Cook County Veterans Service Officer Karen Christianson, photo provided

From Cook County, MN - May 23, 2026

By Karen Christianson, Cook County Veterans Service Officer

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.” — General Douglas MacArthur

Memorial Day is often marked by flags, ceremonies, and quiet moments of remembrance. It is a day set aside not for celebration, but for reflection—an opportunity to honor those who gave their lives in service to their country. In recent decades, the day has gradually taken on a different tone as well—one filled with barbecues, sales, and the unofficial start of summer. While gathering with family and enjoying the freedoms secured by others is not wrong, this shift can blur the original purpose of the day. The tension between remembrance and celebration invites us to pause and consider whether we are truly honoring the sacrifice behind the holiday, or simply enjoying the benefits it helped secure.

Yet alongside remembrance comes a deeper question: what exactly were they defending? The answer is often described as patriotism. But patriotism is not the same as nationalism, and the distinction becomes especially important on a day shaped by sacrifice.

Patriotism is a broader idea. It’s about caring for your country—its people, values, and future. It can include pride, but also responsibility, like staying informed, participating in your community, and wanting your country to improve.

Nationalism, by contrast, tends to demand loyalty without question. It places emphasis on pride, unity, and strength, often at the expense of reflection. Where patriotism invites a nation to live up to its principles, nationalism can encourage it to overlook its failures. It simplifies what is complex and can turn remembrance into empty words.

Memorial Day offers a powerful lens through which to view this distinction. The men and women we honor did not die for the idea that their country was perfect or superior to all others. They died within a tradition that—at its best—recognizes the cost of defending freedom, not just for oneself, but as a universal ideal. Their sacrifice is diminished when it is used to justify exclusion, arrogance, or blind allegiance.

There is a quiet humility in true patriotism that aligns with the spirit of Memorial Day. It recognizes that freedom is fragile, that democracy is unfinished, and that the highest form of loyalty is not unthinking devotion, but principled commitment. It understands that honoring the fallen means caring for the living—veterans, families, and fellow citizens—and working to ensure that the values invoked in their memory are not reduced to slogans.

This doesn’t imply patriotism stands apart or does nothing. It can be deeply emotional. It can stir pride, gratitude, and a sense of belonging. But it remains grounded. It doesn’t rely on having an enemy, and it doesn’t ask people to stay silent about injustice. Instead, it asks for something harder: that we engage, question, and contribute.

Memorial Day does not require us to see our country as flawless. It asks for something more meaningful: that we take seriously the ideals for which others have sacrificed, and that we carry them forward with care.

That is the difference between patriotism and nationalism—and it is a difference worth remembering.

The American Legion Post 413 will hold a short program on the lawn of the Cook County Courthouse at the Veterans Memorial.  The program will begin at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026.  Following the program, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 413 will host a free meal for Veterans and their spouses at the Birch Terrace Supper Club from 11:00 to 1:00.

To contact your Veteran Service Officer for Cook County, Karen Christianson, call 218-387-3639 and leave a brief message.  Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Monday- Thursday 1:00-4:00 by appointment. 

Have a very safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.