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Memorial Day~ A time for remembrance

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/27/2012 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
For those of us who live in the United State, this weekend is a holiday for us. It is "Memorial Day", and was originally called "Decoration Day"

Memorial Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. Today, this holiday is observed on the last Monday in May.

Each year I search the internet for information on this Holiday, and as I do…I seem to learn more and more about it. For instance,…. did you know that on Memorial Day, the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.
The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

I am sincerely thankful for the freedoms we have, and enjoy in this country, because of the ultimate sacrifice these great men and women gave. God Bless them and their families!

After the start of the 20th century, Memorial Day has also commonly become a tradition for families to honor and reflect the passing of all loved ones, wether they served in the military or not. Many do this by visiting and decorating their loved ones grave sites, and or getting together with other family members for a BBQ and many other activities including shopping.


Please take a moment to check out the links below, for a full and complete explanation of this traditional day of remembrance.

From www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp

These sites also have good information and poignant pictures.

www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert/meaning/

memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may30.html

"The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”


Please feel free to share your memories of family members, who gave their lives in service for this wonderful country.

Enjoy your Holiday weekend, and please be safe if you are traveling! cool

SE wink
Posted 5/27/2012 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
To those whom have made that sacrafice, may we always remember
and honor you and this great country, let Freedom ring...
Thank you
Posted 5/27/2012 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
OH!….and I would like to add another remembrance for all the service animals that have served our country and lost their lives as well. It may seem odd for me to add this….but the fact is,….they have served our country faithfully, and should be remembered this weekend. May God bless, and comfort their trainers and owners.

SE wink
Posted 5/27/2012 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
At church today... they had a really touching 3 or 4 minute video that they played...

Lots of people get caught up in the long weekend...BBQs...etc. - and forget what the holiday is really for. It was nice to take a moment this morning and have a quiet moment to pay respect and pray for those that have fought for the freedoms we all have.

Thanks for posting, Michael.... Hope everyone is doing ok this weekend.

--Tina
Posted 5/28/2012 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
I am surrounded by family members in the service. My dad and older brother are career retired Army and Air Force. My younger brother is Naval Reserves. My niece and her husband are active Air Force. And my Grandfather (deceased) was retired a Brigadier General and is buried at Arlington National Cemetary.

We are extremely blessed that we didn't/haven't lost anyone but know many families that have.

I always call each one of my loved ones on Memorial Day to let them know I love them, how proud I am of them, and how thankful I am to still have them in my life!

Will be saying prayers for all the families who have lost loved ones.
Posted 5/28/2012 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
We haven't lost any family members in the service to our country. I wanted to thank everyone that have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. I also want to thank everyone that have served or are serving.

My cousin served in the Army in the 80's and my 2nd cousin served in the marines the last few years. He's over here now, and I thank God we didn't lose him, as he was in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thank you Michael for reminding us all what the holiday is all about.

Jerome put our big flag out on our balcony today.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 5/28/2012 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
 

SE thanks for making this  Post

 

May we never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free!  I pray that it will aways remain that way!

 

White Beard

Posted 5/29/2012 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
This day has mixed meanings for me. First off- for those who have just fallen in the military I don't have a direct relation, but I do know some who do, and it is such heart wrenching prideful sorrow, its hard to describe.

Second - for those who were willing to give their all, but didn't have to. I have a few cousins who served reciently, they gave some, but got to come home.
I remember when I signed my service paperwork. I remember my gut check. AM I WILLING? am I THAT willing? My final decision was yes, I was willing to give all that I had, including my life, to my country. In the time that I served as a Navy corpsman it was peaceful, but I trained for when it was not going to be.
I was out and had my 2nd daughter by 9.11, so was not part of the recall.
I know that when a person says veteran they are asking for a wartime veteran. But I was willing. I did the gut checK. I would have if required of me. I am a veteran too.

Three- we have military veterans in our family going back generations. On Memorial day there is a family reunion, and later we drive out to the 5 cemeteries that hold our family back 7-9 generations.
We walk the paths, set out flowers, and tell stories about each one. about whatever can be passed down. "How did he die?" He was this other one's brother, but died When he was an infant. They started out from those who could remember, and then whent to "my grandma told me that this person here fought this man over here to date "grandma rose" . They never were friendly after that- but continued to live in the same area together for the rest of their lives."
Some of these are dirt road, twisted, tree covered, hill and holler areas till you get to a little white church with the old-time graveyard next to it.

Not only do I show my respect to my fallen veteran family, but my family history as a whole, how they fit into the story, and how my children fit into the stories.
(We drive 6 hours to get there)
Posted 5/29/2012 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
_Christina,….thank you for your perspective as a Veteran. I enjoyed reading your reflection on it.

……... and Thank You all who posted!….here we are at the start of another day..full of freedom. Again I'm grateful for those who paid the high price so that I can enjoy the dawn of a new day.

SE wink
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