I know many don't look at this day as anything more than a 3 day week-end- I'm OK with that- But there are a few of us for whom it does mean a bit more , it may jog the memory of an old friend or relative- For those of us who saw or experienced more than we needed too-long ago or recenty > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d8C4AIFgUg&feature=related"]War - Edwin Starr - YouTube
My father was in WWII. His father fought in WWI. I was secretly grateful during Viet Nam that I was a woman and was not pulled off to war as my friends were leaving. I knew it would have killed me, if not physically then mentally. My dog Grace and I take one of our daily walks at the cemetery. This week they set out all the flags for those who served in war. (served is such a strange word to use) You can't look in any direction without seeing a flag. Our cemetery has a Civil War section and a special military section but most of the flags are scattered throughout the space. So many wars. I am grateful for all of those who fought and served but I wish that they did not have to do that at all. I am frustrated that our country feels the need to police the world or that it is expected of us. I wish that those funds could stay here and help where needed for the homeless and hungry, for education etc. We have not participated in any war in my lifetime that was justified. That is just my humble opinion.
I saw some motorcycles yesterday but I generally don't drive too far afield on holidays because of all the bad drivers. Grace and I did go to the cemetery yesterday afternoon and caught most of the Memorial Day event. 21 gun salute, Taps and other band music. The speakers were not easy to hear (maybe a problem with their sound equipment?) It was so very hot out in the afternoon sun. Please stay safe this holiday and Remember the reason for Memorial Day.
This day isn't honored enough in my opinion . Most see just picnics ,pools opening , and no work . For every freedom we have and enjoy , it was paid for in blood . By brave people who put their countries needs above their own . They should ALWAYS be honored and remembered . It's true FREEDOM ISN'T FREE ! I agree with Spectacles , todays wars are bullshit for profit and greed . And must be stopped . Not only are they evil , there unconstitutional and illegal . It said our country is sleeping and our rights and country are being sold out from under us . To many brave , patriots gave their lives for these freedoms and rights we have just to let criminals steal them away from us today . We are going to learn a hard lesson about the price of freedom in our very own country . Rather the price of self absortion ,apathy and taking for granted that freedom is free . That VIGILANCE is the DUTY of EVERY CITIZEN . And we are going back into slavery and bondage because of the lack of it . The enemy today is no longer on foreign shores , the enemy we face today are in our own homeland . The enemy we face today is ourselves , and our own ignorance and stupidity . To all those who have served on these forums and every veteran in all the free world countries , I thank you for your service. Some of us still know the meaning of what you have given us . "From bondage to spiritual faith, From spiritual faith to great courage, From courage to liberty, From liberty to abundance, From abundance to complacency, From complacency to apathy,From apathy to dependence, From dependence back into bondage." Alexander Tyler
Happy Memorial Day, great posts everyone! Lets not forget to raise a glass to all who served and not forget the sacrifices made to ensure we can raise those glasses.
There's a heart-wrenching story that I recently uncovered doing my family genealogy. My 3rd Great Grandfather was believed to have died during the Battle Of Kennesaw Mountain (Georgia) during the Civil War, and to have been buried there during the battle. His Widow's Pension Applications stated that another soldier had reported this. My 3rd Great Grandmother always believed this was her husband's fate and I'm grateful that she did. The truth is that he was captured during that battle and spent the last months of his life dying with dysentery in the cruel conditions at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois. He is buried somewhere in the Confederate Mound at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. His name is listed on one of the plaques on this monument. There are other family stories dating back to the Revolutionary War in this country, and battles back into Europe where ancestors fought and died through the ages. I remember and honor their courage in their beliefs. Let none of us become apathetic.
