I always found the Memorial a bit macabre.
First, attendance was treated as if it were the most important event you could ever possibly go to. You best be in bed with a high fever with a contagious illness if you were to miss the Memorial.
Second, passing the emblems seemed like an exercise in the Exodus story of the copper serpent. Everyone just has to touch the emblems like they have been poisoned and the emblems emit the antidote which is absorbed through the skin.
Third, about 30 years ago Witnesses started treating the Memorial like Easter & Christmas wrapped up in one. People would buy a fancy new outfit just for the Memorial (Easter Sunday outfit) and then big groups would go out to Christmas dinner after the Memorial was over. Towards the end that seemed a bit inappropriate. "We just observed the execution of an innocent man. Let's go out and celebrate!"