Memorial Day

Coach is Right ^ | May 23, 2015 | Jim Emerson, staff writer

[darkwing104]

Far too many people are indifferent to the meaning of Memorial Day, thinking of it as just a long weekend or official start of summer. There are cook-outs and family get-togethers but the only mention of the Memorial Day weekend is in store ads. Brass bands and ceremonies are performing to dwindling crowds. Americans have forgotten the sacrifices of those who perished to preserve their security, peace and freedom. What a tragedy that today so many citizens are willing to surrender these irreplaceable treasures to an American Idol tyrant.

Memorial Day should never be confused with Veterans Day. On Memorial Day we honor those who lost their lives in America’s wars, while on Veterans Day we celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War in a desire to honor the dead. It was proclaimed in a General order by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. He established that May 30th would be the day “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.” A Decoration Day. The former combatants honored their dead on separate days until after the First World War. Memorial Day has evolved to honor all Americans who died while in military service. It became a Federal Holiday In 1971.

People still visit cemeteries and memorials across the nation to honor those who have died in military service. Ceremonies are held, names are read, Taps is played and bells are rung. The graves of the fallen are decorated with flowers and American Flags. This is their time of remembrance.

Over time

[RedHeeler]

Good, the parade chokes you up. The way the Reno VA, treats Veterans chokes me up, and not from compassionate pride in the respectful service Veterans receive at that monument of federal indifference to US Military Veterans. BS emotionalism drives every liberal instinct.

[rktman]

Strange as it may be, I have a couple of buddies that swear BY the VA here and others feel they get NOTHING and swear AT it. A couple of folks suggested I should go for meds(no, not THOSE kind of meds) but I haven’t been to even a VA clinic since ‘70. Don’t want to get caught up in yet another govt mess.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear extreme,
From my granduncles forward, the only nonvet in the
family, was my mother. I was an active service GI brat.

FAMILY bbq’s, get a pass. In my case, Im the end of the line.

Commercialization, and the government sanctioned
three day weekend, mainly pushed by federal employees,
have rotted what was just one day of reverential respect
and honor, into car buying, mattress buying, spend, spend, spend,
what you have in your pocket, or indebt yourself with your
credit card (which to me aint freedom-with the credit card).

Sure, you can call that freedom, if you like.

My friends died for the America that is not now. That
America had no Communists in office, no minority ruling
class, people proud to work and show the fruits of their
labors, with no president saying that that is too much,
no Congress making laws to spy on us, and not so
much those of foreign origin.