Secondly, and less obvious, is that Polish people, Europeans in general, don't celebrate their military like Americans. When I give a presentation on American holidays to high school students, they're usually intrigued by the number of celebrations we have revolving around patriotism...Veteran's Day, President's Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day. While Poland does celebrate some similar holidays, the emphasis is not there.
One way that I've really struck up conversation about attitudes toward military personnel in Europe is my Hooligans for Heroes scarf. It's gone along with me on many trips around Europe. When people ask me about it, it's an opening to talk about the Wounded Warriors project and the general attitude of the majority of Americans toward servicemen and women. My stories are usually met with some level of surprise because other countries just don't celebrate their military.
Even on normal holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Americans tend to remind themselves of our armed servicemen and women. We watch football games during the holidays and see soldiers overseas saying hi to their families back home. We buy dinner for a man in uniform at the airport. We have TV shows that pay for elaborate homecoming surprises. We have charities that support wounded soldiers and their families. We have parades and ceremonies honoring these brave men and women in the smallest towns and biggest cities across the U.S. We fly flags, hang yellow ribbons, and hold out hope that everyone who leaves will come back.
Today, if you're an American say a prayer for our war dead, for their families. If you're not American, take a minute to think about your own country's military and the sacrifices people you never met have made for you and your family. There is a lesson for all of us within the confines of something like Memorial Day, a lesson about the value of posterity and being part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Being away from home during these special times really drives home the uniqueness of American patriotism. We can argue whether it's good or bad another time. I'll leave it with I miss home. I can't wait to be back on American soil with people who don't think it's weird to own and fly my country's flag on a daily basis, on every street corner. And while I've learn and change and grow abroad, I'm always very proud to be an American.
 |
| Exhibit A circa 2002 |
For example...after the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., my family would have lengthy motorcades to support the troops as we started an invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. While not all of us had the same political ideas, the love of country and our servicemen and women united us on more than one occasion...as did the shared lack of car horns after a two hour drive through the city!
Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays...between barbecues and fireworks, there is no where I'd rather be than enjoying a cold beer with my family!
Which makes being abroad so freaking weird.
First off, obviously people in other countries don't celebrate American holidays. I didn't even realize it was Memorial Day weekend until my dad mentioned not having to go to work Monday when I talked to him Saturday. In the U.S., people would be making plans for barbecues, and reminding each other to not forget the real reason we have the day off, honoring our war dead. In Poland, it's just another day.
Secondly, and less obvious, is that Polish people, Europeans in general, don't celebrate their military like Americans. When I give a presentation on American holidays to high school students, they're usually intrigued by the number of celebrations we have revolving around patriotism...Veteran's Day, President's Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day. While Poland does celebrate some similar holidays, the emphasis is not there.
 |
| HforH outside the Polish National stadium |
Even on normal holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Americans tend to remind themselves of our armed servicemen and women. We watch football games during the holidays and see soldiers overseas saying hi to their families back home. We buy dinner for a man in uniform at the airport. We have TV shows that pay for elaborate homecoming surprises. We have charities that support wounded soldiers and their families. We have parades and ceremonies honoring these brave men and women in the smallest towns and biggest cities across the U.S. We fly flags, hang yellow ribbons, and hold out hope that everyone who leaves will come back.
Today, if you're an American say a prayer for our war dead, for their families. If you're not American, take a minute to think about your own country's military and the sacrifices people you never met have made for you and your family. There is a lesson for all of us within the confines of something like Memorial Day, a lesson about the value of posterity and being part of something much bigger than ourselves.Being away from home during these special times really drives home the uniqueness of American patriotism. We can argue whether it's good or bad another time. I'll leave it with I miss home. I can't wait to be back on American soil with people who don't think it's weird to own and fly my country's flag on a daily basis, on every street corner. And while I've learn and change and grow abroad, I'm always very proud to be an American.
 |
| Today, we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. |
To feel patriotic, you should visit the Memorial to the American air crew shot down while dropping supplies to aid the Warsaw Uprising in Lomianki St Margret's Church cemetery outside Warsaw.
ReplyDeleteI believe the men there are honored on the 4th of July and on the anniversary in September of the 1944 Uprising.
They flew from England to aid the Poles.One of the men was my uncle my fathers brother.