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

 

 

 

 

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Ms. Feather ((HUGS))

Happy Memorial Day

Have a wonderful day.

[henkster]

Hi Kathy. Sorry I missed the fun yesterday; had to do “double duty” by going to the Indy 500 followed by a wedding. Who gets married on race day in Indy? Good family friends I guess.

The opening ceremony traditions at Indianapolis are quite moving. It is a 45 minute expression of love for our country, appreciation for what God has given us as a nation, and thanks to the men and women of our armed forces, and an honor to those who died for us. It never fails to bring a tear to my eyes. Sometimes there are some drunken loudmouths who want to carry on during the ceremony, but the rest of the crowd usually shuts them up.

As for the race, it was exciting but I really wanted Scott Dixon to win. Not a Montoya fan. But the weather was perfect.

[MEG33]

Freedom Isn't Free

Remembering With Deep Gratitude Those Who Gave All

[AZamericonnie]

Echo Taps	Semper Fidelis March
The Sun Harbor's Chorus -The Halls of Montezuma	U.S. Army Band - A Hero for Today
U.S. Army Band - Duty, Honor, Country	U.S. Army Band - Heroic Fanfare
U.S. Army Band - Hymn to the Fallen {From Saving Private Ryan}	U.S. Army Band - National Anthem
U.S. Army Band - The Armed Services Medley	U.S. Army Band - The Last Full Measure of Devotion
U.S. Army Band - This Is My Country	U.S. Army Band - We Were There
U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers Chorus - God Bless the USA	U.S. Navy Sea Chanters - Eternal Father
United States Air Force Band - Battle Hymn of the Republic	United States Air Force Band - God Bless America
United States Air Force Band - Lord Guard and Guide	United States Air Force Band - The Higher We Fly
United States Coast Guard Tribute Semper Paratus	United States Marine Band - God Our Fathers
United States Marine Band - The Stars and Stripes Forever	United States Navy Band - Amazing Grace
United States Navy Band - America the Beautiful	United States Navy Band - Liberty Fanfare
US Air Force Song - Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder	US Army Song - The Army Goes Rolling Along
US Navy Band -Anchors Aweigh	West Point March

 

Aaron Tippin - Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly	Aaron Tippin - You've Got To Stand For Something
Alabama - Born Country	Alabama - Down Home
America - Tennessee Ernie Ford	America The Beautiful (Live) - Ronnie Milsap
Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Tennessee Ernie Ford	Big And Rich - 8Th Of November
Billy Gilman - There's a Hero	Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All
Blackhawk - Days Of America	Brooks & Dunn - 'Til My Dyin' Day
Bruce Robinson - Travelin' Soldier	Buddy Jewell - Sweet Southern Comfort
Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Some Mother's Son	Charlie Daniels - Let Freedom Ring
Charlie Daniels Band - In America	Charlie Daniels Band - This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag
Charlie Rich - America the Beautiful	Chely Wright - The Bumber Of My Suv
Charlie Daniels Band - My Beautiful America	Darryl Worley - Have You Forgotten
Dave Matthews Johnny Cash - For You	David Ball - Riding With Private Malone
Diamond Rio - One More Day	Due South - Joey and Laura
Dusty Drake - One Last Time	Elvis Presley - America The Beautiful [Live]
Five for Fighting - The Beautiful	Garth Brooks - Belleau Wood
Garth Brooks - We Shall Be Free	Montgomery Gentry - Tattoos and Scars
God Bless America (Live At Carnegie Hall) - Kate Smith	God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
Gretchen Wilson - Politically Uncorrect	Hank Williams Jr - Mr. Lincoln
Hank Williams Jr. - A Country Boy Can Survive	Hank Williams, Jr. - America Will Survive
India.Arie - Good Man	Jars of Clay - The Widowing Field
John Conlee - They Also Serve	John Michael Montgomery - Letters From Home
John Wayne America - Why I Love Her	Johnny Cash - The Ballad Of Ira Hayes
Johnny Cash Marty Robbins - Song of the Patriot	Johnny Cash - Ragged Old Flag
Willie Nelson - Living In The Promiseland	Katherine Jenkins - Hymn To The Fallen
Keni Thomas - Flags of Our Fathers	Keni Thomas - Hero
Keni Thomas - Not Me	Kenny Rogers - Homeland
Kenny Rogers - Long Arm Of The Law	Joseph Rizza MacKenzie, Joseph Kilna - Sgt. MacKenzie
LeAnn Rimes - God Bless America	Lee Greenwood - God Bless The U.S.A.
Lonestar - I'm Already There	Lonestar - My Front Porch Looking In
Lonestar - Somebody's Someone	Martina McBride - Blessed
Martina McBride - God Bless America	Mary Chapin Carpenter - My Dear Old Friend
Michael MacDonald & Jamie O'Neil - Not So Distant Day	Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee
Merle Haggard - The Fightin' Side of Me	Montgomery Gentry - Didn't I
Montgomery Gentry - My Town	Montgomery Gentry - You Do Your Thing
Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Battle Hymn Of The Republic	Neal McCoy - I'm Your Biggest Fan
Neal McCoy - The Last Of A Dying Breed	Oak Ridge Boys - American Made
The Mansions of the Lord (Suite)	Phil Vassar - American Child
Michael MacDonald - This Is God	Ralph Stanley II - Are You Proud Of America
Randy Travis - America Will Always Stand	Randy Travis - Heroes & Friends
Rascal Flatts - The Glory of Life	Ray Charles - America The Beautiful
Ricochet - The Star Spangled Banner	Sgt. Barry Sadler - Ballad of the Green Berets
Shooter Jennings - 4th Of July	Stars And Stripes Forever - Victory Military Band
Steven Curtis Chapman - Soldier	Sugarland - Everyday America
Tammy Cochran - I Believe	Taps history told by John Wayne
The Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy	The Charlie Daniels Band - This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag
The Star-Spangled Banner (Live At Carnegie Hall) - Bill Gaither Presents The Isaacs	The Warren Brothers - Hey Mr. President
This Land Is Your Land - Lee Greenwood	Toby Keith - courtesy of the red, white and blue (the angry american)
Toby Keith - live introduction by Toby of courtesy of the red, white, and blue (the angry american)	Trace Adkins - Arlington
Tracy Byrd - I'm From The Country	Tracy Lawrence - If I Don't Make It Back
Tracy Lawrence - If The World Had A Front Porch	Travis Tritt - What Say You
Waylon Jennings - America	Waylon Jennings - The Eagle
Willie Nelson - Living In The Promiseland	Your A Grand Old Flag - The Broadway Parade

