Fact:
New aluminum cans that are manufactured from used beverage
containers use 95% less energy than producing them from
virgin materials.
Each year, Americans throw out enough plastic film to shrink-
wrap the entire state of Texas.
I am a day late
Today in the United States we celebrate Memorial Day, a holiday that honors American service members who died during military service. Sure, today ends up being a day off work and a nice time to BBQ with family and friends, but let’s not forget the true meaning of the day. Here is more info on the history of Memorial Day...
RANDOM TIDBITS
Memorial Day was a response to the unprecedented carnage of the Civil War, in which some 620,000 soldiers on both sides died. In 1864, women from Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, put flowers on the graves of their dead from the just-fought Battle of Gettysburg. The next year, a group of women decorated the graves of soldiers buried in a Vicksburg, Mississippi, cemetery.
Waterloo, New York., began holding an annual community service on May 5, 1866. Although many towns claimed the title, it was Waterloo that won congressional recognition as the “birthplace of Memorial Day.”
Gen. Logan, the speaker at the Carbondale gathering, also was commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans. On May 5, 1868, he issued General Orders No. 11, which set aside May 30, 1868, “for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion....”
From the practice of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, the holiday was long known as Decoration Day. The name Memorial Day goes back to 1882, but the older name didn’t disappear until after World War II. Federal law declared “Memorial Day” the official name in 1967.
On May 30, 1868, President Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery — which, until 1864, was Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s plantation. The principal speaker was James A. Garfield, a Civil War general, Republican congressman from Ohio and future president.
General Orders No. 11 stated that “in this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed,” but over time several customs and symbols became associated with the holiday. It is customary on Memorial Day to fly the flag at half staff until noon, and then raise it to the top of the staff until sunset.
“Phonetic Hymn Title”
Many hymnals have a hymn called “Gladly the Cross I’d Bear.”
It seems that one week when the church secretary was typing the Sunday bulletin, she asked the pastor which hymn would come just before the sermon. He replied with the above-mentioned hymn.
The following Sunday the bulletin read:
Hymn No. 134: “Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear.”
Mary Poppins Room Service
Mary Poppins was traveling home, but due to worsening weather, she decided to stop at a hotel. She approached the receptionist and asked for a room for the night.
“Certainly, madam,” he replied courteously.
“Is the restaurant open still?” inquired Mary.
“Sorry, no,” came the reply, “but room service is available all night. Would you care to select something from this menu?”
Mary smiled and took the menu and perused it. “Hmm, I would like cauliflower cheese, please,” said Mary.
“Certainly, madam,” he replied.
“And may I have breakfast in bed?” asked Mary politely. The receptionist nodded and smiled. “In that case, I would love a couple of poached eggs, please,” Mary mused.
After confirming the order, Mary signed in and went up to her room. The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Mary came down early to check out. The same guy was still at the desk.
“Morning, madam. Sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you,” Mary replied.
“Food to your liking?”
“Well, I have to say the cauliflower cheese was exceptional
— I don’t think I have had better. Shame about the eggs, though; they really weren’t that nice at all,” replied Mary truthfully.
“Oh. Well, perhaps you could contribute these thoughts to our guest comments book. We are always looking to improve our service and would value your opinion,” said the receptionist.
“Ok, I will. Thanks!” replied Mary. She then checked out, paused awhile, and scribbled a comment into the book.
Waving, she left to continue her journey.
Curious, the receptionist picked up the book to see the comment Mary had written. Here it is:
“Supercauliflowercheesebuteggswerequiteatrocious!’’
“Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now wish to withdraw that statement.”
~ Mark Twain
Quote
“Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life.”
~ Herbert Henry Asquith
Illustration - “Warning Signs”
One October, my wife and I spent a vacation on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. We were eager to visit the rain forests near the coast, but we heard that snow slides had made some of the roads impassable. Although apprehensive about the conditions we might run into, we drove on.
Sure enough, we had gone only a short way up the High Rain Forest road when we saw a sign: “Ice 10 miles.”
Five miles farther on, there was another sign: “Ice 5 miles.”
The next one was, “Ice 1/2 mile.”
We practically crept that half-mile.
When we came to the last sign it was outside a small grocery, and it read, “Ice 75 cents.”