Posted on 05/22/2003 9:55:08 PM PDT by sfwarrior
"We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." -- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, Nov. 19, 1863
Five years after Lincoln pronounced those immortal words for the dead on the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, Pa., Gen. John A. Logan proclaimed on May 5, 1868, the precursor of the Memorial Day holiday. Logan established the observance, first known as Decoration Day, as a time to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. Both the North and the South, in order to commemorate the Civil War's fallen heroes, took up Logan's call. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868.
Logan declared that Decoration Day was "designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating, the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. It is the purpose to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept from year to year."
Congress made Decoration Day a national holiday in 1887. The reconciliation of North and South was a major theme, and, frequently, "Blue-Gray" reunions of the Civil War's survivors became an integral part of the early memorial ceremonies.
Today, what is now called Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. Unfortunately, for many, the holiday is merely a day for barbecues and beer, and the start of summer. Over the past few decades, few Americans have employed the holiday for the purpose for which it was originally proposed -- to attend both commemoration ceremonies at national cemeteries and generally modest and solemn parades that occur throughout the nation. These parades are not displays of military might; rather, they are dignified processions to honor the dead. But, following 9/11, many things have changed. And the rising national patriotism and corresponding respect for the brave men and women in uniform mark just some of those indelible changes.
We Will Always Remember
Our fallen heroes have never been totally forgotten. Through the past decades of neglect and unpopularity, particularly following the Vietnam War, Boy Scouts have done and continue to do what most Americans do not: Each year, in all our national cemeteries, including the Presidio's San Francisco National Cemetery, they decorate every grave with an American flag.
The government maintains 129 national cemeteries throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. More than 50 of them have no space for additional graves. (After topping out at 30,000 spaces, the San Francisco National Cemetery stopped new burials in 1992.) Almost 2 million people are buried in these places. That's yeoman's work for these dedicated Scouts. Our nation tips our hats to them.
The commemorations that occur this Memorial Day will take on a special significance in the holiday's 135-year-old history. Many Memorial Day ceremonies throughout the nation will pay tribute to the fallen heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the first woman in our nation's history to ever die in combat: PFC Lori Ann Piestewa, an American Indian from Arizona.
President Bush and military leaders have now called on Americans to include remembrances to the victims of Operation Iraqi Freedom in their prayers. Many Americans have already responded with trips to military-related sites during the past few months. Battlefield parks and patriotic memorials all across America are reporting surging numbers of tourists.
Gen. Joseph Ralston, who just retired as commander in chief of the U.S. European Command, in Stuttgart, Germany, recently called for a deeper commitment to freedom. "Much has occurred since we last marked Memorial Day, and the enduring value of the freedom we cherish is now much clearer," said Ralston in his Memorial Day message. "The tragic events of Sept. 11 remind us that while liberty may be fragile, with courage and sacrifice Americans are willing and able to defend it."
More than 100,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are buried on European soil. They fell while defending Europeans in two world wars. These fallen heroes will now be honored this weekend, by both thankful Europeans and proud Americans, at several national cemeteries spread throughout Europe and administered by the American government. Why would our soldiers give up their lives to defend Europeans? What motivates soldiers is not hate, but love. Engraved on the tombstones of many of the fallen in Europe and America is this simple biblical message: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (St. John 15:13).
The National Cemetery Administration's Web site lists Memorial Day Commemoration events at cemeteries throughout the nation. There may be an event in a community near you. Not everyone has a national cemetery nearby, but communities have different kinds of commemorations at various locations such as national parks, monuments, battlefields, American Legion posts or even Main Street, USA.
The San Francisco Memorial Day Ceremony Schedule
The San Francisco Memorial Day Ceremony will begin with a small but dignified parade from the Presidio's Parade Ground to the National Cemetery, about a one-quarter-mile route, plus a 21-gun Howitzer salute, a fighter-jet flyby of California National Guard planes, music by San Francisco's 91st Division Pipes and Drums and a medley of service songs by the Concord High School Band. There will be antique military vehicles on display, speeches by real heroes active-duty soldiers and veterans from four wars going back to World War II -- and Mayor Willie Brown and other political leaders. This is a great family day in the sun, so bring the kids.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26 at the Parade Grounds in the Presidio. The commemoration ceremonies, held at the Presidio National Cemetery, begin at 11 a.m. Click here to find directions, ask questions and obtain more information.
As this is also the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, a special ceremony will feature Jong-hoon Kim, consul general of the Republic of Korea, who will honor our nation's fallen soldiers of that war.
San Francisco is a town that doesn't really honor its living or fallen veterans, as evidenced by the poor turnout for these commemorations. The San Francisco Memorial Day Parade committee asked the city for a mere $10,000 for this year's commemoration and was given only $5,500 for administrative costs. The city paid more than $500,000 a day for a period of several weeks in order to control the raucous anti-war protests just a month ago. It had no trouble finding that money. But for the preservation of the memory of our fallen heroes, the message is clear: Here's five stinking grand, and be thankful you get it.
This city is also largely an anti-war town, as mass demonstrations opposing Operation Iraqi Freedom made clear. However, many of the protesters said, presumably in earnest, that they honor and support the GIs but were merely opposing our government's involvement in the Iraqi liberation. Well, maybe. Let see just how many of the tens of thousands of these protesters really support the troops. How many of them will now show up to pay their respects on Memorial Day? Don't hold your breath.
It is clear to most veterans that quite a few people are even more anti-war... (DON'T STOP NOW - READ THE WHOLE FRICKING THING!
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Sorry, don't what came over me...just got back from the Smokey Backroom...
Liberals don't give a damn how many sacrifices are made to protect their "freedom" to be selfish, egotistical a$$4oles..
Damn them all.
I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of the Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping. - George Washington
saying .... while the long light ... and all so calm.
"Pickett came
And the south came
And the end came
And the grass comes
And the wind blows
On the bronze book
On the bronze men
On the grown grass,
And the wind says
Long ago
Long
ago.
John Brown's Body
Stephen Vincent Benet
A reflective Memorial Day Week-End to all.
Pax-Aye
Adam Sparks is a diamond amongst a lot of dirt.
I think I will send a thank you Email to him.
These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
And people say the Founding Fathers are "out of date". Rrrright.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.