Cause for Pause - Memorial Day

it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War. It was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and Labor Day its end.

Begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family get-togethers, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events such as the Indianapolis 500 auto race, held since 1911 on Memorial Day.


How sleep the brave, who sink to rest,
By all their country's wishes blest!
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallow'd mould,
She there shall dress a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
By fairy hands their knell is rung,
There Honour comes, a pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair,
To dwell, a weeping hermit, there.

 

An excellent post YMRA. To you and all the others that do and have served defending us: THANK YOU!

 

Excellent post. I too want to remember the men and women of all races who died and continue to die for this nation. When I think of those thankless cowards who put these people down (we know some who are here) who will never put there asses on the line I can only marvel at the courage of the warriors who defend this nation. Thank you brave ones.

 

Thank you to the brave men and women of this country.
Thank you to the fallen who has paid the ultimate sacrifice.

 

:smt058 Great post

We just got done studying D-Day. Thanks for posting the cemetary in Normandy.

 

Memorial Day to me isn’t only about the many men and women in uniform of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives working on a daily basis for this country, it’s also about the fallen freedom fighters as well. The people who died for the struggle.

 

I co sign everything that has been said. Yes, its lame, but I cant write it any better than you guys that posted before me.