FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2022 ~ 30 May 2022

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------ Memorial Day 2022 ------------------------

 

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

 

 

 

 

[luvie]

We have no local sources. All the lakes are in counties quite a way from us. Our electric bill is nothing compared to the water bill. But I don’t complain because I couldn’t stand it to live with yards full of dead grass and dirt like 85% of the people around here.

How much rain did y’all finally end up with. Everything around you must be exploding. Has your hubby spent lots of time on the mower yet?

[luvie]

Hi, Kathy! ((hugs))

And a fine good very early Memorial Day morning to you. I know we’ll both be thinking of our personal heroes. Our dads. My uncle. And whoever else has died for our freedom.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I did get some deck time today and will try to get at least an hour tomorrow. 70+ and headed up.

[radu]

Our electric bill is pretty high but it’s also for the whole farm - the house, the pump for the well, a few yard lights, and the garage. The garage bumps up the bill quite a bit because there’s almost always someone out there working on a vehicle. Hubby lets some of his friends work on stuff whether he’s out there or not.

We got 4.3 inches of rain last week and yes, everything’s going bonkers. VERY happy to have gotten a good drink after a month with almost nothing. Hubby’s mowed a bit but hasn’t mowed everything yet. It takes a while to mow it all.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Really glad to hear that warm weather and good pain pills are helping.

Big day tomorrow!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Memorial Day morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. We remember those who died for our country. Thanks for your service.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

70s are perfect for spending some time outside. It was a good vitamin D day up there today. Bet it felt good out there on the deck.

It was hot and muggy here today. It’ll be hotter and muggier the next several days. Yuck.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

How was your outing with Gizmo yesterday? I hope there were fewer pooches to attract his attention.

[luvie]

That is a lot of rain. I’ll bet your flowers are going nuts. And of course, that beautiful corn.

Our Easter lilies bloomed yesterday. They are so pretty but will probably burn to a crisp by tomorrow. Even with water. LOL!

[radu]

I was surprised when I totaled it up and saw how much we’d gotten. It wasn’t constant rainfall - came through in waves and there was enough time in between that the rain had time to soak in before the next wave came through. It worked out perfectly.

The corn is growing so fast now. It’s hard to believe it was only about a foot tall a little over a week ago. All the fields between here and the museum are beautiful with mostly corn and a few fields of soybeans. There’s one field that’s always been planted in cotton and I’m waiting to see what’s there this year. It was just planted before the rain arrived and the seedlings were too small this weekend to tell what they are. Maybe I’ll be able to tell next weekend.

[E.G.C.]

We had a great visit to Comanche Lake yesterday. Luckily not as crowded as yesterday but still people fishing out there.

[radu]

Well, good to hear. I was afraid you’d have even larger crowds to contend with yesterday. Gizmo looked quite pleased with how the day turned out. :-)

[luvie]

Gosh, I hope that field is far enough away that if it IS cotton, it won’t affect your and Bella’s allergies.

And I’m over here just happy that tomorrow’s high will be under 100. Barely. LOL!

I think I’m going to head for the barn. This morning’s 7:30 am is catching up with me fast. *yawn* See ya tomorrow!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Pro, thanks for the link...SFC Paul Smith, a true profile in valor.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A nice link...thanks.

[radu]

Yes, it’s far enough away. It’s at the edge of the town at the foot of the mountain.
In chatting with other people around here, there doesn’t appear to be any cotton this year. No one’s seen any anyway. If it’s out there, it’s way out in the boonies. That works!

Appreciate what breaks in the temps you can get! LOL Every little bit helps. You’re coming down and we’re going up. Our temps might match before it’s over. :-)

Sleep well. I’ll be following suit shortly. Getting ready to knock out the cat duties now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

My big box fan, that does a wonderful job, is plugged in and ready for use...80 is a killer!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mooch...we must remember their sacrifice.

[radu]

I hope you have more than the one fan so you can move air in more than one room.

I imagine 80s to y’all are like triple digits to us. Unbearable. Ugh!

[left that other site]

There are a number of events in our area, as there is a National Cemetery within 30 milees of where I live. My parents are buried there. All the towns are decked out in Red, White, and Blue, and Several Motorcycle Runs have been planned.

God Bless America.