Posted on 05/30/2005 2:35:37 PM PDT by snugs
Today is Memorial Day President Bush commemorated this solemn event by taking part in the ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery along with the Secretary of Denfense Donald Rumsfeld.
For further details of this event and Arlington Cemetery in general visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/
Yesterday 29th May 2005, Secretary of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld addressed a Memorial Day Rolling Thunder veterans rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, May 29, 2005. Earlier in the day, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard Myers had led thousands of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders into Washington for their 18th annual 'Ride for Freedom' and rally for veterans
The history of Memorial Day
Each year, on the last Monday in May, the USA celebrates Memorial Day. For many, this day carries no special meaning except perhaps an extra day off from work, a beach barbecue, the start of the summer travel season, or for merchants, the opportunity to hold their annual Memorial Day Weekend sale.
In reality, the holiday is observed in honor of the nation's armed service personnel who were killed in wartime (in the UK this is the 11th November – Remembrance Day at which on the 11th hour of the 11th month we have a minutes silence all over the Britain).
The custom of honoring the graves of the war dead began prior to the end of the Civil War, but the national Memorial Day holiday (or "Decoration Day," as it was originally named) was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead. With the passage of time, Memorial Day was extended to honor all those who died in service, from the Revolutionary War to the present. It continued to be observed on May 30th until 1971, when most states changed to a newly established federal schedule of holiday observance.
Confederate Memorial Day, once a legal holiday in many southern states, is still observed on the fourth Monday in April in Alabama, and the last Monday in April in Mississippi and Georgia. A National Moment of Remembrance
May of 1997 saw the start of what is becoming an American tradition recognized by the President and Members of Congress -- to put the "memorial" back in Memorial Day. The idea of a National Moment of Remembrance was born a year earlier when children touring Lafayette Park in Washington, DC were asked what Memorial Day meant and they responded, "That's the day the pools open!"
The "Moment" was initiated by No Greater Love, a Washington, DC-based national humanitarian organization. For the first time in U.S. history, on Memorial Day 1997 "Taps" was played at 3 p.m. in many locations and at events throughout America. This effort was repeated again in subsequent years.
The objective of the "Moment" is to raise Americans' awareness of the honorable contributions made by those who died while defending our nation and to encourage all Americans to honor those who died as a result of service to this nation by pausing for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day.
This History of Taps
http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island which today a tribute to Memorial Day
Hiya Pippy!
OHH Guess who going be on Tommorow on Larry King at 9pm est 6pm pst
Former President George Bush Sr and First Mama Barbara Bush
you know Dubya parents
Thank you, Dolly! It is good to see you in different places too! ;o)
My prayers for your mom's medical problems to be resolved in the best possible way! Go get some sleep--you need it. God bless you and yours! I'll be looking for you!
I love your tag line. Obviously, you are a very discerning person, as is your Labor prime minister. Thank you.
Goodnight snugs--sweet dreams!
It is my understanding that female Air Force personnel may wear their hair longer, as long as it is 'contained'.
Thank you for a great tribute to our Military past and present. Your fine work is much appreciated.
He's the founder of Rolling Thunder and I saw his speech at RT on cpsin. He mentioned they met w the Pres last year on this day and he promised to keep looking for the POWs and MIAs and that they haven't done that. He said we supported you in 2 elections and blah, blah, blah. He also talked about how Sect'y Principe 'worked his butt' off for the Vets and added docs & nurses, but that Nicholson was cutting the budget and they were losing docs and nurses. They weren't happy and they wanted the Administration to do something.
There was also another guy on talking about how he had researched POWs & MIAs and had gone to court (in 1998 or 9) to get records released and that the CIA and DOD were holding back records. He said Pres George HW Bush had written an executive order and people weren't honoring it, hiding files, etc.
Unfortunately I missed Rummy's speech and was wondering about his reception given the 2 speakers I mentined above.
I'm fairly sure they did not introduce Gen Meyers by his title, but rather that he was a Gen that served in Viet Nam (remember being curious why they did that - guess they all knew who he is). Gen Meyers did a nice job (looked great, too ;-)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
This was a huge undertaking .. it's just
beautifully, wonderfully done with such thoughtfulness and LOVE.
You are such a fantastic friend to America
and to America's BushBabes, CheneyChicks and Rummy's Hunnies ..
A N D
(ps == check your FRmail ;)
U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers (L), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Mary Jo Myers (R), lead thousands of motorcycle-mounted Rolling Thunder demonstrators, an organization who memorialize American veterans, in Washington for a Memorial Day gathering at the Lincoln Memorial, May 29, 2005. The riders started at the Pentagon and made their way to the Lincoln Memorial for their rally.
U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers (R), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, walking with his wife Mary Jo Myers (2nd L) and Rolling Thunder founder Artie Muller (top L), stops to show off the Joint Chiefs insignia on his boots at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, May 29, 2005. Myers led thousands of Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders into Washington for their annual rally for veterans"
snugs, that was just beautiful. Bless you.
Just a wonderful thread..Thank you!
Senoras y Senores Mille Grazie y Laus Deo!!!!
thank you all be good good persons
I have looked high and low and cannot find any of Laura
Good Afternoon"snugs"13:20 how do you do good friend
Thanks for the report on Rolling Thunder. This is the greatest thread for news that otherwise might be missed.
We seem to always miss each other's posts.
That dratted time-zone! LOL!
I'm doing fine, how're you?
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