FReeper Canteen ~ Memorial Day 2018 ~ 28 May 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC & The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------ Memorial Day 2018 ------------------------

 

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

 

 

 

 

[mylife]

I’m ok, glad to have the day off.

[beachn4fun]

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale
of our military and our allied military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

HAPPY

Good morning everyone.
Thank you Star & Ma for today's thread.

Thank you to all our
AWESOME
Military, our Allies, and their families
for all you do.
Take a moment today to pat yourself on the back
for your continued dedication to the "job".

Sure hope those in the path of Alberto
are preparing for possible damage.
Remember to seal all important papers
in plastic bags and seal in freezer.
Prepare your pets.
Get to a safe place.

I read the headlines that Ellicott City in Maryland
is flooded again.
They were just about finished rebuilding/cleaning up
after 2016 flood.
We have had our share of rain this May.
I imagine our weather may get more wonky
from the volcano eruptions in Hawaii.

Remember those who gave all this weekend.

and our allied troops

Remember, the Canteen is a family friendly place.
We welcome the military, our allies, and their families.
Continued prayers for the success and completion of your mission.
Prayers for your safe return home.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. We’re remembering those who died for the freedoms we enjoyed today. How’s it going for you this morning?

[yarddog]

Thank you.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

Going okay. Trying to get motivated to fix breakfast; Mr. Beachy has already put in his request :)

If we don’t get rained out, we’ll be grilling burgers for dinner.

You got any plans?

[Neoliberalnot]

My daughter and son in law are moving to Petersburg Alaska in July. He is in the Coast Guard and is transferring from Kings Bay to patrol the inside passage.

[E.G.C.]

About to go do some early lawnmowing before it gets too hot today. Going to get hot all this week.

[fatima]

Happy Memorial Day Neoliberalnot,prayers for your family.

[fatima]

I’m proud to be an American - American Soldier Tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZZf619DIpo

[tinyowl]

Was just writing an email to a friend in Boston (we are a little club that stays in touch called the LBC - Last Boston Conservatives - we hide our identity by claiming it stands for Lesbian Bisexual Coalition or Liberal Bolshevik Coalition etc.)

Anyway ... I'm just copying and pasting from it because it applies today.

Interesting chat with my neighbor last night by a bonfire burning all the left over from the storm damage last October … his Dad was German army WW2. When the Russians started kicking their asses as the end … they all retreated towards the Americans - they were sandwiched at that point … knowing it was the lesser of two evils. He died about 2 years ago almost to the day. Henry my neighbor, not long after he died, found a 28 page diary/journal that his Dad wrote after the war to capture his experience … about the war, being a soldier. So he’s researching and writing a book (not interested in money, just a son wanting to know his Dad better. He calls today his 'reverse Memorial Day.')

If the German SS caught German army soldiers withdrawing (not deserting … withdrawing) -> they shot them on sight. (Obviously his dad wasn’t caught by the SS.)

Then there is Masha (the Russian I almost married but I remained a humble happy wood monk) … her grand dad was RUSSIAN army in the war. He was caught by the Germans, but released in a prisoner exchange during the war. If you were THAT … the Russians would put you out 150 - 300 yards in front of their advancing army (they did give you a gun, very nice of them) … so that you’d get shot first but the noise would detect the Germans. He also managed to survive that.

We are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lucky!

[luvie]

President Trump
Lays a Wreath at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
May 28, 2018

[MEG33]

Memorial Day
~We Honor And Remember Those Who Gave All~

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

[MEG33]

Watching now. Great picture

[ConorMacNessa]

MEMORIAL DAY 2018
Honor and Remember our Fallen!



"IN FLANDERS FIELDS"
(Click)
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt. Col. John McCrea
Canadian Expeditionary Force
3 May 1915

KEEP FAITH WITH OUR FALLEN!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good afternoon, E...((HUGS))...yes, we remember our heroes.

You and Gizmo have a good Monday, Memorial Day.

[Kathy in Alaska]

wh!!

radu.....#100!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey there, beachy....hope you had a good Memorial Day and are not in the path of flooding.

[Rastus]

Saw this at a Home Depot today:

[Kathy in Alaska]

Beautiful country.....

We thank him for his service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, tinyowl..........

WOW! Really interesting pieces of history. Thanks for sharing.