The FReeper Foxhole - Memorial Day - Today We Remember Those Who Gave All - May 31st, 2004

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

A Brief History of Memorial Day



On this day, we pay tribute to those whose lives were sacrificed for our freedom.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It began during the Civil War when organized women's groups in several towns throughout the South decorated the graves of the Confederate war dead with flowers, wreaths and flags. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5th, 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 May 30, 1868.



Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The occasion is also marked in almost every State on the last Monday in May. Several southern states, however, 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.

Here is General Logan's official order:

General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868 The 30th day 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 during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard 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.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from his honor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

By order of
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief
N.P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant General
Official:
WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

---

---

FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the flag-o-gram. Love your tagline. I'm going to have to see if I can freep with one arm tied behind my back! ;-)

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for those beautiful thoughts Bravo Whiskey.

I just came back from The Oregon Memorial Day Services. Listening to the 800 name of Oregonians who died in Vietnam and then the names of those who have died in Agfhanistan and Iraq is very very sobering. It make sMemorial Day seem so much more personal.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Radu.

[snippy_about_it]

Talk about teary eyed. At the service Sam and I went to today at Portland's Vietnam Memoral they had not only a bugler but also a bagpiper. He wondered around the living ampitheater in the woods playing. Wow.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon Victoria.

We had a beautiful Service once again at the Oregon Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for to support Snippy. As I get older these services seem to take more and more out of me.

[SAMWolf]

I have to admit that bagpiper was good. Hard to believe how young his was.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the video link PE. It looks like they've changed the ending from the way I remember it. Looks updated. Thanks for sharing it with us today.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Mayor for the word on this Memorial Day.

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you RC for your Foxhole post.

[snippy_about_it]

Afternoon Mud.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for "fallin in" at the Foxhole today SandRat.

[Samwise]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1144671/reply?comment=95

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you bravo whiskey for sharing with the Foxhole today.

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon radu.

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon Victoria.

[snippy_about_it]

No thanks needed. I was proud to stand at your side.

[Diver Dave]

From our house to y'all...Memorial Day Greetings...

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. I love it. I haven't gotten any further than today's thread. Almost finished so I'll head over to yesterday's thread to see how you did.

[snippy_about_it]

Good afternoon Diver Dave. Sam and I attended a moving service today and afterward toured the USS Blueback sub!