Why and How Employers Should Honor Memorial Day

By Kimberly Derryberry, PhD
SIOP Military and Veterans Inclusion Committee

Memorial Day, for some, is cookouts; for others, it is a day off work. For many others, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the freedoms afforded to our country. To those who do not have the opportunity to have the day off, the moment to reflect on those we have lost may be brief, if not forgotten. It is likely, however, that veterans within the workplace will not forget and will find their minds thinking from time to time about their fallen brothers and sisters in arms. Some will reflect more deeply than others to the point of even changing their daily demeanor. How can employers be supportive of those veterans on and around Memorial Day?

Honor to the Soldier, and the Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as best he can, the same cause – honor to him, less only to him, who braves, for the common good, the storms of heaven and the storms of battle. (Abraham Lincoln)

Employers need to recognize and honor veterans in their workplace ranks. Of the current US civilian workforce, nearly 8,918,000, that’s 5.6%, is composed of US veterans. Males made up 87.8% of that veteran workforce (U.S. Department of Labor, 2021).

Employers should always have support services available to veterans, but especially on and around Memorial Day and Veterans Day when veterans think the most about their time of service. According to the 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, there were 46,412 suicides among U.S. adults with 6,392 suicides among veterans. That accounts for 13.8% of them (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023).

Simple gestures can make a difference. Here are some ideas:

• Recognize an organization-wide, 1-minute moment of silence at 3pm, the National Moment of Remembrance
• Fly American Flags
• Put up Memorial Day posters
• Change organization-wide desktop screens to “Gone, But Not Forgotten” or the American Flag
• Hold a religious service
• Write about the history of Memorial Day in the company newsletter
• Pass out red poppies in your office
• Stream the National Memorial Day Concert (PBS Channel)
• Create a wall display of lost loved ones

Choosing to recognize Memorial Day can help to honor not only those we have lost, but also it can foster a workplace culture of inclusivity for your working veterans.

References:
Veterans in the Labor Force: 6 Stats | U.S. Department of Labor Blog (dol.gov)
2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (va.gov)