Posted on 05/27/2006 11:29:57 AM PDT by Quark606
Don't the Fallen Deserve at Least a Moment?
By Colbert I. King Saturday, May 27, 2006; Page A25
"Memorial Day Sale! Warehouse Is Stocked and Ready for Your Home"; "Memorial Day SALE plus EXTRA 15% OFF when you use your store card or pass"; "Memorial Day 1/2 Price Sale on Mattresses!"; "Memorial Day PIANO SALE"; "UNBELIEVABLE! STOREWIDE SAVINGS JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!"
-- Thursday newspaper ads
This cannot be what Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, had in mind when he officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868. His thought, as best I can tell, was to set aside a day to honor the war dead. The true meaning of Memorial Day, however, has been overcome by door-buster sales, backyard cookouts and the opportunity to get a little extra sleep.
The fallen don't seem to mean much anymore except, perhaps, to veterans of previous wars and their families, and to the nearly 5,000 mothers and fathers of men and women in uniform who have given their all in Iraq. To those parents, please add surviving brothers and sisters, wives, husbands, children, grandchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces, neighbors and friends. If these folks happen to gather on Memorial Day, most likely it won't be to organize a shop-a-rama or barbecue. For them, Monday will be the time to remember loved ones who lost their lives serving their country..........
.....An indebted nation owes them more than can ever be repaid. A single, uncluttered day of honor would be a good start. It's the least a grateful America can do.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 29, 2006, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day. I encourage the media to participate in these observances. I also request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States, and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060516-5.html
The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060516-5.html
Well, I've done some 30 radio interviews in the last two days for my book, "America's Victories," and can tell you that with the exception of a moonbat in SF who called me a "Rumsfeld toady," the DJs are HIGHLY reflective about Memorial Day and are constantly honoring our troops. It's pretty impressive.
Americans respect our fallen soldiers, but we're also realistic. What should we do, have a day-long candlelight vigil?
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Nice to see how much may be stated in so little space.
The community I work for as a Paid on Call FF has a huge 100 unit parade.
nah but maybe take a minute out and light a candle but that might be asking too much
My children have been taught the true meaning of Memorial Day. I told them it is not a day off from school or a day to sit around and do nothing. We usually participate in local Memorial Day ceremonies.
I always go to church and say a prayer and light a candle, it is the least i can do
My town of Chula Vista Ca. has the VFW local that puts United States Flags on all the meters on main street, it is so pretty, they do this every holiday,however, nearly every year I have to call the Mayors office, and see if they could remove the Cinco de Mayo banners that would fly above our beautiful old Glory , Mexico does not support our war on terror, I was called Wed, from the mayors office and was assured that Old Glory would be exhibted like it should be
... and true to form, our local paper reported that Memorial Day started out as "Flag Day" (June 14) ... I hate Memorial Day Sales and refuse to go anywhere near a store that day ... I march with my dad ......
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