FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2014 ~ May 26, 2014

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------ Memorial Day 2014 ------------------------

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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 o’er, The boys to brave and strong men grown, They romped and played no more. They put aside their childish toys, A man’s 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, We’re men and we are strong. We’ll 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~

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!

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

[Arrowhead1952]

I brought my flags in after my walk. Pup and I just beat the rain. It’s been pouring for the last hour or so. We had .75 yesterday and will get at least that much today.

[ConorMacNessa]

MEMORIAL DAY, 2014



Flags In At Arlington

Our National Colors stand in today front of every grave in the Hallowed Grounds of Arlington National Cemetery in memory of our Fallen.

"ECHO TAPS"
USAF Band
(Click)

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[luvie]

Beautiful, Conor.

[SandRat]

Good morning, Kathy...((HUGS))...yes, still sifting through toy patterns.

Workshop is not yet ready for toy making.

I’ve been mugged, tripped, and bit hard since Saturday night.

Got a big bashing scar on my face from the tripping Zeus gave me.

[luvie]

How fun and poinyant to read through those old threads. Lots of FReepers that are no longer with us....heroes, too!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Remembering our Fallen today and always.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

[Arrowhead1952]

This one is not new but certainly warrants a second watch. This one should remind us what Memorial Day is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/rKsW6c_CgFY?feature=player_detailpage

[MS.BEHAVIN]

[mylife]

Hi there.
Thanks for honoring them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwlf5NuLZ78

[ConorMacNessa]

MEMORIAL DAY 2014

/>"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 our 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.

"In Flanders Fields"
Lt. Col. John McCrea
3 May 1915
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Read By Anthony Davies
(Click)

KEEP FAITH WITH OUR FALLEN!
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
BY VIRTUE OF THEIR SACRIFICE
WE LIVE IN FREEDOM!!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[mylife]

The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
In Flanders fields.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good Afternoon, Lady Ms. B.!

***BOW***

I Am Your Humble Knight!



Good Memorial Day to you and
Lord Mr. B!



My Knights And Men-At-Arms Are,
As Always, At Your Service!



Many Thanks To Lord Mr. B. And
To Thee For Your Steadfast Service
And Devotion To Our Nation!

OORAH!!!! Semper Fidelis, And Get Some!!!!

"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[luvie]

Good to see those faces and bikes again, Sis! :)

[SandRat]

My Dad laying beside my Mom rets here

Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery

[SandRat]

i ment to sy rests not rets

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP...we will NEVER forget!

SP5 Robert Joseph Wiedemann
191st MI Det., 1st Cav Div, USARV

Amazing Grace

And we thank you, your Dad, and your son for your service to country and community.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Fantastic!!! First you and Drummer Bob, then The Guitar Player following along....and the best medicine for your harmonica player...a solo and he pulled it off!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

What a peaceful location to rest.