Let Us Remember (The Real Memorial Day) 05-30-02

The History Channel, Billie, various ^

[Billie]

Let Us Remember........

Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain.
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am the morning hush.
I am the graceful rush
of beautiful birds in circling flight.
I am the star shine of the night.
I am the flowers that bloom.
I am in a quiet room.
I am the birds that sing.
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die."
~Mary Frye, Baltimore MD, Circa 1933

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30,1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers. On May 5, 1868, Logan declared in General Order No. 11 that:

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

During the first celebration of Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery.

This 1868 celebration was inspired by local observances of the day in several towns throughout America that had taken place in the three years since the Civil War. In fact, several Northern and Southern cities claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, including Columbus, Mississippi; Macon, Georgia; Richmond, Virginia; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; and Carbondale, Illinois.

In 1966, the federal government, under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They chose Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—because the town had made Memorial Day an annual, community-wide event during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of
                         the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

Several Southern states continue to set aside a special day for honoring the Confederate dead, which is usually called Confederate Memorial Day:

• Mississippi: Last Monday in April
• Alabama: Fourth Monday in April
• Georgia: April 26
• North Carolina: May 10
• South Carolina: May 10
• Louisiana: June 3
• Tennessee (Confederate Decoration Day): June 3
• Texas (Confederate Heroes Day): January 19
• Virginia: Last Monday in May

Although Memorial Day is set aside to honor those that have fallen, I wanted to take a moment and thank each and every person who has served our country in both war and in peace, as well as those who are serving to protect our freedom now.

Probably the largest number of our FReeper Veterans are Vietnam Vets, and many of them didn't experience a heros' welcome, with parades and flags and banners, when they returned. I wish we could make it up to all of them.


One of the FReepers who served during Vietnam also had a twin brother who joined about the same time, but in different branches, and I thought it would be fun to show them as they looked in their respective uniforms thirty-something years ago. (I asked Dave to send me some pictures, but he didn't know how I planned to use them or that I was going to sketch them instead.)

Thank you, Diver Dave, U.S. Navy, and your twin brother, Don, U.S. Marine Corp. We salute you, and we are so glad you both came home to your families.

         

This song was written by Tom T. Hall in 1964, and recorded by Johnny Wright, husband of Country Music singer Kitty Wells. For all those who served in Vietnam,
and left behind loved ones, this song's for you. Thank you for going; thank you for fighting, thank you for enduring the Hell and the horror that was.....Vietnam.

GOODBYE MY DARLIN' HELLO VIETNAM

Kiss me goodbye and write me when you can.
Goodbye my darlin', hello Vietnam.
America has heard the bugle call,
And you know it involves us one and all.
A ship is waitin' at the dock,
America has trouble to be stopped.
We must stop Communism in that land,
or freedom will start slippin' through our hand.
I hope and pray someday the world will learn
That fires we don't put out will bigger burn.
We must save freedom now at any cost,
or someday our freedom will be lost.

Kiss me goodbye and write me when you can.
Goodbye my darlin' hello Vietnam



Click on the graphic for a tribute to many of FR's Veterans and Active Military.

[lodwick]

Thanks for the poem for soldier's moms. It's not just the kids that die. A bit of all their family goes with them, forever.

[lodwick]

:-) Believe me, it's a chore not to lose it with what all is going on in our world. JL

[Diver Dave]

I'd like to offer up a tribute to some family veterans if I may.

Uncle Axel, a Swedish immigrant at the turn of the century, served in the Army during WWI.

Uncle Harry, who served during WWII.

Brothers-in-law Clifford and David. Clifford, Army, Viet Nam Cobra pilot, wounded three times, killed later by a drunk driver. David, served in Air Force, Army National Guard and as a deputy sheriff, killed in auto accident.

SALUTE!

Salute also to those of us still living who served our great nation.

Thank you and may God Bless your service.

[whoever]

"The arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die free rather than live slaves."
---- --Thomas Jefferson

[whoever]

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point."
-------C.S. Lewis

May God be with and bless each and every one of our military.

[Diver Dave]

Darn you, who. The Mother of a Soldier created a leak that's now become hard to control. And me, a plumber by trade, can't stop the leak. Now the monitor is all blurry.

[whoever]

Let me put a smile on that handsome face, Diver.

Subject: Old Guys with Attitudes

A couple of weeks ago I indicated that if I could, I'd enlist today and help my country track down those responsible for killing thousands of innocent people in New York City and Washington, D.C.

But I'm 50 now and the Armed Forces says I'm too old to track down terrorists. You can't be older than 35 to join the Army. They've got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year-olds off the fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn't be able to join until you're at least 35.

For starters:

* Researchers say 18-year-olds think about sex every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about sex every 15 seconds, leaving us more than 28,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy.

