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| | | | | To all My fellow Vets, happy Memorial Day. Enjoy your time with your families and loved ones and take time to remember your comrades living and not. Live every day to the fullest in their memory. |
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| | | | Amen, Uraeus!
God bless you, your fellow vets, living and fallen comrades. I'm glad you began this post as it was on my mind to begin one.
to those who don't know....
REASONS WE NEED MEMORIAL DAY
(1) So we never forget the great cost of liberty
We freely enjoy our liberty, but being free to us does not mean it cost nothing. In the Revolutionary War, 33,000 soldiers and sailors died; in the War of 1812, 7,000 died; in the Mexican War, 13,000 perished; in the Civil War, 1,000,000 lost their lives; in the Spanish-American War, 4,000 were lost; in World War 1, 320,000 U.S. servicemen died; in World War II, 1,078,000 made the ultimate sacrifice; in the Korean "Police Action", 157,000 of our men gave their all; Viet Nam cost my generation over 58,000; the Gulf War claimed 700; and Iraqi Freedom has claimed over 2,700. Almost three million U.S. servicemen have died over the past two centuries fighting for our country's freedom.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13).
(2) So we do not forget the benefits of our liberty.
We have what so few in the world will ever have, yet we take it for granted. It is like air - we don't really realize we are surrounded by it until someone wants to take it away.
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20)
(3) So we honor those who have paid the ultimate price of liberty and to say thank you to their families
"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping whick came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!" (John 1:33-36)
(4) So we will be willing to pay whatever the price for our liberty
If we dishonor the past, if we devalue the price that has been paid (and is being paid), then we should not be surprised when the day comes that no one is willing to sacrifice and struggle for our liberties and freedoms.
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'
Then said I, 'Here am I; send me'" (Isaiah 6::8)
Jesus wept. - John 11:35 |
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| | | | I just saw a wonderful program honoring Memorial Day on TV. I hope everyone else saw it also. Such things speak directly to the heart and should be heeded and cherished and remembered always.
Here's a little information for those who want to read up on it.
On May 12, 1962, General Douglas MacArthur addressed the cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, offering this description: "Their story is known to all of you. It is the story of the American man at arms. My estimate of him was formed on the battlefields many, many years ago and has never changed. I regarded him then, as I regard him now, as one of the world's noblest figures--not only as one of the finest military characters, but also as one of the most stainless. His name and fame are the birthright of every American citizen. In his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that mortality can give. He needs no eulogy from me, or from any other man. He has written his own history and written it in red on his enemy's breast."
General MacArthur continued: "In twenty campaigns, on a hundred battlefields, around a thousand campfires, I have witnessed that enduring fortitude, that patriotic self-abnegation and that invincible determination which have carved his statue in the hearts of his people. From one end of the world to the other, he has drained deep the chalice of courage. As I listened to those songs in memory's eye, I could see those staggering columns of the First World War, bending under soggy packs on many a weary march, from dripping dusk to drizzling dawn, slogging ankle deep through mire of shell-pocked roads; to form grimly for the attack, blue-lipped, covered with sludge and mud, chilled by the wind and rain, driving home to their objective, and for many, to the judgment seat of God. I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them: duty, honor, country. Always their blood, and sweat, and tears, as they saw the way and the light."
Jesus wept. - John 11:35 |
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| | | | History of Memorial Day:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. It is now celebrated by all 50 states on the last Monday in May with the passing of the National Holiday Act of 1971.
Jesus wept. - John 11:35 |
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| | | | We Remember Those That Protect Us -On Memorial Day And Aways.......
Heavenly Father,
We pause this day to remember, reflect upon, and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for America and for us. Comfort and encourage the loved ones of all who have fallen in the cause of freedom and liberty.
We remember also our brave men and women now serving in our Armed Forces, who are defending us from harm and injustice.
Almighty God, protect them all. Help them discharge their duties honorably and well; and please bring them safely home to their families, their loved ones, and to us, whom they have served so selflessly.
Please bring peace, justice, and mercy to our troubled world.
We ask this, Father, in the name of Jesus Christ,
Mighty Warrior, Prince of Peace, Savior and Lord.
Amen!
Jesus wept. - John 11:35 |
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| | | | Memorial Day
In 1865, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, mentioned at a social gathering that honor should be shown to the patriotic dead of the Civil War by decorating their graves.
In the Spring of 1866, he again mentioned this subject to General John B. Murray, Seneca County Clerk. General Murray embraced the idea and a committee was formulated to plan a day devoted to honoring the dead.
Townspeople adopted the idea wholeheartedly. Wreaths, crosses and bouquets were made for each veteran's grave. The village was decorated with flags at half mast and draped with evergreen boughs and mourning black streamers.
On May 5, 1866, civic societies joined the procession to the three existing cemeteries and were led by veterans marching to martial music. At each cemetery there were impressive and lengthy services including speeches by General Murray and a local clergyman. The ceremonies were repeated on May 5, 1867.
The first official recognition of Memorial Day as such was issued by General John A. Logan, first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was General Order No. 11 establishing "Decoration Day" as it was then known. The date of the order was May 5, 1868, exactly two years after Waterloo's first observance. That year Waterloo joined other communities in the nation by having their ceremony on May 30.
In 1965, a committee of community leaders started plans for the Centennial Celebration of Memorial Day. The committee consisted of VFW Commander James McCann, chairman, American Legion Commander Oliver J. McFall and Mayor Marion DeCicca, co-chairman, along with Village Trustees, M. Lewis Somerville, Roscoe Bartran, Richard Schreck, Tony DiPronio, and VFW Vice-Commander, Kenneth Matoon. Their goals were: "to obtain national recognition of the fact that Waterloo is the birthplace of Memorial Day through Congressional action" and "to plan and execute a proper celebration for such centennial observance."
In May of 1966, just in time for the Centennial, Waterloo was recognized as the "Birthplace of Memorial Day" by the United States Government. This recognition was long in coming and involved hours of painstaking research to prove the claim. While other communities may claim earlier observances of honoring the Civil War dead, none can claim to have been so well planned and complete, nor can they claim the continuity of observances that Waterloo can.
The Centennial Celebration that year brought dignitaries from government, military, veteran's organizations and descendants of the original founders of Memorial Day. A once luxurious home on Waterloo's Main Street, built in 1850, was purchased from the county and restored. Now the Memorial Day Museum, it houses artifacts of the first Memorial Day and the Civil War era.
Memorial Day is commemorated each year in Waterloo. The parade, speeches, and solemn observances keep the meaning of Memorial Day as it was originally intended to be.
Jesus wept. - John 11:35
Jesus wept. - John 11:35 |
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