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FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2014 ~ May 26, 2014
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !!
| StarCMC
Posted on 05/25/2014 4:59:46 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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The FReeper Canteen Observes
------------------------ Memorial Day 2014 ------------------------ |
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History Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet (see below) carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee. More history here. |
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Poetry & SONG
MEMORIAL DAY
In distant field of sunny France Where strangers come and go, Amid the farms of Flanders, where The fragrant breezes blow, Our soldier-dead in quiet sleep 'Neath crosses row on row.
Here shrapnel shells once shrieked and burst And took their toll of death; The very wind, itself a foe, Bore poison on its breath.
Above their graves the birds now sing As round that home of yore, When, carefree boys, they romped and played; Those childhood days soon oer, The boys to brave and strong men grown, They romped and played no more.
They put aside their childish toys, A mans work each must do, And when their country called for them, To her they answered true.
"We must protect our native land: She shall not suffer wrong For she has reared and nurtured us, Were men and we are strong. Well bid good-by to those we love; It will not be for long."
With aching hearts and tear-dimmed eyes We watched them go away. Some have returned but many sleep In foreign lands today.
Where English roses bloom and fade, In France where lilies grow, Among the fields of Flanders, where The scarlet poppies blow, Our soldier-dead are not forgot Though strangers come and go.
~By Eula Gladys Lincoln~
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America the Beautiful - 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self the country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America ! America ! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life ! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee! |
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Links to redrock's Memorial Day Threads from 2006 "We Can Be Heroes.....Just For One Day" MEMORIAL DAY --Thread # 1
"Just Another Drunk Indian..." MEMORIAL DAY--Thread # 2
"Chocolate Chip Cookies" MEMORIAL DAY --Thread # 3
"Hey...Do Ya Wanna Hear a Polish Joke???" MEMORIAL DAY --Thread # 4 "Remember...What We Owe.." MEMORIAL DAY --Thread # 5
"The Betrayal of The American Soldier" MEMORIAL DAY Thread # 6
Final -- "Falls The Night" MEMORIAL DAY Thread # 7
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TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; memorialday; military; troopsupport
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
181
posted on
05/26/2014 9:33:11 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
182
posted on
05/26/2014 9:43:51 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
183
posted on
05/26/2014 9:53:26 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: SandRat
Oh my goodness, Sand....what a perfect graphic for the times.
Our leaders of the past must be so ashamed of what the current “leaders” have done to this great country!
184
posted on
05/27/2014 12:20:01 AM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: LUV W
185
posted on
05/27/2014 1:27:42 AM PDT
by
Liberty Valance
(Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
To: mylife
186
posted on
05/27/2014 1:30:57 AM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Liberty Valance
Good morning, Liberty....what a great tune this Memorial Day.
Thank you.
187
posted on
05/27/2014 1:39:23 AM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W
From the peak of my nose up this is what I have,...
188
posted on
05/27/2014 1:14:47 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
Ouch! What the heck happened!
189
posted on
05/27/2014 1:30:39 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
To: LUV W
In the dark Zeus woke me to let hi out to do his business, then tripped me and I fell hitting the ceder chest.
190
posted on
05/27/2014 1:36:29 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
That’s gonna leave a mark!
Hope it heals well!
191
posted on
05/27/2014 1:40:08 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
To: LUV W
Sabre Dueling Scar it will look like.
A permanent Halloween Mask.
192
posted on
05/27/2014 1:42:42 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: mylife
From the peak of my nose up this is what I have,...
193
posted on
05/27/2014 2:20:39 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
You will be a dashing pirate!
Seriously, should you maybe see a doctor to make sure something isn’t broken?
194
posted on
05/27/2014 3:28:03 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
To: LUV W
The only thing broken is my pride.
195
posted on
05/27/2014 4:01:38 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
Aw! I know it has to be quite painful! You were very brave
to show us the picture of your boo-boo! Maybe Nate needs to
share his Action Figure bandaids with you. :)
196
posted on
05/27/2014 4:12:48 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
To: LUV W
Maddi has been kissing the boo-boo all day today to make the hurt go away.
197
posted on
05/27/2014 4:16:27 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
Well, it’ll be all better in no time, then! :)
She’s a sweetie!
198
posted on
05/27/2014 5:32:44 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
To: LUV W
199
posted on
05/27/2014 5:44:07 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: SandRat
200
posted on
05/27/2014 5:56:47 PM PDT
by
luvie
(All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!l)
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