It's not too soon to be thinking about Memeorial Day which falls on 31 May this year. These things can come upon us very quickly.
Here's a little reminder of what it's all about. Be sure and pass it on to your kids.
"Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars take donations for poppies in the days leading up to Memorial Day; the poppy's significance to Memorial Day is the result of the John McCrae poem "In Flanders Fields."
In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also used as a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sporting events. One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911."
If you need a good flag kit, here's one for you.
And there's lots more patriotic gear here. Show your patriotism and shame the liberals into being proud Americans again.
ANOTHER MEMORIAL DAY
ReplyDeleteTaps play mournfully o’er the grave
Loved ones bow their heads and weep
The Flag folded, casket lowered down
And the Hero, laid to endless sleep.
This scene played out too many times
With all the sadness and the pain
As War torn hearts ache with the loss
It happens, time and time again.
All people should attend a Service
To see the Honor Guard in dress attire
To hear the bugler play that sad tune
And to be startled, when the rifles fire.
A small tribute to those who gave all
The true Patriots of our great Land
To face the horrors of the battlefield
Where sometimes, Freedom makes its stand.
War seems to be the only way, we humans
Know, to change what we don’t like
It seems; peaceful times are short lived
Before there’s another military strike.
The military/industrial complex wins
No matter, if war is won or lost
And the New World Order thirst for power
Uncaring, what their selfish goals may cost.
Maybe one day, we can live together
And learn to respect those different ways
Before we destroy ourselves and Earth
And end the terrible price the Soldier pays.
But until that day finally comes, if ever
And our Brave, no longer have to die
We must Honor their ultimate sacrifice
Even as we wait and ponder, "Why?"
And instead of just a day off work
To enjoy the pleasures of our Country
Just remember what this day is for
To Honor those who gave all, for you and me.
Del "Abe" Jones
A National Moment of Remembrance
On Memorial Day
That poem about where “poppies blow”
And, “the crosses, row on row”
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.
We still have Dead, “amid the guns”
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, “short days ago”
Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”.
In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red”
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe”
And still die for Freedoms that we know.
They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high”
And not, “break the faith with us who die”
For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow”
Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row”
In Flanders Fields.
Del “Abe” Jones
4-25-2005
Many places and people lay claim to being first to celebrate our Memorial Day but it is a time for all Americans to come together to Honor our War Heroes from all Wars. A three day weekend when we should all pause a moment and remember them as decreed by President Clinton in the year 2000. http://www.usmemorialday.org/speeches/president/may0200.txt
I have “stolen” some partial lines from the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Canadian John McCrae in 1915.
Info about McCrae and poem at http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/McCrae.html and/or http://www.edu.pe.ca/vrcs/remembrance2000/flanders.html
Visit http://www.inflandersfields.be/default2.htm for Flanders Fields Museum
MEMORIAL DAY QUOTES & POEMS DOWNLOAD >>>
ReplyDelete