As someone who grew up as a military brat (US Air Force—all the way) and lived in Israel for 12 years the differences in how each country treat and observe their respective Memorial Days – a day in which those who fought and died for their nation are commemorated—are a stark contrast.
In the U.S., Memorial Day, always on the last Monday in May, is considered part of the first weekend of summer. In other words it is a party holiday. People even wish each other "happy Memorial Day." The actual meaning and import of what this day is really supposed to mean is lost for most people. That is unfortunate. While there are Memorial ceremonies at military cemeteries or memorials across the nation on Monday morning, not much is paid attention to these commemorative events. The American Memorial Day is a day for the beach and for grilling.
On the other hand, in Israel, Memorial Day is a very solemn occasion. It is held the day before Independence Day. The reasoning is that before we can celebrate the anniversary of the rebirth of the Jewish State; we must pay homage to those who gave their lives. There is a nationally televised memorial ceremony in addition to every community, every school, every kibbutz, every village, having there own ceremony. The radio stations only play low key music; the TV is full of programs about the IDF and stories of those who gave their lives in various wars or terrorist operations. The government education channel, in chronological order, displays for a few seconds the name of every soldier who has died since the establishment of the state. You can trace the history of Israel through those names that flash on the screen. The names are broadcast on the web; I spend some time watching them every year.
In addition to all-of-the above, one of the most amazing things that occurs on Israeli Memorial Day is that at 11:00 am a siren goes off all over the country. Its mournful wail lasts for two minutes. In those two minutes the whole country comes to a standstill. If people are in the middle of a conversation they stop, stand, and bow their heads. Cars stop in the middle of the street, the drivers and passengers step out of their vehicles and stand with heads bowed to honor those who fell in battle. It is truly an astounding and moving sight to witness and even more so to be a participant.
Yet, the United States is a different country; and while many don't pay attention or ignore the import of Memorial Day (which is especially sad since we are still fighting two wars); I have to believe that many do get it. They understand that their ability to go to the beach or barbecue with friends is partially because of the sacrifice those who served in the military made. While it is true that the U.S. has a lot of problems today: we haven't recovered from the recession and our politics and media are more contentious then ever. In a way, the way we celebrate Memorial Day is a tribute to the freedoms America is supposed to represent.
While I do believe that this is true, I think that something else is needed. The United States would do well to start of tradition on Memorial Day for a moment of silence or something else commemorative that the country can participate in. That would be nice to see—a moment when we are all united.