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a58r(at)verizon.net
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 Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 11:35 am Post subject: Decoration Day---kinda long |
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This is some 500+ words, so you can dump as you wish. It's nothing to
do with flying...except that perhaps The Day remembers all who have
gone ahead for any reason. If it bothers you, send complaints to me,
either on/off list.
When Memorial Day Was Truly 'Decoration Day'
By Robert O Noyer
Now comes another federally mandated holiday, dedicated to the
merchants of America.
This holiday, conveniently hooked on to a weekend, allows us extra
time off from our jobs so that we may celebrate The Memorial Day
Sale, as well as get in a little extra time behind the wheel
something we do all week anyway!
A glance at the calendar sometimes shows two Memorial Days one
"observed," the other just plain old Memorial Day. Can any of us
remember when there was just one such day, and what was memorialized
then?
For many years, May 30 was set aside to honor the memories of fallen
servicemen in all the wars. Many of the southern states have a
different day, however the observance is the same. Perhaps it was a
Virginia woman, Cassandra Oliver Moncure, a distant relative of mine,
who during the War Between the States, first dedicated this day to
the dead.
In my family, and no doubt in many others, May 30 was called
Decoration Day. On this day we went to the country cemeteries where
our ancestors were buried, and clipped the new grass around the
headstones, taking care to tweak the just-blooming peonies, and
placing fresh-cut flowers from our own gardens in Mason jars on the
family plots.
My grandmothers always knew which graves might not be tended for lack
of living relatives, and so brought flowers for these plots, tending
them as well. As children, we were warned to never walk on a grave plot.
And I remember more than 75 years ago the small parades in these tiny
country towns. The entire Boy Scout troop of seven, including what
appeared to be the smallest Scout, carrying The Colors with 48 stars.
A somewhat off-tune but determined Town Band wheezing out The Stars
And Stripes Forever and My Country Tis Of Thee. Only a couple of very
old Civil War veterans, riding in an open car emblazoned with
red,white and blue bunting, leading a few more from the Spanish-
American War. And maybe a dozen from World War I ("The War to End All
Wars").
Most of the veterans still had a piece or two of their old uniforms,
and all had a few medals. Some of the World War "doughboys" had their
odd flat-brimmed "tin hats" and tightly wound puttees, but all who
marched did so in spite of age and pain. Each may have thought it
might be their last time to follow the Flag.
At Old Town Cemetery, all the old vets stood at attention, with the
younger men at each side of the Civil War soldiers. The several
widows, all in black, dotted the crowd of a couple of dozen, standing
near a few graves. Three volleys were fired from two old hunting
rifles. The preacher gave a long prayer, a wavering Taps was sounded
by the silver cornet player of the Town Band, and the formal
Decoration Day ceremonies were over.
Later we entertained old friends with real home-cranked ice cream and
chocolate cake while bringing back the memories of past times and the
people in them. Perhaps it was Memorial Day after all.
First published in The Winchester (VA) Star, 5/29/1999 Editorial
regards,
Bob N.
http://www.angelfire.com/rpg/ronoy/
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Ralph Hoover
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 206
Location: Central Ohio
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Decoration Day---kinda long |
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Do you mean to tell me that this Memorial Day is not for discounts on cars, appliances, groceries, furniture, lawn supplies and new homes at really "blow out prices" deep discounts?
I thought something was missing in all that we were to celebrate. I spoke these same type words to my wife the other day. Memorial Day. Wasn't that something that we were supposed to remember , in the fact that others gave their lives, unselfishly for their country and their fellow citizens so that we may enjoy the other 364 days a year for their "BLOW-OUT SALE and INTEREST FREE BARGAINS?
To all of you who have served. To all of you who have done without the companionship of a Father or Mother, Sister or Brother because they gave un-selfishly for the preservation of this Nation and its values, I solute you and thank you for what they hoped to have accomplished.
For all the greedy, sucking, one-more-deal making, blow-out, deep discount business who don't or somehow can’t make enough money all the other days of the year, I say SHAME ON YOU!
And unlike Bob N., the poster of the message regarding Decoration Day, that said “ If it bothers you, send complaints to me, either on/off list.” I say, pick another country! But I believe most if not all that enjoy the Brotherhood of flying, know somewhat deep inside the real values of those lives not given in vain. All of the men in my faily served and lived to come back and give to the fullness of their lives.
Bob N., Thank you for reminding a few what this weekend is really all about.
Ralph in Ohio
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blackbird
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject: Decoration Day---kinda long |
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I too consider myself a patriot.....However, most of my family heritage has
been fighting terrorism since 1861......If you cannot have something like
freedom.....
TAKE IT BY FORCE......
I'm just a southern nationalist.........I like the ORIGINAL American
REPUBLIC........not the democracy we live in now......Amazing how folks just
choose to IGNORE history....
WT Kolb 004...
Pics coming soon.....
---
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_________________
Wish I lived in the American REPUBLIC!!! |
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