I stand around and hand out buddy poppies and make people give money to the VFW...
Jesse,
Like other Memorial Days past, I will spend some time reading war and loss poetry. Lame, perhaps, but some quiet reflection on the loss of our citizens (and all others) renews that spiritual strength needed to make sure such tragedy as war is not in vain.
In the King's Pilgrimage, Kipling (who lost his own son in the Great War) seemed to struggle himself with the loss of that spiritual strength:
"All that they had they gave - they gave -
In sure and single faith.
There can no knowledge reach the grave
To make them grudge their death
Save only if they understood
That, after all was done,
We they redeemed denied their blood
And mocked the gains it won.
My hope is that in this coming year, we the people can redeem the blood spilt, and that by Memorial Day 2009, we are on the path to atonement and meaningful care to those that survive and are left behind.
SP
doing nothing significant today. i've tried writing about some old comrades in arms, one of whom is very sick, one of whom is in the wilds of afghanistan, but, like my golf game, when i suck, i suck.
rather than give in to the temptation to publish suckitude. i admit i got nothing. no trips to the cemetary. no parades, no shows of shallow patriotism.
stay home. make a few calls. lay low. practice the axes, of course, that's been a part of my day since i was a kid and if i didn't i would need serious medications.
I put a fresh new flag up on the pole in my yard, contributed to the IAVA, and spent part of this morning taking notes on the travesty of our present CinC at his last Memorial Day ceremony.
I was going to get into the traditional spirit of the day and offered to decorate the graves of Union war dead, but they look at you funny in Florida when you express such sentiments.
I went up this morning and walked the walls at the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial before all the militaristic hoopla begins.
The I will be doing this and then a fund raiser for IVAW
Johnson: Would you look at how fast they put up the names of all our guys who got killed?
The Sergeant: That's a World War One memorial.
Johnson: But the names are the same.
The Sergeant: They always are.
The Big Red One - Sam Fuller
I'll stay home, relax, and quietly celebrate my birthday without hoopla.
Haloscan is eating comments.
i got nothing
i finally just sat down and wrote. trying to heed gilly's advice, to just quit trying and write something.
hope it doesn't suck.
Sitting with my spouse the veteran in our backyard with the sprinkler going while he smokes a cigar and pets the dog sounds just about perfect.
I am trying to get up the courage to tell him I think he should stage a coup against our state Dem Vets organization. He may do it. I talked him into running against a shitty state rep in '06. (He lost that one, but I'm sure he'd have no trouble winning this battle.)
What do y'all think?
Our oldest is hosting a family bbq tonight, and our youngest is out in CA, incommunicado (we suspect he's getting laid). So we are bringing ice cream and margaritas to the bbq after we sit in the backyard and maybe take a snooze while "watching" lacrosse on TV.
my dad served in Korea... 50-53; was injured; served in the honor guard at panmunjon.
I'll be calling him today.
I'm volunteering at the front desk of our community radio station. Our afternoon DJ has put together a thoughtful, many-era mix of songs about soldiers out there, coming home, not coming home, etc etc for Memorial Day.
griiling with family, watched the cubs win (this IS next year baby). Minstral boy, not bad.
jesse, glad you guys are finaly reading about the family, one of the main reason i have disliked hillary for years now.
dksbook -
I think it's a good idea.
These small steps, are out we take back our country.
dksbook, yes definately get him to do it! we are going to need good people running the vets groups. esp. in the coming year!
and Rosali, Happy Birthday! hug.
Minstrel, you do not suck, that was wonderful. Wish Jim well for me, I don't know him- but now I feel like I do.
I had a comment up. got eaten...!!!
I said,
1. Rosail Happy b-day!
2. dksbook, Yes, your vet hubby should certainly take over the local vet dem group. We need good people in all leadership posts!
3. Minstrel, it was gorgeous and heartfelt and I am glad you posted.
Thanx for the encouragement, y'all. And happy day to all who served or, like me, just kept the fire of love alive while loved ones served.
Rosali - Happy Birthday 
Minstrel - Great post. Thank you for the heads up.
Thank you to all who serve and who have served.
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