The event's meaning is not the same on this side of the curtain. All but mandatory attendance (sometimes with people literally checking names off a list), offic

The event's meaning is not the same on this side of the curtain. All but mandatory attendance (sometimes with people literally checking names off a list), officials' speeches and military parades tend to sour the mood somewhat, and, from what I can tell, that memory lingers still. These days, many people just use it as an extra day off.