Holiday isn’t time for games

Let me get this straight.

In the eyes of the Maine Principals’ Association, it is perfectly acceptable to schedule the state high school tennis singles championships on Memorial Day.

It is equally OK to schedule baseball and softball games on a solemn holiday designed to honor the millions of Americans who have given their lives to allow us to enjoy the wonderful freedoms we have in this country.

Those freedoms include athletic events.

Here’s the kicker: The MPA does not allow any kind of athletic activity to be scheduled on a Sunday.

And, even worse, you can’t use Sunday as a makeup date even if it involves the postponement of a playoff game or a significant track meet.

There are 52 Sundays in a year.

But only one Memorial Day.

I realize we also have Veterans Day to remember our fallen heroes.

But having two holidays a year to honor our veterans seems like the very least we can do. After all, they paid the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Memorial Day weekend should be a time of reflection. It should be a time families acknowledge the sacrifices that have been made over the course of our young history.

Most families have people who have served in the armed forces. Many have relatives who lost their lives in war.

Many communities have parades or some kind of special activity to honor the veterans.

The Memorial Day tennis matches began at 11 a.m. so the players and their family members weren’t able to attend most Memorial Day activities.

Memorial Day takes on an even greater importance during war time. It provides us with a forum to display our patriotism and support for our troops.

Look at how many men and women are putting their lives on the line in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Sunday is viewed by the MPA as a family day which should be set aside to enable families to enjoy a day off together.

Sunday is also a day for people to practice their religious beliefs.

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest family weekends of the year. In addition to remembering our veterans, the three-day weekend allows families the opportunity to usher in the summer season and perhaps get reacquainted with family members they haven’t seen in a while.

Barbecues and family get-togethers are plentiful and plans are sometimes made far in advance.

I have never advocated that the MPA should allow schools to schedule sporting events on Sunday, although I wouldn’t mind it.

But I have always felt Sunday should be used as a makeup day to reschedule events that have been postponed to allow families a better opportunity to attend the particular sporting activity that was postponed.

Saturday events usually get rescheduled for Monday and that can force family members to alter their work schedules in order to attend. It can also make it difficult for classmates to attend those events because they’re in school.

The MPA may feel that since our springs are challenging weather-wise and events get backed up due to postponements, it is necessary to use Memorial Day for sports events.

I disagree.

Use Sundays, instead, so Memorial Day can be observed the way it should be.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.