Memorial Day

Memorial Day is quickly approaching and signals the beginning of summer. Most families celebrate the weekend with a cook-out, as does mine. In fact my father used to say it wasn't summer until he burnt a hotdog on the grill. What ever your tradition please take a moment and remember our fallen veterans. Observe the "National Moment of Remembrance" it occurs at 3P.M. on Memorial Day. It's at this time you will hear TAPS being played at National Cemetaries in honor of our fallen heroes. Don't just drive by the voluntary toll booths setup by the various veterans groups selling poppies. Buy one and think of the beautiful poem written by John McCrae in 1915:

In Flanders Fields
-John McCrae, 1915.

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
The 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.

The tradition of selling and wearing poppies can be traced back to Moina Michael. She penned this touching reply to In Flanders Field:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

"She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it." - http://www.usmemorialday.org


It is the VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.


It is the
VETERAN who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag,
and who is buried under the flag.

To my fellow VETERANS, Thank you for the sacrifices you have made so that we may live free and proud.