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Memorial Day… Remembering Those Who Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice
May 28, 2007
Today is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day of rememberance. A day to honor and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation. A day to pay tribute and show our appreciation for those who have fallen in the name of Freedom. Many of our children have no idea what Memorial Day is about. Instead they look forward to the weekend as nearing the end of their school year, a family barbecue, going to the lake, parties and aren’t aware of how Memorial Day came about or what it means. I’m going to post 2 songs here for you to listen to, as I feel that they are very fitting and appropriate for Memorial Day.
[audio:https://soldiersmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/arlington.mp3]
Arlington
Today, the traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years with many Americans forgotting the meaning and traditions surrounding this special day of observance. In many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are often ignored and neglected. Many think that Memorial Day is a day to honor all dead and not just those who have fallen in service to our Country. Many look upon Memorial Day weekend, as the kickoff to their summer. They look on it as the first weekend that they take out their boats, head to the lake, get together with friends… yet not taking the time to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. A sacrifice which allows them to continue to have these freedoms.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, who was the National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. The first observance of Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize Memorial Day was New York in 1873 and by 1890 it was recognized in all of the Northern States.
Initially the South refused to recognize Memorial Day and chose instead to honor their dead on other days, until after World War I, when it changed from just honoring the Civil War dead, to honoring those who died fighting in any war. Memorial Day is now celebrated in every State on the last Monday in May. In 1971 Congress passed the National Holiday Act to ensure a 3 day weekend for Federal Holidays.
Because of the fact that many Americans have forgotten what Memorial Day is about, the National Moment of Rememberance resolution was passed in December 2000, which asks that at 3pm on Memorial Day, that ALL Americans voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of rememberance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or by listening to Taps. This Moment of Rememberance is a step in the right direction. However, America has a long way to go, to get back to the full intention of the original Memorial Day. A day set aside out of the year to get together with others and remember, reflect and honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their all in service to our Country.
I challenge each of our readers, to take the time on Memorial Day to remember and honor our fallen servicemembers. To pay respect to them and remember the sacrifices that they have each made for our Country. Take a moment from your busy weekend, go to your local cemetery and pay respects to the fallen warriors. Attend a memorial service in honor of our fallen warriors. Do something to pay honor, respect and tribute to our fallen warriors. Teach your children the history of Memorial Day and teach them to honor our fallen heroes. They are the reason that we are able to enjoy so many things that we take for granted. They are the reason that we’re able to speak our mind, live our lives in freedom and enjoy the way of life that we do. They deserve to have this day to honor them. Memorial Day is for THEM. While we go about our day today, let us never forget the sacrifices that these men and women have paid for our Country and for our freedoms.
[audio:https://soldiersmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/patriotic-billy-ray-cyrus-some]
Some Gave All
I’m going to close with a poem, which I thought was fitting. This poem was written by a Vietnam Veteran.
Everyday is Memorial Day
Today we remember
A grateful Nation recalls
Our Men and Women
Who paid the price
Of freedom for us all.For those of us who
Served beside them
Every day is Memorial Day
We can’t let their memories fade
We were touched by their loss.Their lives touched ours
Changing and helping us
Becoming who we are
Grateful for what we have
Freedom at Home.For those left at home
You gave us your sons and daughters
Husbands and Wives
Fathers and Mothers
Brothers and Sisters
Friends and Lovers
Thank You for sharing them with us.We miss them all
We won’t let them be forgot
That is why each of us
Who have been in battle knows
We can never forget
That Every Day Is Memorial Day.by Kerry (Doc) Pardue
Comments
36 Responses to “Memorial Day… Remembering Those Who Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice”
Got something to say?
We will remember and honor…
God bless them all for their sacrifice.
Very nice Memorial Day post, Terri. I hope all Americans take the time to reflect and honor those who gave of themselves on our behalf.
Thanks wordsmith. Marty and I plan to go out to the Central Texas National Cemetary, to visit the traveling wall and pay our respects to the fallen.
Amen, Terri, very nice post,thank you.
I believe, wholeheartedly, that everyday is Memorial day. Freedom is NOT free. Never was and never will be. Bless them one and all!
We spent the morning at the Houston National Cemetery. What a wonderful way to spend the day. I am emotionally drained.
We will NEVER forget!
I went and pissed on a headstone of some dead baby killer. Seriously, I did. I hate you warmongers. All you will rot in hell for your warcrimes.
James you’re obviously someone who’s very SICK and full of hate. For someone who proclaims that this war is illegal, you’re sure taking actions which make you a very very sick, twisted and hatefilled individual. It always amazes me that people like you who proclaim such things are the ones more prone to violent acts. Our soldiers are doing their job…. saving the lives of innocent people, nothing more. Perhaps you should educate yourself before making assumptions.