* Young guys haven't lived long enough to be cranky and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. If we can't kill the enemy we'll complain them into submission. "My back hurts!" "I'm hungry!" "Where's the remote control?"

* An 18-year-old hasn't had a legal beer yet and you shouldn't go to war until you're at least old enough to legally drink. An average old guy, on the other hand, has consumed 126,000 gallons of beer by the time he's 35 and a jaunt through the desert heat with a backpack and M-60 would do wonders for the beer belly.

* An 18-year-old doesn't like to get up before 10 a.m. Old guys get up early just to show we can (and to steal the neighbor's newspaper).

* If old guys were captured we couldn't spill the beans because we'd probably forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank and serial number would be a real brain teaser.

* If it wasn't for the age barrier, I'd pretty much get into the Army without a hitch. According to the Army Internet site, I'd need to pass an entrance exam (officially called an ASVAB), but the sample questions I saw weren't exactly headache material. For example A magnet will attract a) water b) a flower c) a cloth rag d) a nail . . I took a wild stab and guessed, "nail," knowing they'd probably stick me in some desk job with Army Intelligence after Boot Camp.

* If 12 workers are needed to run 4 machines, how many workers are needed to run 20 machines? a) 16 b) 18 c) 3 d) 60 Let's see...three workers per machine times 20 machines...errr...hmmm...uhhh...60?

* Finally, they wanted to know if I had command of the English language, just in case I had to describe an enemy camp from memory. Small most nearly means a) Sturdy b) Round c) Cheap d) Little . . I knew this cheap, little sturdy guy once, but I wrote down little. Now you know where the first questions come from for the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" game show.

* Boot camp would actually be easier for old guys. We're used to getting screamed and yelled at and we actually like soft food. We've also developed a deep appreciation for guns and rifles. We like them almost better than naps. The Army could lighten up on the obstacle course, however. I've been to the desert and didn't see a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side. I can hear the Drill Sergeant now. "Get down and give me...er...one!" And the running part is kind of a waste of energy. I've never seen anyone outrun a bullet.

* I'm reminded of the story of the young bull and the old bull standing on a hill looking down on the cows. "Let's run down there and make love to one of those cows," says the young bull. "How about we WALK down there and make love to ALL those cows," replies the old bull.

* Patience is something most 18-year-olds simply do not have. For good reason, too. An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He's still learning to shave, to actually carry on a conversation, to wear pants without the top of the butt crack showing and the boxer shorts sticking out, to learn that a pierced tongue catches food particles, and that a 200-watt speaker in the back seat of a Honda Accord can rupture an eardrum. All great reasons to keep our sons at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off to a possible death.

* Let us old guys track down those dirty, rotten cowards who attacked our hearts some months ago today. The last thing they'd want to see right now is a couple of million old guys with attitude.

[Billie]

I'm glad you posted that tribute to some of your family members, Dave. I don't know the protocol for "saluting" when one's never been in the military, but I'd sure like to say thank you to them.

[lodwick]

Hey - we need some barbque on this thread. We can't have this many emotions without some chow!

Please enjoy.

[Billie]

It has been SO good to seehave your presence here today!

T Man, can you come play? :)

[Billie]

Gosh, it's been fun having all your wonderful graphics and whoever's posts here today.

[whoever]

Oh, am I glad I skipped lunch. Where are the plates?

[whoever]

"I believe with all my heart that standing up for America means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. We need God's help to guide our nation through stormy seas. But we can't expect Him to protect America in a crisis if we just leave Him over on the shelf in our day-to-day living." --Ronald Reagan

[lodwick]

Thank you for saying so. It was a pleasure. Perhaps you could keep this memorial thread going? It's what the canteen used to be, imo.

Mrs. lodwick says it's time to go. God Bless America, and night all. JL

[whoever]

"They summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and virtue." --Gen. James A. Garfield

[whoever]

"Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn." --Gen. Douglas MacArthur

[whoever]

"Memorial Day is a day we remember and honor those who fought and often died for their country. It is fitting that we do so. It is not, however, a day that we are called on to forgive those who have brought on us the horrors of war. As a nation we are not called on to do that; as individuals, as the years pass by and memories fade some of us will. But some can never."
--- --Lyn Nofziger

[whoever]

"Memorial Day is for the living; the dead are beyond all the fanfare, beyond all grief and pride and horror now. They cast a silence greater than all the speeches and band music and flyovers and 21-gun salutes. ...The mix of joy and sorrow, the quick and the dead, the grief and pride, then and now -- it is all as it should be in a free country aware for a moment of the price of freedom."
------Paul Greenberg

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Eulogy for a Veteran

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.

~Author Unknown

[CheneyChick]

Billie, thanks so much for the ping. That was really special!