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

 

 

 

 

[MarvinStinson]

American troops of the 1st Infantry Division leaving the port of Weymouth, England
en route to Omaha Beach in Normandy in June 1944

.
; June 6th, 1944- Into the Jaws of Death

Tom Jensen, sergeant with the 626th Engineer Light Equipment Company, told the Chicago Tribune that many of the men he served with had no idea where they were going on that day:

They didn't tell us anything we didn't need to know. Heck, some of the guys on our ship thought we were headed to Japan, not Normandy. Just months earlier, we were either in high school or working odd jobs.

.

[MarvinStinson]

[MarvinStinson]

[MarvinStinson]

We don't know them all,

but we owe them all.

[MarvinStinson]

Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it.

It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.

[MarvinStinson]

GEORGE S. PATTON

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.

Rather we should thank God such men lived."

[MarvinStinson]

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! ((hugs)) Looks like y'all had a very fun visit to the lake yesterday! I'll bet it will be crowded today! Gizmo is really thinking about all that lovely water!

[luvie]

Everyone Remember Their Sacrifices
They would want YOU to celebrate THEM!

Ray Stevens~The Fallen Ones

[higgmeister]

Kathy, today is observed Memorial Day and traditional Memorial Day.   They both fall on the same day this year.   My Dad was so proud that he was born on Memorial Day and was piqued about the law that changed the observed date.   My Dad would have been 99 years old today.   Although Dad didn't die in battle or even in service, Memorial Day holds extra significance for me.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...looks like a good time was had by all yesterday. Hope today didn’t have too many people so you and Gizmo had lots of fun.

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

radu.....#50!!

[ExTexasRedhead]

Band of Brothers - One of America’s best series ever!!

We Stand Alone Together - Band of Brothers Documentary (HBO full documentary interviews of Easy Company)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6j_nop4wh0

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, higgmeister...I’m really, really late, but thank you for sharing your story about your Dad being born on Memorial Day and being so proud.

Happy 99th birthday, Dad in heaven.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Late, but thank you, ETR, for the link to the Band of Brothers.

[higgmeister]

Thank you Kathy!   Dad was a WWII Veteran, and was in the CCC Camps before that too.

[jmacusa]

Hi Kathy.

A Blessed and Respectful Memorial Day to you.

Without the Brave there is no Land of The Free.