James,
I have never, ever performed an abortion. Therefore, I am not a “babykiller”. Please make a note of it and get mental health assistance before it is too late.
If it looks like a troll, talks like a troll, and smells like a troll… It is a TROLL!
Isn’t that the truth? Sadly enough, there are some sick, sick people in this world.
james - Do you feel good about yourself and feel like you made some kind of improvement in the world? Do you think that you deserve a pat on the back because you did something that is equal to a 6 years old behavior? “Yippee, look at me I just pissed on somebody’s grave!” I guess you feel like you made some kind of statement by pissing on someone’s grave that is no loger here to defend themselves. Yeah, that says bully, loser and coward in my book.
Have you heard about this yet. Click the link below. It’ll make you sick!!
http://www.sanjuanislander.com/county/sheriff/flag.shtml
Steven Terrell, Sr.
Knoxville, Iowa
No I hadn’t heard about that Steven. That is just horrible and sounds like something that James and his like would do. People like that should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
No Terri, to hell with the law. They would only get a slap on the wrist from the law. They should be shot! Remember Portland Oregon? They allowed a soldier to be burned in effigy as people walked around with signs that said {expletive} the Troops. It’s time we started kicking their butts!
Steve, your link above is disgustingly sick. They’ll catch the little SOB’s, and I hope they pay big time for their crime!
CommanderMom, yes it is digusting, whatever punishment the law gives them will never be enough to atone for what these punks did.
You’re right when you say that they deserve much more than a bit of jail time. Unfortunately we can’t give them the punishment they deserve. My thought is stick them in Iraq without to defend themselves and see how long they last. Probably not long.
Terri I have a better idea, send them to Knoxville, Iowa. I’d be very happy to see them. I can’t say they would be as happy to see me.
Yes Terri and Steven, I agree with you both. Iraq and other countries were thoughts I had, along with it’s sniper time, and target practice, anyone?
I don’t think they’d fare too well here in Central Texas either. I’m sure there are plenty of Soldiers and Veterans in this area who would love to use them for target practice.
Yep, personally I thought a few 10 cent bullets would do the trick.
Off topic,(sorry) however, the pitiful martyr, Cindy S.? Hangin it up and coming back to Cali? Please someone close the gates fast!!!!
LMAO! When I read that story this morning, the first thing that I thought was that this is yet just another publicity stunt for Cindy Sheehag, since she’s not been in the news much lately.
Yep, Terri, was right there with ya!
Well I, for one, will always treat Memorial Day with the respect it is due…especially now. We lost yet another WWII vet this year…on Memorial Day. Kind of fitting that it happened then. He will certainly be missed. You can read about it on my blog. In the meantime, thank a vet every chance you get, they won’t be here forever…
Then she just sounded like a pitiful something or other. She can’t figure out why no one wants to listen to her. The game gets a little rough, so she’s gonna take her football home and put.
Hey, this is what Memorial Day was like in Houston
http://cavmom.wordpress.com/
Thankfully the creeps stayed away!
oops I meant to say pout.
But I couldn’t believe her parting words.
Or maybe I can. Not quoting exactly, but something to the effect of not loving her country anymore. ? Good go find another one, then.
I do have to say, God Bless her son, Casey.
CavMom~great pictures,love seeing them, thanks for sharing!
Yes, Memorial Day weekend is a very emotionally overwhelming time. Words just can’t explain, the pride, love, gratitude, sorrow, sooo many emotions. Just want to be able to HUG them all!
Hey ALL~(Terri and Anthony, hope this is ok to share here) I just received a long trail of e-mails, wonderful ones, filled with pride and brought tears. Because it was said, to share with soldiers, NASCAR fans and others and that, “this is something every soldier can celebrate.” Casey Mears, who, if you follow NASCAR, won The Cocoa Cola 600 race, this past weekend, proudly driving the National Guard car! Casey drove into Victory Lane with the names of our 426 fallen ARNG soldiers. How fitting is that on a Memorial Day race!!! The words Casey sent, that were shared in the e-mails were awesome! Along with all the words, through the e-mail trail! I wish I could quote them all, here, for I am sooo not able to do them justice! Thanks Terri/Anthony for having a place to share, and again, I hope it’s ok, I did that!
It’s more than OK. Thanks for sharing.
:)! Thanks Anthony! Ps, it was marked UNclassified, just to clarify! :)
I meant to say, Casey drove into Victory Lane with the names of our 426 fallen ARNG Soldiers, painted on the deck lid!
Casey is an awesome driver,with an awesome crew, but he won the race, not without it’s difficulties. At the end, low on fuel, and such, the crewchief had to make some quick and tough decisions,take a risk, and go with a wing and a prayer. Guess who’s wings I think helped take them across the finish line first?
CommanderMom~ Thanks for sharing. That was beautiful!