Memorial Day 2009 Musings

Iowa Jima memorial

When you drive down the main street, you know right off what Parris Island, SC is all about.


Meet Hummer, the Devil Dog Marine Corp mascot. Great dog!


Memorial Day weekend Sunday. Honorable Dress Blues...

My honorable Marine set out this morning to buy a few supplies and rations, and before I could say Memorial Day, he had come back, mounted a new bracket with a new "Old Glory" waving from the front porch. (this slow mom had not put out our faded flag because of the rain last night).
And so we remember...
This day is historically set aside to remember all who have given their lives as the price that our country has had to pay to keep our freedoms. May we never forget the cost of what we hold so dear.
Freedom.
God Bless America.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To 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 or listening to "Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

God bless our military.
Remember our heritage. Remember those who gave their very life for your freedom.