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
As we remember our veterans, past and present, our wounded and fallen heroes, I'd like to ask you to remember those who come back from war, whose wounds are not visible, but who are wounded none the less.
I pray that any soldier returning from Iraq or Afganistan who needs counseling, gets it, and is not treated as a pariah, or told they don't have a problem, or is made to feel their rank is in jeopardy for seeking assistance. We owe it to them to take care of all their wounds, not just those that bleed.
As usual, wonderful pictures. Thanks for posting them.
That's great and thanks for the heads up. I'll look forward to seeing it when they air it.
My thanks for all your work, snugs, in posting these super pics on this Special Day.
Thank you
You're right, radiohead, we need to remember those who did not give their life, but may have given the best part of their lives. We need to understand how important it is to support those who do come back as well as their families.
OHHH Snugs I know you live in UK but Dick Cheney going be on Larry King live I don't know what time they show Larry in the UK
For American viewers if you really see Cheney go smack chat on Chia Pet Kim Jong 11 of North Korea
It going be TONIGHT at 9pm est 6pm pst
Repeat 12 midnight est 9pm pst
BTW Rack the photos Snugs
Thank you for those wonderful pictures. They're a sobering reminder of blood shed for freedom around the world, and one day of remembrance isn't enough, but they're always in our hearts.
OH COOL Rummy hanging out with Bikers
Snugs, What an outstanding job. Thank you so much for all the posting you did today.
May God bless and protect all our precious troops.
Thanks Snugs, I tried one of those days and the Laura photos were indeed missing. I am a great Laura fan so if you could post some that would be great!! :) I hope everyone doesn't mind the repeats.
[I should take this opportunity to thank you for the great kissing photos you find and post. They always brighten my day.]
This has to be one of the saddest duties of the Presidency. Proud, but the enormity of the loss of all those young lives has to weigh on whoever holds that office.
Snugs! What a beautiful U.S. Memorial Day dose! I thank you for your devotion to our country. Please forgive an ignorant question, but do you have such a day in the U.K.?
Isn't it amazing, the difference in how our soldiers march and how those in axis of evil countries march! That robot stomp with arm outstretched, well, it's Nazi nonsense all over again. Like toads, they puff themselves up to look important and bigger than they are.
"Blah, blah, blah! LOL! Congrats, toaster winner! :o)":}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}"GretchenM":}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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