May 29, 2023, a Day of Remembrance

cj Sez:  Because I believethis info needs repeating . . . 

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.
   Many people confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day andthink of the two days as being interchangeably one and the same, but there is adifference between them. Do you know what it is?

   VeteransDay is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who servedhonorably in the military—in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day islargely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, toacknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated,and to underscore the fact that all who served—not only those who died—havesacrificed.

   MemorialDay is a day for remembering and honoring those who died in theservice of their country, particularly the military personnel who died inbattle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In England, it’s known asRemembrance Day.

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day…it was once known asDecoration Day. Then the name changed again and became Poppy Day. When I was little,we bought and wore little red, paper poppy flowers as a remembrance. I believe the flowers were made by disabled Vets back then. Whateverthe name, it's a day to remember and honor all those heroic men and women whohave died in service of the United States of America.

  Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holidayhonoring Union soldiers. The date of the first Decoration Day, the 30th of May,1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil Warbattle. 

  Inspired by the rondeau poem “In FlandersFields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae whilestill at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael, a University of Georgiaprofessor, came up with this simple idea: Sell poppy flowers to raise money on behalf of soldiers killed and injured in World War I--the red of the petals representing the blood of heroes shed on those fields of war. Michael was the first to wear one,and she sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going tobenefit servicemen in need.

   In my original Lyrical Pens post a few years ago, JanieDelchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250,shared insights on how to honor our fallen heroes. Janie told me then that what follows here had been a Facebook repost and gave me permission to use the words. Please takea minute to read it all the way through. It says everything.

“Just a reminder ofwhat we celebrate next weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans,however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimatesacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone ontotheir eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for youruse, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor onMemorial Day.

 

Here's some groundrules:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about brave menand women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, notDisneyland.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about ChestyPuller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, MitchellPaige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attenda Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried theburden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in “peace”.God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

   cj Sez:  I owe anawesome debt, one which can never be repaid, to the thousands upon thousands of heroic men andwomen who died so that my family and I live in freedom. I pray God’s blessingsand comfort rain down on the grieving families and friends they left behind.

   That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keepingon, and I’ll try to do the same.
cj

   The Haunted BookShop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock and ships everywhere. To order contact:https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITAAward-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happyto ship you the book(s) of your choice.
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