Memorial Day MEMORIAL DAY, Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Cooking With Carlo ^ | May 23 2003 | Carlo3b

[carlo3b]

Memorial Day

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

A Brief History of Memorial Day Decoration Day The morning of May 5, 1865. The war weary townspeople of Waterloo, New York, continued the recent Sunday ritual of placing flowers, wreaths, and crosses on the graves of their fallen soldiers in their local cemetery. Much the same was happening throughout the country, in both the Northern and Southern states, as Americans slowly healed the wounds that ravaged our young nation during the Great Civil War. That same day, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, suggested at a social gathering that a more organized and official honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War. That idea was embraced by those in attendance, and from there a movement began to take shape. On May 5, 1866, additional civic societies joined the procession to the three existing cemeteries and were led by veterans marching to martial music. At each cemetery there were impressive and lengthy services including speeches by General Murray and a local clergyman. The ceremonies were repeated again on May 5, 1867. The following year, Retired Major General Jonathan A. Logan planned another ceremony, this time for the soldiers who survived the war. He led the veterans through town to the cemetery to decorate their comrades' graves with flags. This group was generally referred to as the "Old Guard." It was not a happy celebration, it was a memorial. The townspeople called it Decoration Day. During that memorial ceremony, the General delivered the following proclamation excerpt; Memorial Day Retired Major General Loan's proclamation; "The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country and during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit." 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 even before the end of the Civil War. A hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet, 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). At the first official memorial, flowers were placed on the graves of both the Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Poppy Day In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael (the mother of the Poppy) replied with her own poem: We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sell poppies to her friends and co-workers, the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later, Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael, and when she returned to France, she also made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit the war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later, their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3-cent postage stamp with her likeness on it. Since the late 50's, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry have placed a small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day as a 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, an official declaration passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act. 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. 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.

[carlo3b]

Bless you Cindy.. I can't thank you enough for remembering me, and all of us that served on this sad but wonderful day..

[Mo1]

What a beautiful tribute to your Uncle ..

My Grandfather also served in WWI .. I don't know much about him because excepted that he was gassed in the war and died a few years after being sent home .. My dad was very young when his father died

Here is a picture of of him and his buddies during the war .. he's the one on the bike

So many gave so much for us all to have the freedoms we so enjoy today .. God Bless them all

[Soaring Feather]

Memorial Day ~ May 31, 2004

On this day we honor you
the men of the red
the men of the white
the men of the blue

You gave your all
brave and bold
your nation's honor
you upheld
bore the terrible burden
without compliant
held our nation's honor high
without restraint

We honor you on this day
father, husband, brother, son
gave all you had
it was your life
for freedom's way
you gave your all

We honor and THANK YOU ALL.

bentfeather

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thank you from your country, thank you from my family, and thank you from the bottom of my heart . . . Bless them, HEROES ALL!

Amen. Thanks for sharing this with us, Carlo.

[doug from upland]

MIDI - IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

They died as America’s born
Spilled blood as they stormed foreign shores
They fought in a frigid Korea
These men who have died in our wars
They drowned in a far away sea
And baked on a hot desert sand
They fought in some forsaken jungles
They marched through a hell called Bataan

On this…Memorial Day…it’s time to be grateful…it’s time that we say
It’s proper and right that we honor them all
They had selflessly given their lives and had answered the call

So now, it is left in our charge…we know what’s right and wrong
And we must be prepared for a fight…we must always be strong

Say a prayer for the sacrifice made…for heroes in our history
They fought with their last ounce of courage…they knew freedom never is free

[ntnychik]

Fantastic sketches in post #76.
Waterloo, NY proudly celebrates Memorial Day in fine style every year on May 30.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

Thank God for all of our heroes. God bless America!

[Cindy]

You're welcome Carlo.
I'll never forget and neither will my family.

[radu]

Thank you, carlo, for sharing this about your great-uncle with us. And for this thread.

God bless our military men and women, both past and present!

[jellybean]

I Am A Soldier 

I am a soldier. 
My blood permeates the soil of many countries.

I have gasped my last breath on many a desolate 
stretch of beach. For you...all of you, the children 
who play in the parks, the mothers who watch over them,
 the fathers who struggle to sustain them.

