What is it to you, this holiday called Memorial Day? Has it become another three day weekend to escape to the lake or the beach? Is it all Bar-b-que's and sales spectaculars? Time off to get a jump on home improvement?
I challenge myself and each of you to harken back to the original intent of the day this year.
"Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; 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 a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan."
The fairly recent resolution of 2000 asks us all "to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day, to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all."
How can we remember and honor them?
We can visit grave sites and lay flowers and place flags upon the graves of the fallen.
If you have a flag at your home or place of business you can fly it at half mast until noon.
You can visit a memorial.
Aid or honor their widows, orphans or a disabled veteran.
Personally, I plan to pick some of my flowers and take to the cemetery or memorial in town and place there. Spending some time to reflect upon their names and their sacrifice.
Don't live in the USA? Chances are you may live in a country where some of our service men and women have died. Join us in honoring them. Or pause with us at 3:00 p.m. your local time Monday and honor them and your own.
Whatever method you choose, please take the time to remember and to pass on the significance of the day.
Thanks to Sugar for the beautiful graphics to honor them.
Manchester, United Kingdom 4,636 miles from Caneyhead SALUTE!!
Your entry is a good reminder. No cookouts or trips to the beach for us. But I'll be remembering them. bea
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute by you and graphics by Sugar. Quiet week-end for us and we're flying our flag. God Bless America, Paula
ReplyDeleteVery good Barbara. Memorial Day is always a sad time for me remembering those who gave their lives for all of us. Helen
ReplyDeleteA very important one for our family. Chad's deployed now and although we pray every day for Daddy's safe return, we will be saying a few extra prayers on Monday for him, and taking some flowers to our post memorial park.
ReplyDeleteA very important one for our family. Chad's deployed now and although we pray every day for Daddy's safe return, we will be saying a few extra prayers on Monday for him, and taking some flowers to our post memorial park.
ReplyDeleteGMTA Barbara! I wrote a similar theme in my entry, without the quotes and Memorial Day pause at 3 pm ~ I am so glad you had those things in your entry because I had forgotten about the pause. Love and blessings, Penny http://journals.aol.com/firestormkids04/FromHeretoThere
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.com/firestormkids04/TimeforaLittlePoetry
Thank you for this important reminder, one we should all be aware of this 'holiday' weekend.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
AMEN FOR YOUR ENTRY BARBARA.
ReplyDeleteGOD HAS THE POWER TO 'SHOW THE LIGHT' AS HE DID TO SAUL OF TARSUS.
HOPEFULLY MANY OTHERS OF THIS PRESENT DAY WILL SEE THE LIGHT AND BE AFFECTED AS WAS SAUL.
OLD BIBLE SCRIPTURE TELLS US OF MANY EVILS 3 OR 4 THOUSAND YEARS AGO, FORMS OF PUNISHMENT FOR EVILS COMMITTED.
SINCE THAT TIME THE POPULATION OF THIS EARTH HAS GROWN TO APPROXIMATELY 4 BILLION PEOPLE AND NORTH AMERICA WITH ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THAT AMOUNT.
THANK GOD FOR OUR NEW TESTAMENT AS A GUIDE TO INSURE SALVATION TO THOSE WHOM BELIEVE SCRIPTURE AND ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
4 BILLION PEOPLE. AWESOME TO THINK OF IS'NT IT ? TV MINISTERS ARE TRYING TO REACH THEM ALL TO HEAR THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL IN THEIR LOCAL LANGUAGE. ADMIRABLE WORK. I PRAY GOD CORRECTS THE EVIL AND SOON, AND GOD'S BLESSINGS ON THE MANY MILITARY SERVICE PEOPLE MANY WHOM HAVE DIED IN CONFLICTS FROM COLONIAL DAYS TO THIS TIME. sam
Happy Memorial Day weekend!!! Thank you for posting this to honor our fallen.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I do all of the above, thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteyou can rooll over and kiss the man in bed with you who is leaving in 2 days to go serve his country once more for 6 months....
ReplyDeleteLynhttp://journals.aol.com/ukgal36/Britsblog/
Many of your servicemen gave their lives over here in England in WW2. I shall remember their sacrifice, God bless them all
ReplyDeleteWell Barbara, I might not be able to as much as I would like to, or sometimes, my family takes this time to get things done we can't do at other times- but we always reserve a good portion of our thoughts and prayers for our soldiers, those who gave their lives and loved ones such as my father in law who fought hard, but was able to come back home after the war ended- but whom has since passed on. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions! God Bless you and your family, and all who have served or are now serving. Carolyn
ReplyDeleteWell Barbara, I might not be able to as much as I would like to, or sometimes, my family takes this time to get things done we can't do at other times- but we always reserve a good portion of our thoughts and prayers for our soldiers, those who gave their lives and loved ones such as my father in law who fought hard, but was able to come back home after the war ended- but whom has since passed on. Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions! God Bless you and your family, and all who have served or are now serving. Carolyn
ReplyDeleteI loved your entry. I will take time to think about the fallen soldiers tomorrow and also the ones still fighting for us in Iraq. God Bless them all. Keep our soldiers safe....love, Christine
ReplyDeletewhat a great tribute, Barbara! we do need to remember and to honor those who died for our freedom and who serve us to protect our freedom to this day; I also think we need to make sure our kids/grandkids understand the significance of this day
ReplyDeletebetty
Dear Barbara,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to our veterans!
Thank you very much!
love,natalie
p.s. please come visit me y'all!