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Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
May 31, 2010 6:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
Grumpy's poetry is no match for Memorial Day--but we can't do better than the Bard, from Henry V:

This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Remember to lift one to our fallen heroes.

Grumpy
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519069 by Grumpy Grinch
May 31, 2010 8:43am
Thread (disabled) Board
Courage is not the absence of fear, rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. Brave ones don't live forever,the cautious do not live at all. Thanks to all the men and women who make America the home of the brave and the heart of democracy in this world....
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519069 by Grumpy Grinch
May 31, 2010 7:27pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm going with In Flanders Fields, John McCrae's WWI poem--because my 19yr old son had never heard it before & didn't know why I wore my shirt with the poppies on it today....

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.
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519186 by Sheba
May 31, 2010 9:02pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I have to admit that for much of my life Memorial Day was the the weekend the pools opened and a time for a BBQ. But that began to change a few years ago when we studied the patriotic holidays in our homeschool. Yesterday changed me even more.

We, as a family, attended a scout event at the local National Cemetery and completed the solemn processional to the flagpole. After raising the flag, the pledge of allegiance, the invocation, speech and recognition of eagle scouts and military personal (which was one of our scout's dads - their family leaves for a 3 year tour overseas tomorrow), the flag was lowered to half-mast while two buglers played taps.

Hearing the bugles, watching the flag lowering, being surrounded by rows and rows of white tombstones and remembering my grandfather-in-law's burial at that same cemetery just a year ago (WWII vet)......there are no words. I'm honored to have been there and humbled by the sacrifice given for my country and for me.

We placed flags on all the graves - we being the 5000 scouts plus their leaders and families. Family members coming to see their loved ones' graves thanked us for placing the flags. Wow - all I did was stick a flag in the ground a few dozen times - their loved ones deserve the gratitude.

I think I'm finally beginning to understand this holiday now.

light travelers
Re: Memorial Day
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Reply to: #519204 by Light Travelers
May 31, 2010 9:17pm
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Thank-you for posting this. I too spent the weekend in a National Cemetery. It is truly humbling to see all those stones in perfect alignment and the feeling of sacrifice is felt.

~Aurora
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519204 by Light Travelers
May 31, 2010 9:18pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I think I'm finally beginning to understand this holiday now.

I know what you mean. For me, the revelation was two years ago in England...on Veteran's Day. They call it remembrance day, and all the stores sell paper poppies for people to wear on that day. Proceeds to local veteran's charities. It happened to fall on Sunday, and we were attending church when at the appointed hour, (I think it was 11, or 11:30) the entire country rose to their feet and observed five minutes of silence in remembrance of the veterans who came home...and the ones who didn't. Afterward one old man, a veteran, spoke to us, and thanked us for the aid that America sent, both during and after the war. He said without our help, they would have lost...and they would also have starved to death. Our shipments of food, particularly Spam, were life-giving, and 60 years later he was still moved to tears with his gratitude. He said this was his first opportunity to thank any American for the generosity of their country. All we could do was stand there and bawl, and accept his gratitude on behalf of our nation. I think of him on both Memorial and Veteran's day, every year, and I still cry with the memory of his gratitude, and my own thankfuilness to live here in such a great place.

Romana
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519069 by Grumpy Grinch
May 31, 2010 10:21pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I know it's not technically Memorial day anymore where I am, but it's never too late or a bad time to thank a service member for all that they so. I was recently in TN and while driving back from Memphis for the day I saw a sign on the side of the road that said there was a national cemetery. I just had to go and pay my respects. It was an awakening experience to see that place in person.
Re: Memorial Day
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Reply to: #519208 by Romana
May 31, 2010 10:24pm
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What a beautiful story...thank you for sharing your experience. It brought tears to my eyes...

Blue Sandpiper
Re: Memorial Day
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Reply to: #519220 by Blue Sandpiper
May 31, 2010 11:32pm
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I have to admit I was disheartened this Memorial Day when hardly any flags flew in my small town, and the news didn't bother to focus on any Memorial Day events other than protests . . .
I came to Atlasquest, just before turning in, to check on Green Tortuga's progress and happened to notice the heading, "Memorial Day".
I am so glad I clicked on it and read the entries.
I've had my cry, given my thanks and remembered . . . . .

Thank you - Dezert Ratty
Re: Memorial Day
Board: Off Topic, Wildly
Reply to: #519232 by Dezert Ratty
Jun 1, 2010 5:51am
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Good to hear from you, DR!! Just saw your picture on my computer yesterday and thought of you. From the Con...:-D Good times..
OD
Re: Memorial Day
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Reply to: #519256 by Okie Dog
Jun 1, 2010 7:56am
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Oh scary for you - seeing my picture . . . . ha ha
I've been w/o computer and just getting back into the swing of things - behind in everything - and I mean everything :-O
CON seems like yesterday and a zillion years ago all at once!
It was something though, wasn't it :-)
DR
Re: Memorial Day
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Reply to: #519277 by Dezert Ratty
Jun 1, 2010 8:32am
Thread (disabled) Board
Hey, roomie! Nice to hear from you. It does seem like the con was just last month - and an eternity ago. It was a great time - great boxes, great classes but mostly, great people!

TrailTroll