[billethkid]

holiday.
Remember those who have gone before us and gave the ultimate price that we can enjoy the freedoms we cherish so much.

May god bless all those who have fallen, those who have served and those serving.

btk

[Boomer]

I am not sure it was a good idea to give up the traditional May 30 date of Memorial Day in exchange for a long weekend of parties and picnics and trips. I guess these long weekends are good for the economy and that was probably why the traditional date was dropped all those years ago. But I still hope they do not go after The 4th of July and obliterate that traditional date, too.

Like all of you, I remember when Memorial Day was Memorial Day.

When I was growing up, my parents were very involved in the American Legion and there was always a lot to do for Memorial Day.

There was a really long parade in those days. (And I was there, with the band, marching along, playing my clarinet.)

The Gold Star Mothers were honored.

And we all helped with the poppies. (The fabric poppies have been made available at this time of year, for many years. I read somewhere that it has been since 1921. Donations for those poppies go to help veterans.)

And always at the service at the cemetery, this poem by a WWI medical officer John McCrae "In Flanders Fields" was read.

...........


In Flanders Fields

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.

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


Mr. Boomer is a veteran. And I know that many of you are, too. Thank you.

Boomer

[Donna]

[swrinfla]

When I was a kid, my parents always celebrated Decoration Day in much the same way folks do now: huge picnic and such. The first few years I didn't realize that there was any reason to celebrate other than our neighbor's birthday!

Now, I make it point every year to go to the ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park. Y'all should try it! It's always a good show.

SWR

[njbchbum]

The older I get, the more I realize how grateful I am for the men and women who served in war and or conflicts that have preserved the freedoms we enjoy every day. Lately I have begun to include the families of those who served in my daily thanks. There was and still is absolutely nothing grand or glorious about going off to fight, but thank the Lord that they did and still do. I invited a vet to our barbeque today and he was moved when everyone thanked him for his service.

I only had an uncle who served in WW II [my Dad got sent home each of the 4 times he tried to enlist - flat feet!]; had one boss who spent his service time in a recruiting station [in downtown Newark, NJ] and another who served in memorial services in Viet Nam [he sent bodies home in bags - only section that got a bottle of booze as part of his pay!]; and I had a brother-in-law who served in Viet Nam [personally saw the effects of PTSD - every bit as bad as it is said to be]. That's as close to war as I have ever come - other than living thru the Viet Nam era.

Yet, the older I get, the more I feel the seriousness of remembering those who served and the families of those who served. I think I will donate my lapghans to a Veteran's home this Christmas and will try to think of other ways to say thanks all the year thru.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

The older I get, the more I realize how grateful I am for the men and women who served in war and or conflicts that have preserved the freedoms we enjoy every day. Lately I have begun to include the families of those who served in my daily thanks. There was and still is absolutely nothing grand or glorious about going off to fight, but thank the Lord that they did and still do. I invited a vet to our barbeque today and he was moved when everyone thanked him for his service.

I only had an uncle who served in WW II [my Dad got sent home each of the 4 times he tried to enlist - flat feet!]; had one boss who spent his service time in a recruiting station [in downtown Newark, NJ] and another who served in memorial services in Viet Nam [he sent bodies home in bags - only section that got a bottle of booze as part of his pay!]; and I had a brother-in-law who served in Viet Nam [personally saw the effects of PTSD - every bit as bad as it is said to be]. That's as close to war as I have ever come - other than living thru the Viet Nam era.

Yet, the older I get, the more I feel the seriousness of remembering those who served and the families of those who served. I think I will donate my lapghans to a Veteran's home this Christmas and will try to think of other ways to say thanks all the year thru.

Beautiful post, NJBB. I agree wholeheartedly.
Last night at the end of Patrick's karaoke show at Havana, he had 4 of the singers join him to sing patriotic songs and we all stood up and saluted. It was fantastic and it was hard to hold back tears.
God Bless America and our wonderful troops for protecting us!!