Today in the United States it is Memorial Day. Since we have readers from all over the world, I wondered about featuring an American holiday in my blog post. I wondered if other countries have a similar holiday to honor those who have fallen in battle for their country. Memorial Day in the US was originally celebrated on May 30th each year, but in 1971 the day was moved to the fourth Monday of May to give federal workers a three-day weekend. The celebration may feature parades, visiting cemeteries or memorials, and family gatherings. Graves of the fallen may be decorated with flags or flowers. Memorial Day often signals the beginning of summer for many in the US.
We Americans also have Veterans Day, a day to remember all those who served in the armed forces. I haven’t written any books with fallen heroes, but I have written several that feature heroes who have served in the armed forces.
One of my earliest books was published by Harlequin Love Inspired as Mommy’s Hometown Hero. I have reissued the book with a new title, Country Blessings. The book features an injured war hero.
Three novellas in my Happiness in Hallburg series feature three army buddies, who find the perfect match in the small town of Hallburg, Maryland.
The last two books in The Village of Hope series, Kirsten’s Mission and Melody’s Resolve, both have heroes who served in the army, one as a medic and one as a paratrooper.
Until I started writing this blog post, I didn’t realize how many of my stories feature a hero who served in the armed forces.
Do you enjoy reading stories that have heroes who served? If you don’t live in the US, does your country have special days to honor fallen heroes or those who served?
I will give away a copy of one of the books I have mentioned, winner’s choice, to one person who leaves a comment. If the book is available in print, the winner can choose either an ebook or print copy.
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Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
I was in Hawaii 10 years ago for Memorial day. The church was having a picnic I think but being a place with so many tourist there didn’t seem to be too many places closed.
Here our Memorial day would be ANZAC Day 25 April. It is a day we remember the landing at Gallipoli in WW1 when Australia and New Zealand entered WW1 It is a public holiday on the day and most towns have a dawn service and a parade of Veterans. It remembers the fallen from all wars. We also have Rememberance day on the 11th of Nov. Its not a holiday but it also has services at 11am to remember the ending of WW1.
I don’t mind stories with returned soldiers.
Oh and one think I did notice is the way those in the armed services are respected in the USA. With them having early boarding on planes. I also saw first hand people paying for a meal of a soldier. The Respect was great to see.
In Romania, Ascension Day is considered Heroes Day, commemoration for every hero dead on service. Schools and other institutions go to put flower crowns to the monuments of various local or national heroes, singing and playing patriotic songs. The church also officiates Te Deum for the heroes, both in church, within the Ascension mass, and at the monuments of heroes.
We also have Army Day on 25th of October, also celebrated with flowers at monuments and patriotic songs, usually by military orchestras. This day living veterans are celebrated too.
I live in the U.S. But it’s nice to see other countries have their days too. I do enjoy reading stories about heroes who have served. It’s one of my favorite things to read about.
I love books with military members in them! My Daddy and eight of his brothers all served in the military at some point, with Daddy and the other oldest three serving in WWII, and my two maternal uncle’s also serving then. I have many cousins who have served, too. We’ve had representatives in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy. I know Australia has day like our Memorial Day, and I think France has something, too.
I live in the US, and I love reading books about military heroes. My son is planning to enlist in the Air Force after he graduates. ❤️
And it’s interesting seeing the comments from those in other countries & leaning about their holidays for service members. Thank you for asking the question!
Good morning. Yes, I love reading books that have military heroes in them, they deserve all the honor for protecting our Country. My Father in law was a Marine and I have a niece and her and her husband and their 2 sons have served in the Army, actually their 2 sons are serving in the Army now and my niece and her husband are done serving . Have a Great week. God Bless you and your family.
Yes I enjoy books that have military soliders in them I read your book country blessings awhile ago but it was in paperback and it was titled mommys hometown hero. I have read quite a few love inspired books with military soliders in them. Have a good memorial day.
Chile: Every September 19 the Day of the Glories of the Chilean Army is celebrated. September 18 and 19 are our national holidays.
On this date the “Parada Militar” takes place, A great parade of the different branches of the armed forces, a friend paraded last year in the cop group.
I love reading books that have military soldiers in them. One of my authors writes about Marines in all of her books.
I really enjoy books with military heroes/heroines.
I’m in the UK. We have a holiday Monday here too but it’s not a memorial day, just a general holiday that falls on the past Monday in May.
We have Rememberance Day on November 11th, like Jenny in Australia. There is a 2 minute silence at 11am. The nearest Sunday to this is Rememberance Sunday and there are church services and services at war memorials. There is a big service at the cenotaph (war memorial) in London attended by the Prime Minister and the queen, or the King now.
It’s really interesting to hear what everyone does in different countries.
I am in the US. I do enjoy books with a military theme/soldier hero. My husband was in the Army. We were in Okinawa for almost 2 years (1972-1974). My dad and his dad both served during WWII. As a teen I wrote to soldiers in Vietnam. I am very patriot and love the color combo of red, white, and blue. It was interesting to read about what others countries do to acknowledge and celebrate their fallen heros.
Happy Memorial Day, all.
Ausjenny,
Thanks for sharing information about your Memorial Day. Your remembrance day is the same day as our Veterans Day.
Hi Marina,
Thanks for sharing. I like that other countries also remember their fallen soldiers and the living veterans as well.
Hi Joannie,
Yes, it is good to see other countries celebrating those who served their country.
Hi Trudy,
Wow! You have quite a family military tradition.
Hi Texas Momma,
Kudos to your son for wanting to serve his country.
yes
Hi Alicia,
Your family also has a tradition of military service. We can be thankful for those who are willing to serve.
Hi Kendra,
When I reissued my Love Inspired books, I updated some of the technology and sometimes added a scene or two that I had to cut because of the required length of Love Inspired books. Yes, Love Inspired loves military heroes.
Hi Lily,
It is so interesting to learn about military remembrances in other countries. It seems we all like a parade no matter which country we come from.
Hi Bonnie,
We all love a man in uniform, don’t we?
Hi Ruthie,
We also have Remembrance Day on November 11th. It is called Veterans Day now. It honors the living service members while Memorial Day is for remembering the fallen soldiers.
Hi Bonnie,
Thank your husband for his service. And thank you also. I think service members’ spouses deserve our thanks, too.
Thank you so much for sharing. My Dad was in the army. During the Cuban Missle Crisis, he was put on a ship ready to fight Cuba. Fortunately, the crisis was brought under control so he returned to the base without having to see any fighting. Of those whom he kept in contact from his army days, there are only two who are still living. God bless you.
Hi Debra,
That must have been a scary time for your dad. My dad was in the army during WWII, but he didn’t see any combat.
I love books with our service heroes in them. I am proud of the men who have served in my family. My hubby served in the Navy. My father served in the Army during the Vietnam War. My father-in-law served in the Air Force.