There are those here who have belittled and reviled me, 
who have made a mockery of me and what I stand for.
 You, also, have I suffered and died for. 
I withstood heat, insects and disease 
So the right to dissent would be yours.

I endured the pain and terror of battle and the maiming 
of my body to ensure that you might worship as 
you please. I died in agony in order that you, 
no matter who or what you are, 
Have the freedom to choose your own destinies.

AND I WOULD DO IT AGAIN 
because I believe in the ideals that made this country
 what it is today... FREE.
 I love her with a deep and abiding love
 that transcends mere physical pain.

I AM A SOLDIER. 
Pray that I will always be there, 
for if I disappear from this country, so will you.

~ Anonymous ~

[chainsaw]

On this Memorial Day 2004, I though it appropiate to post The Pledge of 'Allegiance as recited by one of the funnest and patriotic men that ever lived - Red Skelton.

In 1969 Red Skelton made the following recording.
An explanation of the Pledge Of Allegiance.

I: Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge: Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance: My love and my devotion.

To the Flag: Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United: That means that we have all come together.

States: Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic: Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands ,One Nation:
One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible: Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty: Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice: The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All: For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country,
and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance:
Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer,
and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

Red Skelton

[chainsaw]

appropiate = appropriate

[dansangel]

What a beautiful and touching story ((((((Carlo)))))). Your Uncle Joe is a man very worthy to honor. Thank you for sharing his story on this day set aside to remember.

I'd like to post a remembrance of my own to the man whose MIA bracelet I wore 30 years ago - SSGT. Richard A. Fitts:

Staff Sergeant Richard A. Fitts

I never knew you
But I will always remember you.
You were part of the MIA list
A silver bracelet upon my wrist
Bearing your name and rank.
I never had the chance to thank
You and all of the rest
Who sacrificed all while doing their best
To ensure freedom for those like me.
Because of you today we are free.

So instead I vow to pray
For your soul and the others each day.
I am grateful to all women and men
Who served our country and often
Made sacrifices huge and small.
I thank our military for them all.

Staff Sergeant Fitts you gave your life
And the hurt cut like a knife
For the family you left behind.
They prayed for your remains to find.
Many years later their prayers were heard,
Their grief indescribable by words.
One thing is true, though perhaps understated
Your sacrifice will always be greatly appreciated.


© May 30, 2004 by dansangel

[imintrouble]

To my magnificent husband.

Sleep with the angels my hero and with your fallen comrades.

I will never forget.

[Neenah]

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Interesting facts about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Sentinels of the Third United States Infantry Regiment "Old Guard"

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? 21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why? 21 seconds, for the same reason as answer number 1.

3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time, and if not, why not? No, he carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30".

Other requirements of the Guard:

They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. They cannot swear in public FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way.

After TWO YEARS, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.

The first SIX MONTHS of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends FIVE HOURS A DAY getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

The Sentinels Creed:

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted. In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection. Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability. It is he who commands the respect I protect. His bravery that made us so proud.

Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.

More Interesting facts about the Tomb of the Unknowns itself:

The marble for the Tomb of the Unknowns was furnished by the Vermont Marble Company of Danby, Vt. The marble is the finest and whitest of American marble, quarried from the Yule Marble Quarry located near Marble, Colorado and is called Yule Marble. The Marble for the Lincoln memorial and other famous buildings was also quarried there.

The Tomb consists of seven pieces of rectangular marble: Four pieces in sub base; weight Â- 15 tons; One piece in base or plinth; weight Â- 16 tons; One piece in die; weight Â- 36 tons; One piece in cap; weight Â- 12 tons; Carved on the East side (the front of the Tomb, which faces Washington, D.C.) is a composite of three figures, commemorative of the spirit of the Allies of World War I.

In the center of the panel stands Victory (female).

On the right side, a male figure symbolizes Valor.

On the left side stands Peace, with her palm branch to reward the devotion and sacrifice that went with courage to make the cause of righteousness triumphant.

The north and south sides are divided into three panels by Doric pilasters. In each panel is an inverted wreath.

On the west, or rear, panel (facing the Amphitheater) is inscribed:

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD

The first Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a sub base and a base or plinth. It was slightly smaller than the present base. This was torn away when the present Tomb was started Aug. 27, 1931. The Tomb was completed and the area opened to the public 9:15 a.m. April 9, 1932, without any ceremony.

