Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families, especially those of our fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who have died in defense of American liberty while prosecuting the war with Jihadistan.
Today we observe the brave military men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we could enjoy the freedoms and liberty we have today.
It is for too many, just another day off work to drink the favorite beverage, stuff ourselves with barbecue and have fun.
Not enough people remember or even try to think what this day represents.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
The important fact is that it was a day dedicated to giving honor to those who gave their lives in War.
When I was a child the veterans of foreign wars stood on all street corners in Milwaukee, Wisconsin handing out red paper poppies for donations to military hospitals. This practice has long since been abandoned, but it brings to mind a poem by Moina Michael. In Flanders Fields
"We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies."
Tragically wars must be fought and men and women in uniform do die. Below is just a small list of the days and wars that we all should thank God we as an individual did not have to die in, as these scared but brave military people did.
Battle of Meuse-Argonne: 26,277 KIA (WWI)
Battle of Gettysburg: 7,058 (Civil War)
Pearl Harbor: 2,403 (12/7/41)
D-Day Invasion of Europe: 2,500 KIA
Total for Battle of Normandy: 9,386 KIA
Okinawa: 7,613 on the island, 4,907 at sea(total KIA 12,520)
Korean War : 36,568 KIA
Vietnam: 58,177 KIA
Iraq: 3,455 to date KIA
As you can see Winston Churchill said it correctly when he uttered these words. "Never have so many owed so much to so few" I would add, We many owe so much to so many who died for our right to enjoy this Memorial day!
Take a minute and say a prayer to whoever you worship to thank these brave souls, or at least take a minute to remember their sacrifice.
Posts
1 comment:
On this Memorial Day,let us have fun and enjoy this day that our fallen American men and women unselfishly gave to us for celebrating.It is a day of reflection and meditation for those with enough education to think for themselves, to honor our dead heroes.And,for those who would really like to grasp the meaning of war with its supreme sacrifice,I highly recommend "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" by Walt Whitman,"America's Greatest Poet"(tribute from Ralph Waldo Emerson and D.H.Lawrence) where he despairs of the destructiveness of war.This famous poem is taken from his "deathbed" edition of Leaves of Grass.For those who read this highly informative column,I believe they are of significant intelligence to appreciate this poem written about the carnage of the Civil War,but it can be applied to any war in which Americans have fought for our continued freedom.God save America from all tyrrany from without and within our country,and guide our present fighting men and women as they continue their endless mission of defending and maintaining our precious freedom.
Post a Comment