[Old Sarge]

Good Afternoon, Ma!

Seems like ages ago, that I was reporting live from the war zone, doesn’t it?

What a journey it’s been...

[luvie]

Wonderful post, Connie! Thank you. I’m sort of out of pocket at the present. With my MIL who is in the hospital.

[luvie]

Missed ya, early bird. Hard to get my act together. :)

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good afternoon AZ. Happy Memorial Day.

Music bump.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Teach your children well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I watched it too. But wondered how Powell and Dempsey could speak with straight faces.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi there, Sarge, on this Memorial Day...((HUGS))

I remember those reports...the writer was quite good. d:o)

And we thank you for your service to our country.

[Rushmore Rocks]

My thanks and continued gratitude to all on FR who have served this wonderful country.

I want to tell you a bit about my incredible father. He is now 98 years old. He lived with us until about a year ago, when we had to move him to a nursing home. (Altzhimers) We just couldn’t take care his nursing needs any longer. It broke my heart, but we had to do it.

At age 17, he left his family’s depression era farm in Kansas and hitchhiked to Fort Bliss, Texas. He grew up on a horse and wanted to serve his country. He enlisted in the Seventh Cavalry (lied about his age)as a horseman. When WW11 broke out, he went to the Army Air Corps and was stationed in the Pacific Theater. He was at Ie Shima when the Japanese delegation flew in to surrender. He took pictures of the Betty Bomber that flew in there that August. I treasure those old black and white photos.

After the war, He went to Germany and was an Air Force navigator during the Berlin Airlift. My mother, little sister and I followed him there to Ramersdorf, just outside of Munich. My Dad wanted me to understand the freedoms we have in our wonderful USA and took me to tour Andau, Dachau and Bergen-Belsen. This was in the late 40’s and the concentration camps had not been cleaned up yet. I’m certain that I was probably too young to see the horrors. I still have nightmares about it. On the upside,it made me the rather fierce patriot that I am today. Not a bad thing.

Returning stateside, we moved to Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, where he continued as a navigator. He was a gentle but firm father. His dad used the buggy whip on him and because of that he didn’t believe in spanking. Just seeing disappointment in his eyes was enough to make us want to please him. He was and is a remarkable man.

Right now, he is ready to die, I hate let him go, but if he’s ready, so am I.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Rushmore Rocks

Thank you for sharing that wonderful story of your father.

May God grant him a special place in heaven when his time comes. And, your family eternal peace while you live without him.

[beachn4fun]

But wondered how Powell and Dempsey could speak with straight faces.

I'm guessing the organizers felt they had to include them (aren't those two regulars over the years?)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Still catching up....

WOW! Thanks, Rushmore Rocks, for sharing your Dad and your experiences with us all.

We thank him for his service to our country.