Cost of the Tomb: $48,000

Sculptor: Thomas Hudson Jones

Architect: Lorimer Rich

Contractors: Hagerman & Harris, New York City

Inscription: Author Unknown

(Interesting Commentary)

The Third Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer has the responsibility for providing ceremonial units and honor guards for state occasions, White House social functions, public celebrations and interments at Arlington National Cemetery and standing a very formal sentry watch at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The public is familiar with the precision of what is called "walking post" at the Tomb. There are roped off galleries where visitors can form to observe the troopers and their measured step and almost mechanically, silent rifle shoulder changes. They are relieved every hour in a very formal drill that has to be seen to be believed.

Some people think that when the Cemetery is closed to the public in the evening that this show stops. First, to the men who are dedicated to this work, it is no show. It is a "charge of honor." The formality and precision continues uninterrupted all night. During the nighttime, the drill of relief and the measured step of the on-duty sentry remain unchanged from the daylight hours.

To these men, these special men, the continuity of this post is the key to the honor and respect shown to these honored dead, symbolic of all unaccounted for American combat dead. The steady rhythmic step in rain, sleet, snow, hail, heat and cold must be uninterrupted. Uninterrupted is the important part of the honor shown.

Recently, while you were sleeping, the teeth of hurricane Isabel came through this area and tore hell out of everything. We had thousands of trees down, power outages, traffic signals out, roads filled with downed limbs and "gear adrift" debris. We had flooding and the place looked like it had been the impact area of an off-shore bombardment.

The Regimental Commander of the U.S. Third Infantry sent word to the nighttime Sentry Detail to secure the post and seek shelter from the high winds, to ensure their personal safety.

THEY DISOBEYED THE ORDER!

During winds that turned over vehicles and turned debris into projectiles, the measured step continued. One fellow said "I've got buddies getting shot at in Iraq who would kick my butt if word got to them that we let them down. I sure as hell have no intention of spending my Army career being known as the damned idiot who couldn't stand a little light breeze and shirked his duty." Then he said something in response to a female reporters question regarding silly purposeless personal risk... "I wouldn't expect you to understand. It's an enlisted man's thing." God bless the rascal... In a time in our nation's history when spin and total b.s. seem to have become the accepted coin-of-the-realm, there beat hearts - the enlisted hearts we all knew and were so damn proud to be a part of - that fully understand that devotion to duty is not a part-time occupation. While we slept, we were represented by some damn fine men who fully understood their post orders and proudly went about their assigned responsibilities unseen, unrecognized and in the finest tradition of the American Enlisted Man.

Folks, there's hope. The spirit that George S. Patton, Arliegh Burke and Jimmy Doolittle left us ... survives.

On the ABC evening news, it was reported recently that, because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabel approaching Washington, DC, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They refused. "No way, Sir!"

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment; it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

[imintrouble]

Thank you thank you - such a traumatic weekend with almost an overload of services and emotions running heavily through me.

It is my first Memorial Day having even more significance than the previous ones in my life, but I was able to write a bit this morning here and it was wonderful because I know everyone on this forum understands...what I am feeling.

Thank you for your post.

[deadhead]

FRANK CARL AMBROSIO SP4 ARMY
9/30/1948 - 4/30/1969

FRANK ANDREW GAGLIARDO SGT MARINE CORPS
8/18/1934 - 10/30/1965

GEORGE BERNARD HESSE PFC ARMY
8/31/1947 - 9/21/1968

BRUCE EDWARD KANE CPL MARINE CORPS MIA
7/7/1949 - 8/9/1969

MICHAEL ALEXANDER LACKNER PFC MARINE CORPS
10/3/1950 - 7/15/1969

WILLIAM ANDREW MONTANO LCPL MARINE CORPS
6/7/1951 - 11/19/1970

RONALD FRANCIS RICCIARDO SP4 ARMY
12/7/1948 - 3/28/1969

God Bless Our Fallen Heros and their loved ones.
Prayers for all.

~Colleen~

[jwalsh07]

I knew most of then and Chicky Ambrosio was the first guy who ever punched me in the nose without warning. :-}