Happy Memorial Day

[Accountable]

Not for fame or reward, not for place or for rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it, these men suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all, and died.



-Inscription at Arlington National Cemetery



Is the car packed? Someone taking care of the animals? Reservations made? Is the salad finished? Kids ready? Is there charcoal for the grill? Enough soda, chips and dip? These questions may sound familiar this time of year as we celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, but in the rush of preparing for a long weekend, a barbecue or a relaxing day outdoors, we sometimes forget the "reason for the season." Without the sacrifice of over 650,000 Americans in the course of our military history, a very different, frightening world may have emerged, one that would have made these mundane (and sometimes frantic) details meaningless. We don’t need to look any farther than the evening news or newspaper for a reminder.



In recent years, Memorial Day has been more present in our minds because of the war in the Middle East. The loss of brave men and women over the past four years has been an experience of national mourning not felt since the days of the Vietnam War. Our notions of freedom have been discussed and discovered to be, not surprisingly, complex and varied, reflecting our innate individuality. Regardless of our feelings about the time and place of freedom’s defense, American men and women who wear our military uniform live to defend this freedom.



While Memorial Day has come to represent a long weekend of rest, it’s regrettable that fewer people participate in Memorial Day activities than in years past.



Memorial Day was established in 1868 to honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation. All states set aside this day to honor the war fallen after World War I. Some ways to celebrate Memorial Day include:

visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes;



visiting memorials;



flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon;



flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act);



participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day;



renewing a pledge to aid widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and aid disabled veterans.

Memorial Day, appropriately, is a time to gather with family and friends. In doing so, we celebrate our freedom. It’s important to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Many families will encounter Memorial Day this year with a helpless, empty void in their hearts, a place once filled with a loved one. Pray for their comfort, strength and healing as you cherish this time with your own family and friends.



IN FLANDERS FIELDS



In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.



We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.



Take up your quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

The Torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.





Lt. Col. John McCrae (1872-1918)

Canadian poet and military physician

[BabyRider]

We ALWAYS put out our big American Flag AND our big POW flag. It's important for people to remember what the holiday was made for. It's fine to party and barbecue and gather friends around, but take a second and remember the fallen who gave you the freedoms you have today; and appreciate them.



Excellent post, Acc. Thank you. :yh_flag :yh_flag

[Raven]

Well done acc!

Gentlemen, start your engines!

[Jives]

(Jives looks around his hall closet)

Ah! Here it is! My father's memorial flag. It's a really big one and I fly it from the front of my house every day I can.

(Jives salutes the flag)

Here's to you dad, WWII veteran P-47 pilot, adoptive father, physicist, teacher, and great man.

[chonsigirl]

My choir is singing a patriotic song, with compilations from all the branches of the military. Oh, it is a day to remember those who gave their all for our country.

[Philadelphia Eagle]

Good post Acc.

Memorial Day is one of many upon which we proudly fly the flag.

With all the picnics, swimming and barbeques going on it's good to be reminded of the underlying reason for Memorial Day and the huge debt of gratitude that we and countless other nations owe to our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen.

[Marie5656]

When I was younger, I remember the day was more often called "Decoration Day". I can remember my mom and I going to the cemetary to freshen up all the family grave sites...raked, cleaned the stones, planted geraniums in the urns, and placed small flags on the markers of my uncles who were vets. To this day I still equate geraniums with those trips to the cemetary.

Our town also always had a parade, which ended at the War Memorial statue at the cemetary...and a wreath was placed there by the local VFW

[DesignerGal]

Jives wrote: (Jives looks around his hall closet)

Ah! Here it is! My father's memorial flag. It's a really big one and I fly it from the front of my house every day I can.

(Jives salutes the flag)

Here's to you dad, WWII veteran P-47 pilot, adoptive father, physicist, teacher, and great man.


Whats it doing in the closet if you fly it everyday you can?

[DesignerGal]

DesignerGal wrote: Whats it doing in the closet if you fly it everyday you can?


Please excuse me for I would like to offer my deepest apologies for making the slightest joke on this very serious and important thread.

I respectfully ask forgiveness from the original poster and anyone else I may have offended.



Thank you.

[Lon]

Considering the purpose of Memorial Day------"Happy Memorial Day" just doesn't sound right.

[BabyRider]

DesignerGal wrote: Please excuse me for I would like to offer my deepest apologies for making the slightest joke on this very serious and important thread.



I respectfully ask forgiveness from the original poster and anyone else I may have offended.





Thank you.
Offended? Who was offended?? Are folks around here really that uptight and humorless?? You're joking yet again, right, DG??

This walking on eggshells sh!t needs to stop and now.