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Friday, May 22, 2009

We Remember You! - Memorial Day 2009

The true reason for Memorial Day is oftentimes forgotten as families indulge themselves with an extra day at the beach or a barbecue with friends. But President Barack Obama is hoping to change that this year with the National Moment of Remembrance, which he hopes will become a new American tradition. At 3 p.m. Monday, Americans everywhere are asked to stop what we are doing and reflect on the sacrifices made for the freedoms that we now enjoy. In Flanders field 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 The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. ~Major John McCrae, May 1915.~ Miss Moina Belle Michael, an American War Secretary with the YMCA and herself a writer of verse, on Nov. 9, 1918, the Saturday before the Armistice was signed, read Col. John McCrae’s poem "In Flanders Fields" and it made such a impression on her, that she wrote this poem in reply to it: Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew, We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died. We cherish too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valour led. It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders’ fields. And now the torch and poppy red Wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders’ fields. Written by Miss Moina Belle Michael Please, allow me to share with you pictures of 20 American Cemeteries in Europe (including Flanders Field) where our fallen Soldiers lie (in numbers): 1) Aisne-Marne, France (2,289) 2) Ardennes, Belgium (5,329) 3) Brittany, France (4,410) 4) Brookwood, England (468) 5) Cambridge, England (3,812) 6) Epinal, France (5,525) 7) Flanders Field, Belgium (368) 8) Florence, Italy (4,402) 9) Henri-Chapelle, Belgium (7,992) 10) Lorraine, France (10,489) 11) Luxembourg, Luxembourg (5,076) 12) Meuse-Argonne, France (14,246) 13) Netherlands, Netherlands (8,301) 14) Normandy, France (9,387) 15) Oise-Aisne, France (6,012) 16) Rhone, France (861) 17) Sicily, Italy (7,861) 18) Somme, France (1,844) 19) St. Mihiel, France (4,153) 20) Suresnes, France (1,541) ...YOU DO THE MATH! As you know, Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. "Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." General John A. Logan in his General Order No. 11 of May 5th, 1868, Decoration Day! Read the notes and lyrics to this old timey song called Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping by clicking the link.

9 comments:

gwengoods said...

Beautiful post Doris, have a wonderful weekend.

Doris Sturm said...

Thank you, Gwen, and you have an enjoyable and safe Memorial Weekend also.

Sandy O said...

Thank you for remembering our veterans..

Thank you for being you!

I hope I put this in the right place this time...*LOL*

Samantha G said...

Doris this is such a well written and thoughtful post. I never know what I'm going to find on your blog but I love it all! I love your walks with Gizzy, and your flowers, your environmental posts, and this one is great as well. You have lots of different subject matter but you tie it all together so nicely- just a nice peek into parts of your life :)

Doris Sturm said...

Thanks, Samantha. I want this blog to be a Kaleidoscope of what I'm about, what I'm thinking and what I do, be it ever so humble ;-)

I appreciate your comments, especially since I know how much you have been doing lately.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Nora said...

Doris this is so beautiful. Very well done!
Nora

Doris Sturm said...

Thanks everyone for looking at my blog and making those nice comments. I really appreciate it!

Happy Memorial Day today and remember to pause today precisely at 3 pm for a Moment of Remembrance!

Faith said...

Very nice post Doris..I am wearing the red poppy today..My dad a veteran of WWII, came home, and I remember that every year he wore the red poppy, and now I wear it too. We can never ever thank them all enough for their service and sacrifice,or their families who grieved and still grieve. Freedom is a precious gift which was earned by all these brave young men & women who paid for it with their lives, and proudly so.

Be safe my friend...I'll talk with you and gizzy soon.

AkasaWolfSong said...

Dear Doris...as always you leave your mark on the heart and spirit of those who visit your blog. What a wonderful and poignant reminder for us to reflect upon. The images are stark remembrances for us who walk freely in this nation. I am touched by seeing them.
Thank You! So very much!