I love holidays. They are always an opportunity to celebrate, to sing and dance, and enjoy the company of those we know and love. When I was young, we all looked forward to May 1 and the May Day Festival. This northern hemisphere celebration of spring always included a Maypole Dance, lots of early spring flowers, and baskets of sweet treats. We welcomed the opportunity to be out in the sun after a cold, dark winter. May Day represented fun, openness, and happiness.
In another context, mayday has a different connotation. It is a signal of distress. The phrase is used in life threatening emergencies. It is a call for help. Calls of “mayday, mayday, mayday” are meant to summon immediate assistance to save a life. It is a call we never want to hear.
May 1, 2015 is a time when both representations of the phrase are applicable. It is a time to celebrate spring and all that is good in our community. It is also a time to call for help for our schools and our students. It is a time to recognize that the absence of a high quality education is a life threatening situation for our young people. That is why the DPS Foundation calls upon you to come to the assistance of our schools. We need you to hear our call and to respond with your donations. Mayday, mayday, mayday.