“So since today is Memorial Day, this blog post is dedicated to the idea of sacrifice. The sacrifice our troops make for the good of our society, and the sacrifice each bee makes for the good of their colony. For those who don’t know, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. The holiday honors Americans who have died while in Military Service.
“We honor our fallen because they died for our country. Most didn’t have to join. Most could have chosen a different path. They chose to serve in the military and ultimately sacrificed everything in service of our nation.
An interesting discussion ensues about whether honey bees, like apparently humans, volunteer to sacrifice for the good of society or are drafted. The jury remains out.
What is missing in the current discussion are the sacrifices that human soldiers have made that are still alive. That presumably is reserved for Veterans Day.
One blog looks at Veterans Day in some detail: “Even as far back as 1919, the Federal Government was concerned about disabled veterans finding work when they returned from the First World War. Because of advancements in warfare, veterans were coming home with severe war injuries, and the Government was concerned about the disabled veterans ability to integrate back into society and earn a living. The Government developed vocational training for veterans in various fields of work to help advance them in the direction of the occupation of which he or she choose. One of the programs developed to help wounded veterans adapt to their injuries was beekeeping, considered a viable alternative career because a veteran could work alone, and a slower pace, and still contribute to society.
“A group of seven extension workers was hired to teach better beekeeping methods to the veterans. -George Demuth, Dr, E.F. Phillips, Frank Pellett, Jay Smith, E. R, Root, and M. I. Mendelson. Walter Quick wrote the pamphlet pictured above in 1919, titled: “Bee Keeping to the Disabled Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines to Aid Them in Choosing a Vocation” (Ref. Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation. By Tammy Horn).”
It is remarkable that the above discussion continues today under the rubric of “post traumatic stress disorder.” A major player in this effort at the moment is something called The S.A.V.E. Farm. Yes, Memorial Day is worth celebrating, but should certainly retain a connection to Memorial Day. Sacrifices are sacrifices, whether discussing them with reference to humans, honey bees, the “ultimate,” or in certain cases, the routine.
