FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2015 ~ 25 May 2015

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------ Memorial Day 2015 ------------------------

 

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

 

 

 

 

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Kathy in Alaska]

WOW....what a story, what a job. God Bless them for the work they do to honor the fallen.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, combat_boots...father to son.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, South40....that picture says it all. We owe them so much.

Thank you.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

Mac.....#50!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Memorial Day morning, E...((HUGS))

Hope the weather is nice for you and Bo.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers for Arrowhead's recovery, and in his absence....

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a cupcake?

Cookies?

Waffles?

Treats?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

Memorial Day Coffee Bump.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Everyone.
Good morning to our

AWESOME

military, our allies, and their families

Thank you, Ma, for preparing the Canteen
for today’s activities.

A very lovely thread and
nice history reminder.

I watched the Memorial Day concert
on WETA last night
(try to catch it every year)
and their stories break your heart
one moment, and
swell with pride the next.

And, let's not forget the families
who take care of the wounded, or
suffer the loss of a loved one.

O P E N

So, come on in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea
pancakes, conversation,
silliness, and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. Happy Memorial Day.

[left that other site]

Well, everybody made at least one mistake (including yours truly) but the best thing was EVERYBODY pressed on, and nobody burst into tears or quit!

That's even better than a "Perfect recital"!

The venue was gorgeous (and worth every $$$), the kids were dressed elegantly, and it came in under 2.5 hours.

The first act, was the little kids on piano and singing, and at least 3 could be classified as "special needs" or even "troubled". Oddly enough, these were the ones who did the BEST job, especially with the singing. And they were NOT singing "kiddie" songs. They were doing authentic versions of Broadway and Movie standards.

Needless to say...there were LOTS of mommy-tears!

On a scale of 1-10:

Mistakes:5
Professionalism and guts:10
Overall enjoyment:10
AND...I got all the left-over food. I'll eat for a week!

:-)


"These ARE my "Church Clothes!"


BTW, the Church Service in the morning was wonderful too. My Guitar player let me use his bass and amp so I did not have to unload mine, and the congregation helped me load the car so I was able to get on the road by noon.

I think that they were so shocked to see me in a sundress, that they REALLY treated me like a lady.

[Soaring Feather]

Kathy, well done, beautiful thread... thank you.

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!

A nice sunny morning out here on this solemn occasion of Memorial Day.

I came back home noon yesterday after a nice visit with BIL and sister. My nephew was there too; he's been teaching school in Guatemala.

Daughter was busy this time, but son is coming over in awhile to have breakfast and hang out.

I hope your day is grand, catch up with you soon.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

Happy Memorial Day to you.

[Soaring Feather]

Hi beachn4fun! Have a good day.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Pro ((HUGS))

Happy Memorial Day.

Glad to see you had a good visit & safe trip. Did your nephew regale you with tales of teach IN Guatemala?

We’ve had absolutely beautiful weather; my kind of spring. Hubby has been grilling; perfecting his craft, and all I had to do was provide side dishes. At least that helped since I’ve been busy with house things.

Today, is definitely a rest and do-nothing day.

Hope you and son-boy have a great day.

Back on schedule tomorrow.