May 28, 2004

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has come to be associated with a three-day weekend, barbecues, and beer. While there's nothing wrong with celebrating the freedoms we enjoy in our nation, when was the last time you stopped and reflected the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day?

It is human nature to avoid the unpleasant. But we need to remember the cost of war, we need to remember the price paid for our freedoms, and we need to not let those who died, die forgotten and in vain.

Please take a moment this weekend to think of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that you might live in freedom.

Tomorrow morning, at 6am, I will head down to Ft. Rosecrans with my son and his Scout Pack. We will be placing flags at every grave. Along the way, I hope that my son and his friends gain an understanding of what has been given by the men and women buried at Ft. Rosecrans. It will take hours. And they will learn. As will I.

You see, for each and every grave marker, there lies a person. But more than that, there lies the hopes and dreams of a family, a community...a nation.

Too many are forgotten.

This weekend should begin the first day of never forgetting again.

Still in the early stages, the Memorial Day Project begins. The site will evolve....it will grow....it will remind us. If you'd like to contribute to the project, your photos and short essays (really, if all you want to do is provide names, dates, and locations, that's fine) honoring those who have answered the call of their nation, you are welcome to do so.

Memorial Day Project

Posted by DaGoddess at May 28, 2004 10:56 AM
Comments

Goddess:

Tears filled my eyes as I read this post. Being from a military family, it breaks my heart that people just don't seem to care. I will make a trip to the cemetery tomorrow to place flags on the graves of departed heroes in my family. Then I will head to church to light a candle for the safe return of all our troops aboard. America would not be the great country it is without the selfless sacrifaces of men and women in the armed forces.

Posted by: Rebel Angel at May 28, 2004 02:22 PM

Around here all the towns put up flags and crosses with the names of war dead. I think it's a nice way to keep the focus on why we have the holiday.

Posted by: TW at May 28, 2004 02:26 PM

Just read your stuff for the first time. Like what I see. Hope to come back soon. And I agree about Memorial Day. My Sweet Thang is ex-navy and he makes sure no one around him forgets our boys/girls who serve.

Posted by: Junebugg at May 28, 2004 07:19 PM

I have some pics from the cemeteries in Normandy on my site at the moment; I'll pick some out and send them in.

Thanks for the wonderful links.

Posted by: maura at May 30, 2004 01:56 PM

Lovely! Thanks for all the links. Just got an email from my Aunt who planted her annual flowers on my Uncle's grave today - he was ex-Marine (are Marines ever ex??) and said how pretty the cemetary looked with all the flags fluttering in the breeze.

I was watching something on the news about Normandy and was reminded of another uncle--this one was my favorite, my dad's brother. He was a pilot in the war and every so many years he and some of his comrades would have a reunion in Normandy......brave and wonderful men and women......all of them. May they rest in peace...

Posted by: cyn at May 30, 2004 06:25 PM