It's Memorial Day and there's a reason for the season.

But many say the tradition is fading. It's apparent by the dwindling crowds at Memorial Day events.On top of that, attendance at Memorial Day activities tends to skew toward older citizens. There aren't many in their 20s and 30s who embrace the holiday.It's part of an alarming trend.The issue came to a head in the late 1990s when a group of schoolchildren toured the U.S. Capitol. Something disheartening happened."What does Memorial Day mean to you," the children were asked.Almost instinctively, the youngsters responded: "Oh, that's the day the pool opens."The incident prompted then-President Bill Clinton to enact the National Moment of Remembrance.Established by Congress, the effort requests all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day in a national show of respect and unity.If you've never heard of it, don't worry. Most others don't know about it either. It never really caught on."The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events," says a website explaining the initiative."Rather it's an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be."Unfortunately, the idea fizzled.We're just not remembering to remember.Of course, nobody would argue that the intent of the concept is not worthwhile. There should be no criticism of any attempt to promote a show of respect for the 1.1 million Americans who've sacrificed for our freedoms.But it's a curious thing when we need to declare a National Moment of Remembrance to try to urge citizens to show respect.Let's look at it another way.We've already set aside Memorial Day - a full day - to honor our veterans and those who gave all.But apparently many folks aren't doing that. Instead, too many are focusing on picnics, barbecues and splash day at the pool.And so the government says the day has lost its meaning, and I suppose it has.As a result, the feds saw the National Moment as a way of asking if it'd be too much trouble to spare one minute of the holiday to remember what the entire day was supposed to be.In some ways, the National Moment asks very little. It's the least we can do.On the other hand, it's a sad commentary that the public needs an act of Congress to legislate respect for Memorial Day to live up to its original intent.And even more unsettling is the reality that the National Moment failed.Maybe the concept became lost in politics. Maybe the Bush administration didn't want to carry the torch for an idea enacted by a Democratic president. It's anybody's guess.When one of the original commission members quit, he said the idea just didn't seem to be a high priority.In a perfect world, respect for veterans would never fall within arbitrary whims of partisan politics.But then, in a perfect world, respect would come naturally, without a need for government to instruct us in how to show it.They say respect is something earned. Our veterans certainly have earned it.Let's hope the true meaning of Memorial Day is rediscovered and prevails for generations to come.Contact Donald R. Serfass at

dserfass@tnonline.com.