This week: Observations on Memorial Day Weekend Edited by: Fyn  
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There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves. ~~Will Rogers
If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk. ~~Robert Baden-Powell
Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking. ~~Wallace Stevens
One can state, without exaggeration, that the observation of and the search for similarities and differences are the basis of all human knowledge. ~~Alfred Nobel
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Memorial Day, or, as it used to be called, Decoration Day is the day set aside to honor the fallen soldiers who served our country. When I was a child, on Memorial Day, we went to the cemeteries, cleaned debris from around the graves of these heroes and left a flag behind. Then we'd go to the parade. We'd stand and salute for every flag that passed, and cheered ourselves hoarse for the military men marching, or wheeling down the parade route, keeping in step with our high school band. We'd go to the Memorial Ceremony at the park at the end of the parade. Not just the folks in the parade, but everyone in town went. And listened. And sang. And remembered.
All week long in the cemetery at the end of our street, people were out there cleaning, planting and putting out flags. Monday morning, my husband put out our flag that flew over the USS Arizona on December 7th, 2016. He raised it to the top of the flagpole and then lowered it to half-staff. We walked downtown to watch our tiny village's parade. Something has changed over the past few years and it made my heart swell. I was so happy. Adults and kids stood when the flag went by. Men removed their hats. Kids saluted the flag and kept their phones in their pockets.
A veteran of World War II, 98 years young, was the Grand Marshal of the parade. He hit the beach of D-Day. Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and more marched or rode in Army jeeps. Hundred of jeeps. Many in their dress uniforms. Retired, veteran and active duty. The cheering didn't stop. It took perhaps fifteen, twenty minutes for them all to pass. People clapped and yells and cheered. Tears fell. One older gentleman, wearing a VFW hat, strained to rise from his wheel chair. I think it must have been his grand or even great-grand kids alongside of him, helping him stay on his feet as he kept his salute in place until the last jeep passed.
I'm the granddaughter, niece and daughter of a soldier. I am an Army veteran. I am the mother of a veteran and the grandmother of a recruit to be come this autumn. Four generations of us have laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. and we have the bugle my grandfather's best friend left him that was blown at the first (of two) dedications of the Tomb.
In years past, kids would be curb sitting, ignoring flags passing by. I couldn't stop grinning because no one was sitting!!! People were paying attention and not just there because their kid was in the band. It was awesome! It gave a shine to the two bands which sounded better than they ever have. The shine extended to the Pom Squad and all the scouts who marched. Best forty minutes in a long, long time.
The day was more than cook-outs and jumping in the lake on the first unofficial day of Summer. Oh, it was cookouts and horseshoes, grilled chicken and camp fires. But it was also the original reasons rising high and proud.
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Youth is lost forever as WWII trainees break their maidens as "Men o' War" on D-Day
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Ever seens coins on a grave in a cemetery? Leaving coins on the headstone of a military veteran has a very specific meaning. A penny means that you knew the deceased. Went through boot camp together? One leaves a nickel. A dime you served in the same company with the deceased. A quarter told the family that you were with them when they died. A history and stories told in coins atop a grave. A way of letting others know that the veterans are not forgotten. |
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For Authors: May 29, 2019 Issue [#9572]
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