5-31 A Day of Remembrance

[rasputin1952]

Memorial Day

This is a day in which we remember those who have fallen in service to this nation. It is an important day, not just for those of that have served, but also for those who have benefited from their service, which my fellow Americans, is all of us.

Regardless of where we stand in the political spectrum, we owe all of those who lay in fields, or under the waves a debt we can only pay by remembering them. The men and women who died when called to service of our nation are, forever young. The lives they touched, so briefly, through their parents, their lovers their children were forever changed when they left this plane for the next. It is fitting that one one day of the year, we recall those that died in the Revolution right through to today's conflict. Whether we agree or not, in the conflicts this nation has endured, these men and women served when called, and paid dearly. This day is for them, not us.

The Revolution gave us a nation free from foreign rule. This nation survived as a loosely governed nation of states under a single banner until the Civil War. That conflict gave us many things, two of the most important were a beginning of freedom for people who had been enslaved , and a truly united, United States. We were no longer the United States, we became The United States. We came together under that single banner once again, that is something we should all be proud of.

Most of us know the origin of this day, implemented after the Civil War, and we know that it is a day of remembrance. It is not as Joyful as the 4th of July, but it also signifies the beginning of the Summer season, a time when things grow and there is life in the air, a look to a more hopeful future, born of those who gave the last full measure.

Before the grills get fired up, and the first beer can gets popped, I have a request. If you can, take a few moments and visit a cemetery and straighten some of the wind tossed flags that have been placed upon the graves of the fallen. If you can't get to a site where the fallen are resting, take a moment to reflect upon their memory, what they have given us, and perhaps how we can make this nation better, can we find a way we can put an end to war and further sacrifice?

I think they would appreciate that.

Thank you.

[Odin2005]

1. OMG, where did you get that Iwo Jima flag smiley? That's cool!

+1

[rasputin1952]

2. Here you go:

http://www.mysmilies.com/smileys/Genres/Occasions

[Odin2005]

3. Thanks!

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. K&R.

:patriot:

[rasputin1952]

5. To those that have gone on before:

[NYC_SKP]

6. KnR. Year-round, I have the habit of telling any service member I see, "Thank you for your service."

Retired or active, it's what I do, accompanied by a handshake.

:patriot:

[pinboy3niner]

7. K&R

:patriot: