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Memorial Day

metirish May 30 2011 11:22 AM

Taken from the flight deck of the Intrepid This really is a great holiday and should be seen as more than the start of summer

Ashie62 May 30 2011 11:30 AM Re: Memorial Day

A thank you to all who serve and have served.

Edgy DC May 30 2011 11:35 AM Re: Memorial Day

And that includes MFS. I was mowing my lawn this AM and listening to a C-Span radio broadcast of an interview with historian Douglas Brinkley at the site of the World War II Memorial. I'm feeling all patriotic and impressed by the sacrifices of the WWII generation and then they take a caller: "When are you going to tell the true story of how we got into World War II. Roosevelt knew about the attack on Pearl Harbor two weeks before it happened. But he wanted to be a war hero like his cousin Teddy, so he let it happen. And because he had all those Communitsts in his cabinet, he exposed all of our troups in the Phillipines and funneled aide to Russia." A two-handed head clutcher (thank you, David Foster Wallace). Brinkley, to his credit, defined this theory, cited all the historians you could read who have throughly debunked it, and didn't use the word wacko until his last sentence. They then took calls from some vets who shared their experiences, and for once, gave them all the time in the world.

themetfairy May 30 2011 12:54 PM Re: Memorial Day

This is a scene from my township's Memorial Day ceremony, which followed the annual parade. In the background you can see the marching bands from both of our district's high schools playing patriotic songs. North and South combining as one band for the ceremony - very appropriate. In the foreground are Little Leaguers, who are probably tired after marching in the heat and then sitting through the ceremony (which included a godawful rendition of the National Anthem by a former opera singer who forgot words and couldn't sing along with the marching bands - Leslie Nielson as Enrico Perlazzo was better....). Most of the boys are gamely paying attention to the marching bands and calmly waiting until it's time for them to get their post-ceremony hot dogs, but the boy on the right is clearly more interested in whatever it is that he is holding in his fingers. There's always one in every crowd, isn't there? And to echo what was expressed above - a big Thank You to all who have served our nation to allow us to have days and ceremonies such as this one.

cooby May 30 2011 03:40 PM Re: Memorial Day

I always thought of it as a day to remember all our passed away loved ones, but also to remember our veterans. It is a good holiday, metirish, you're right :)

Rockin' Doc May 30 2011 04:14 PM Re: Memorial Day

A heartfelt thanks to all those that have fought and often died to secure the freedoms that many of us too often take for granted. I salute all of the veterans past and present.

MFS62 May 30 2011 04:41 PM Re: Memorial Day Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2011 05:12 PM

And thank YOU for remembering all who served. Later

batmagadanleadoff May 30 2011 04:46 PM Re: Memorial Day

The History Channel ain't what it used to be. Or what it's supposed to be. Memorial Day Weekend and they're showing wall-to-wall Pawn Stars.

metirish May 30 2011 05:23 PM Re: Memorial Day

batmagadanleadoff wrote: The History Channel ain't what it used to be. Or what it's supposed to be. Memorial Day Weekend and they're showing wall-to-wall Pawn Stars. National Geo channel an the Smithsonian channel are showing all that stuff.

The Second Spitter May 30 2011 11:06 PM Re: Memorial Day

Rockin' Doc wrote: A heartfelt thanks to all those that have fought and often died to secure the freedoms that many of us too often take for granted. I salute all of the veterans past and present. Sterling words, Rockin Doc. Could not have put it any better.

Edgy DC May 31 2011 07:22 AM Re: Memorial Day

Is ANZAC Day pretty much Memorial Day down under? I guess it is. I guess it's fitting that Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia tend to have different days of remembrance, but we have tended to be in the same conflicts, and our soldiers have tended to die together.

The Second Spitter Jun 01 2011 09:40 AM Re: Memorial Day

Edgy DC wrote: Is ANZAC Day pretty much Memorial Day down under? I guess it is. I think the allegory is spot on. Both initially commemorated the fallen at a particular battle, and then used to honor all members of the armed services. (A minority of Aussie Vietnam Vets had issues with the Anzac Day but they are no longer so vocal about it). I used to think Veterans Day was analogous to Anzac Day but that's merely what you folks called Armistice/Remembrance Day.