FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2008 ~ 26 May 08

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | StarCMC and GI Joe

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------ Memorial Day 2008 ------------------------

 

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  The Soldier's Faith by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.  WWII's Kilroy Was Here Vietnam Memorial - Virtual Wall Elaine's Memorial Day Page  I Love Freedom Memorial Day Links  Memorial Day  Dear American Soldier In Iraq  US Memorial Day - LOTS OF GREAT STUFF!! All POW MIA Memorial Day Page

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

"Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping Words by G.W.R. Music by Mrs. L. Nella Sweet Kneel where our loves are sleeping, Dear ones days gone by, Here we bow in holy reverence, Our bosoms heave the heartfelt sigh. They fell like brave men, true as steel, And pour’d their blood like rain, We feel we owe them all we have, And can but weep and kneel again. CHORUS Kneel where our loves are sleeping, They lost but still were good and true, Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting, We weep, ‘tis all that we can do. VERSE 2: Here we find our noble dead, Their spirits soar’d to him above, Rest they now about his throne, For God is mercy, God is love. Then let us pray that we may live, As pure and good as they have been, That dying we may ask of him, To open the gate and let us in. CHORUS Kneel where our loves are sleeping, They lost but still were good and true, Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting, We weep, ‘tis all that we can do."

 

 

 

[TASMANIANRED]

How cool is that..

Mine was regular navy but since he had a civil occupation that was considered very valuable..They stuck him on Guam making hooch..

Errrr....Fixing planes, boats, jeeps and everything else.

[AZamericonnie]

For those who fought for Freedom

We gather here today
To pay respect and honor
On this Memorial Day

For those who died for others
That all men might be free
The pride of our great Nation
The sons of Liberty

For all the sons and daughters
Who heard their Nation's call
For all the missing Heroes
On The Vietnam Wall

For all the weeping fathers
Who gave this land their own
For mothers who rocked the cradles
Of great Heroes that we've known

For those with "Pale Blue Ribbons"
For our Sailors who rest at Sea
Remember this Memorial Day
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

[bannie]

That’s a Dad and a Grandpa.

He stood up.

[Just Lori]

I gotta tell ya a true story.....

About a month ago, my cousin was in my neck of the woods. Mind you, this is one of my very favorite cousins. (I got him in all kinds of trubble when we were kids. Of course, no one blamed sweet Miss Lori for anything....such a angel, doncha know.)

Anyway, he lives in T-town, KS (so I don’t see him too often anymore) and is about to marry a woman who is 3 years older than he. (Oh, the horror!)

The two of them came to our place for dinner, and of course, the table topic turned to romance. This is marriage #2 for both of them. They were asking us about how we met, etc...... and the subject of the “special song” came up. Most couples have one. They wanted to hear our song, and thanks to you, we have that song on a CD now, and we can play it anytime we want, so....................

WE DID!

Of course, we HAD to dance, and, as usual, I HAD to cry.

It was a great evening! =)

[luvie]

Awesome poem about a somewhat overlooked segment of our military!

Thanks, Lady!

[mylife]

I know. I was just being clear.

I identify with both men even though I didnt know one.

[TASMANIANRED]

It was going great until I got my first copperhead bite of the year.

Was warm today...It’s been a very chilly May...

[AZamericonnie]

The best everywhere indeed dear Lady. *Hugs*

[Liberty Valance]

Celebration on Wall Street upon the news of Germany's surrender in World War I. November 1918. Photograph by W.L. Drummond.

[TASMANIANRED]

I noticed that.. I couldn’t refresh.

[bannie]

HAHA! Daddy was mostly on Tarawa (AFTER the heroes went in)...but, as a navigator, he also hopped to other spots.

[Just Lori]

OUCH! You ok?

[TASMANIANRED]

It’s probably something blocked from work...

Pacific theater was extremely costly.

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Luvvy. Hugs.

Gotta have black strappy heels with that dress.

[luvie]

Beautiful, Connie!

(((hugs)))

[TASMANIANRED]

I’ve been out of commission at home...

Confuser is in ICU.

[bannie]

Your dad’s picture shows up beautifully here. Taz, do some things get blocked? In a hospital?

[Randy Larsen]

OMG! You are beautiful!

What an awesome picture!

Thank You for sharing that photo!

[Just Lori]

That is the very month and year my Dad was born. He died on the anniversary of D-Day. 06-06-06. My brother said Dad was flippin’ off the devil. =)

[TASMANIANRED]

Durn.. I’m betting it was cute too.