I’m glad you started this thread. It got me thinking about all I have, and what it cost all those souls who died for my (and others’) freedom and security. Far too long I’ve thought of memorial day as “woohoo! summer’s here!” I’ll be a bit more reflective this time around.
Also, from racekarl’s link…
"In May 1996, the idea of the Moment was born when children touring Washington, DC, were asked what Memorial Day meant. They responded, “That’s the day the pools open!”
On December 28, 2000, by Public Law 106-579, the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance was established. The Moment has the personal support of the President of the United States. To read an overview of P.L. 106-579, and to read our Mission Statement, click here."
I’ll be taking a minute to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for their noble causes on Monday (3 p.m.).
ashkicker, I read fletcher’s memorial, and what struck me was that after all he had done, he was just 21! What an amazing guy your cousin was. And like him, 58,000 americans did not make it back. I’ll be thinking of him and others like him on memorial day.
My grandfather was a sailor in WWII and my father was in the Air Force during the first Gulf War, stationed in Saudi. Sadly they have both passed on in recent years - my grandfather two summers ago of heart failure and my dad 3 1/2 years ago from a stroke, possibly caused by exposure to something during the first Gulf War.
I’ll be celebrating Memorial day in much the same manner as my family always did while I was growing up, not with moments of silence or sober reflection, but with a camping trip. Almost every Memorial day we would load up and go camping, sometimes we’d visit the grandparents for a BBQ, and spend the long weekend out in the woods. We went out and enjoyed the freedom our armed services personal have fought and died for, we went out and enjoyed the magnifigance of the American wilderness, we went out and had a good time and didn’t worry ourselves with anything. So I think it’s fitting that’ll be out camping this weekend, on my first camping trip since moving to Texas no less.
I remember the sacrafices my father and grandfather (and the countless thousands of other soliders) made for this country every day, it’s too much a part of my life not too. All the memories I have of the 8th grade involve watching CNN, anxiously awaiting letters and phone calls from Dad and worrying everytime we heard about casulties at an American air base anywhere, since we didn’t know exactly where he was stationed. I still remember the first time my grandfather showed me his Navy scrapbook like it was yesterday. Memorial day is the day I celebrate what was bought with those sacrafices. Frankly the president and his commision can keep their moment rememberence, Monday at 3pm I’ll be sitting around a fire eating smores with my friends. On Tuesday I’ll resume my lifetime of rememberence.
For my part, I refuse to go shopping on Memorial Day or Veterans Day. Using this type of holiday as an excuse to lower prices is not a practice I care to support. I’ll grocery shop (on Saturday or Sunday), but I won’t buy clothes or a new appliance.*
A gathering of family and friends does seem appropriate–for years we all went to the cemetary to put flags out on the gravesites of local veterans, and then had a family reunion picnic.
One of my victories as a teacher was when I reminded my students to say a prayer (this was a Catholic school) on Memorial Day before they all went out to the beach or shopping, and one student came back and told that that she had done so, and would keep doing it. We need to educate our children about what these days are commemorating and help them find ways to respect them.
*There are pleanty of other sales if I really need to save a few bucks.
I’m a third generation Air Force pilot. My grandfather flew B-24s in WWII. My father flew rescue helicopters in Vietnam. I flew many aircraft (mostly C-141s, hence the username), but never anything in combat. I was in pilot training during the first Gulf War and was off of active duty by the recent one. Although I spent 10 1/2 years flying on active duty I still know that I did not risk anything as much as many people do during a war.
On Memorial Day I always remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for me. I try not to get sad or sentimental about it; instead when I eat that hot dog or spit out that watermelon seed I think that THIS is what everyone fought and died for: Americans enjoying their freedom, in fact celebrating it. Give these heroes a thought, nod your head in appreciation, and go on making the US the greatest country in the world to live in. They are happy, you are happy…Happy Memorial Day.
In memory of Capt. William Black, b. 1942, Tennessee; graduated West Point, Class of 1964; d. 1969, Vietnam. As is the tradition with Tennesseans, he had volunteered to go to Vietnam a second time.
Just down the road from me there is a VA Hospital and a Military Cemetery/Memorial Park. In preparation for Memorial Day, each grave has been marked with a small American Flag and the grounds have been manicured–they are always nice, but this is special. There will be a memorial service conducted there and, if it follows its usual pattern, there won’t be a dry eye among the attendees, mine included since my own brother-in-law is buried there.
To go back to the flag thing, I think it’s “OK” to leave a flag up 24/7/52 if it’s spotlighted. That’s what I was told by someone of some importance when I brought it up about the flag in front of my local police department when I was 12, IIRC, YMMV, so on, so forth.
Thanks for taking the time to read it. It meant a lot to me to finally get an idea of what happened. I was shocked to read the part where his brother hopped a cargo plane to go home for the funeral, and by some twist of fate Fletchers remains were on the same plane. As the story says, at least he wasn’t alone for the final flight home.
Although my little unassuming radio show is sports related, I was fortunate last evening to have Mr. Jim O’Donnell in as a guest. Jim was one of the 317 survivors of the USS Indianapolis. Memorial Day eve seemed like the appropriate time to hear this story firsthand. Great gentleman, unbelievable story. I will never have a more meaningful guest.
Today, I walked down to Arlington Cemetary with my girlfriend and did something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. First we paid a visit to the grave of Medgar Evers.
Then, we laid out a Union Jack on the pedestal of the statue of Field Marshal Sir John Dill. He is, so far as I know, the only foreign soldier to be buried on our most hallowed ground.
While I realize that today is a solemn day of rememberence for the contribution of those who served and defended the United States, I wanted to make a small gesture to remember our nation’s allies as well, whose soldiers have fought and died along with ours so many times, and so recently.
I hope that our friends across the pond will excuse any violation of flag etiquette I may have committed. My intent is to say “thank you” for your continued friendship and support.
