In Remembrance...

This is a repost from my blog from Memorial Day last year.

Today is Memorial Day. Although most of us "celebrate" with a day off work highlighted by a grill, a pool, and friends, this day really should (in my opinion) be held as a much more reverent occasion. Maybe it's because I am married to a veteran. Maybe it is because said veteran is an Army bugler who has provided the rite of TAPS at more funerals than either of us care to count. Maybe it is because many family members of mine have been in the military. Maybe because I live in a military town and am surrounded by families who are short a member currently because of current deployments.

It really does not matter whether you have a family member who is currently serving or if you've never even met a service man/woman (although, I'd love to meet you because I don't think that exists!). Either way, we are all free due to many, many people sacrificing what is most sacred (their very lives) for the greater cause of freedom and liberty. Not only have those who have been lost to the conflicts made the sacrifice, however, but also those they left behind.

In honor of all of the men and women who have made it possible for us to be allowed to sit here and type whatever we want (yes, even those people who insult them and trample on their efforts), I wanted to post a notes in honor of this holiday and those whom it represents:

In Flanders Fields

--Major John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw T

he torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Memorial Day

- C W Johnson

We walked among the crosses

Where our fallen soldiers lay.

And listened to the bugle

As TAPS began to play.

The Chaplin led a prayer

We stood with heads bowed low.

And I thought of fallen comrades

I had known so long ago.

They came from every city

Across this fertile land.

That we might live in freedom.

They lie here 'neath the sand.

I felt a little guilty

My sacrifice was small.

I only lost a little time

But these men lost their all.

Now the services are over

For this Memorial Day.

To the names upon these crosses

I just want to say,

Thanks for what you've given

No one could ask for more.

May you rest with God in heaven

From now through evermore.

Some Rules of Etiquette for the Flag

*The flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset.*Exception: the flag may be displayed at all times if it is illuminated during darkness.

*The flag should be protected from weather damage, so only an all-weather flag should be displayed during rain, snow, winds and other detriment weather.

*When a number of flags are grouped together, the U.S. flag should be at the center and at the highest point of the group.

*When a U.S. flag is displayed other than from a staff, it should be displayed flat, or suspended in such a way that its folds fall free.

*When displayed over a street, the flag should be placed so it faces north or east.

*When displayed from a staff projecting from a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff, unless the flag is at half staff.

*When displayed on a speaker’s platform against a wall, the flag should be placed above and behind the speaker with the union of the flag in the upper left-hand corner (as the audience faces the flag).

*When used to cover a casket, it should be placed so that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should never be lowered into the grave and should not be allowed to touch the ground.

*During any ceremony when the U.S. flag is passing in parade, all persons should face the flag, stand at attention and salute. This means that a man should remove his hat and hold it with the right hand over the heart. Men without hats, and ladies should salute by placing the right hand over the heart. This salute should take place while the flag passes.

*When a U.S. flag is flown at half-staff, it should always be hoisted to the peak then lowered to half staff position. When taking it down for the evening, raise it to the peak again then lower.

Freedom Is Not Free

-Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

and then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That TAPS had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

TAPS

-Major General Daniel Butterfield

Day is done...

Gone the sun

From the lake...

From the hills...

From the sky.

All is well...

Safely rest

God is nigh.

Fading light...

Dims the sight

And a star...

Gems the sky...

Gleaming bright

From afar...

Drawing nigh

Falls the night.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier:

Throughout history, there are many armed forces members who have died in numerous wars without their remains being identified. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is symbolic and represents the war grave for unidentified soldiers. The tomb in Washington DC houses the remains of an unknown soldier from WWI, WWII, and Korea. The soldier representing Vietnam was exhumed after identification was made via DNA. Due to DNA records, it is not expected that any further soldiers will be unidentified in future conflicts and therefore there are no plans to add additional soldiers in the future. The inscription on the tomb often says that they are “known but to God.” The Tomb Guards are an elict group of soldiers who dedicate not only their military career, but some aspects of their entire lives, to honoring the fallen. To further understand their level of commitment, please read this description and these FAQs regarding their duties.

Information acquired from Roswell Remembers, Memorial Day Tribute, and USMemorialDay.org

Photo credit: mordoc, rfirman, tomlara