Memorial Day

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No grandstanding. No controversy. No cries for peace. Just gratitude.

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(17/21)

Memorial Day

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No controversy. No cries for peace. No grandstanding.
Just remembrance and gratitude for those who gave everything for this country.



Day is done ... Gone the sun ...

From the lakes ... From the hills ...

From the sky ... All is well.

Safely rest ... God is nigh.

Fading light .. Dims the sight ...

And a star ... Gems the Sky

Gleaming bright from afar ...

Drawing nigh ... Falls the night.

Thanks and praise ... For our days.

Neath the sun ... Neath the stars ...

Neath the sky ... As we go ...

This we know ... God is nigh

~ Major General Daniel Butterfield

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Friday Wrap-Up

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If you pay attention to google you likely noticed that it is Tchaikovsky's birthday. I've always been a big fan of Tchaikovsky, although I prefer his lesser known symphonies over the likes of the Nutcracker and the 1812 Overture.

Take Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, "Pathétique", 1st movement (Part 1), performed by the Adagio. Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala of Milan and directed by Yuri Temirkanov.

Ahhhhh ... I don't care what anyone says, it just doesn't get any better than that ...

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I had to do something this week that I've never had to do before - order flowers for a memorial service.

Cam's girlfriend's grandmother died last week. We had the opportunity to meet her a few months ago and both Cam and I were invited to her memorial today. Although I won't be able to attend, it was the first time I've felt a desire to attend a service like this - not because I knew Grandma K well, but because I wanted to support the family during their time of grief.

Does this mean I'm finally growing up?

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Last Friday was my 4th wedding anniversary. Husband and I went to dinner together. Yes, that's a little odd considering we haven't lived together for 5 months now, but it seemed the "right" thing to do.

I will admit, I still have moments of hope. I take my wedding vows pretty damn seriously and struggle with the thought of going back on my word ... even when husband has already done so. I don't see wedding vows as reciprocal agreements - for better or for worse as long as you hold true to your commitment to for better or for worse - but rather as a commitment to the end result ... no matter what.

Yet spending those few hours with him last week brought back a flood of negative emotions and a reality slap up along side the head. I talked about family. He talked about work. I talked about goals and priorities. He talked about work. I talked about the future. He talked about work.

*shakes head* I just don't know if he has he capacity to give anything - or anyone - as much as he gives his job.

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My favorite picture from my Project 365 blog this week was the one I took for The New York Times "A Moment in Time" project. From their website:

Attention: everyone with a camera, amateur or pro. Please join us on Sunday, May 2, at 15:00 (U.T.C./G.M.T.), as thousands of photographers simultaneously record “A Moment in Time.” The idea is to create an international mosaic, an astonishingly varied gallery of images that are cemented together by the common element of time.

I was quite happy with how this turned out.

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Decoration Day (or Memorial Day, if You Prefer)

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The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

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I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did.

~Benjamin Harrison

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The Soldier's Creed

I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

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No ... this is not my "standard" type of post. Usually, you'd find an opinion - some confrontation - or an attempt at justification of why the military is not only needed in this country, but the most honorable gift of service one can give their country. Rather than posting a great deal of opinion, encouraging those who feel differently to focus on their argument, I decided instead to post three short pieces that each give a different view of the importance of the holiday in hopes that EVERYONE would focus on what is really important.

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Sunday Secret

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Of all of the things my son could do in his life that would make me proud, there is one thing that will generate far more pride than anything. Making the honor roll? Graduating from college? Choosing a life mate that makes him happy? No, none of these. The one thing he could do that will generate an abundance of pride is to serve in the military, and I have encouraged him to do so from an early age.

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Rememberance and TFT

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From The White House Commission on Remembrance:

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

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Has anyone noticed that new button I put over on the left side? The Tits for Troops link? You really should take a gander over there (it's a bit slow to load, but worth the wait). You might even see a few people that you recognize. Yes, it is a bit of an unusual Memorial Day Tribute, but the site is put together by the lovely Vixen and certainly qualifies as a troop morale booster. Anyone who is interested in participating can read more about it [HERE].

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HNT - Memorial Day

“It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”

~ Norman Schwarzkopf

*You know what to do if you want to see more*

Some of you may not know that I served 5 years in the U.S. Army - and yes - those are my original issue BDU's. It's been 13 years since I was active duty, yet not a day goes by where I do not think about those that served before me and those still serving.

During your picnics, barbecues and shopping, please take a moment to reflect on the reason we celebrate this holiday - to remember and honor those who have given their lives in service to our country.

The National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in Dec 2000 and asks that at 3 p.m. local time, all Americans "voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence ..." Please do!