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A soldier died today (Poem)
| "Changing the date merely to create
three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this
has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of
Memorial Day." |
Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those the fell in service to their country.
"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten. However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.
"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays." --On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February 26, 2000
People of other nations sometimes show more of the true spirit of Memorial Day more than we do here. For example, a 2001 U.S. Memorial Day Guestbook entry from a citizen of the Netherlands states:
"In 1999 I laid flowers at the grave of a young U.S. fighter pilot who was KIA in my village in 1945. In the Netherlands I know of schools 'adopting' graves of Allied servicemen, keeping those graves in excellent condition! Does anybody know of adopting graves in the U.S. by schools?How many graves of our fallen do we in America leave dishonored by leaving their resting places forgotten and neglected?Sincerely,
Paul Patist
Castricum, The Netherlands - Tue May 15 04:50:29 2001"
Unfortunately, when Congress made Memorial day into a mandatory three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363), it made it all the easier for us to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day.
The Moment of Remembrance started in 2001 is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember and reflect, to maintain and decorate the graves of the fallen, and as Gen Logan stated in his famous General Order #11: "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."
On 17 of March 1989 Senator Inouye [HI] introduced a bill to the Senate which called for the restoration of the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th. Every new Congress since then (every two years), Mr. Inouye has faithfully re-introduced the bill. Several times a companion bill was introduced to the House.
As eloquently stated by Mr. Inouye in his introductory remarks to the bill he introduced in 1999:
"Mr. President, in our effort to accommodate many Americans by making the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, we have lost sight of the significance of this day to our nation. Instead of using Memorial Day as a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in combat, many Americans use the day as a celebration of the beginning of summer. My bill would restore Memorial Day to May 30 and authorize our flag to fly at half mast on that day. In addition, this legislation would authorize the President to issue a proclamation designating Memorial Day and Veterans Day as days for prayer and ceremonies honoring American veterans. This legislation would help restore the recognition our veterans deserve for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our nation." (1999 Congressional Record, page S621Bill Status:)
- On 4 January 2007, Mr. Inouye [HI] again re-introduced the bill, this time as S 70, to the Senate. At present there are no co-sponsors. On the same day it was introduced, the bill was read referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. As of today, no further major action has been taken by the Committee on this bill.
Do you think Memorial Day should have its traditional day of observance restored? If so, should Armed Forces Day (presently the third Saturday of May) be converted to a 3-day weekend holiday in its place? Vote in our poll here. And if you do agree that Memorial Day should have its traditional day of observance restored, please take a moment to sign the petition that will be delivered to Congress, and invite your friends and family to do the same.
We need to teach our children the day's meaning. Show others by our actions that we will not forget. You don't have to believe in war to honor our family, friends and neighbors who died in service to their country.
Don't we owe our loved ones and friends who died in service to our country a restored Memorial Day?
IAVA Memorial letter
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, has
its roots in the wake of the American Civil War. After World War I, it became a
day of remembrance for all those who had died in the nation's wars, and in 1971,
Congress declared it a national holiday to be observed on the final Monday in
May. It has grown from local origins to become a firmly-rooted national
tradition.
But for many it is still little more than a three-day weekend of barbeques. While it is a great opportunity to spend time with our friends and families, it is important that we all reflect upon the enormous sacrifices made by U.S. troops. This is especially true during a time of war.
This Memorial Day weekend, you can honor the memories of the men and women who have died serving our country in uniform by supporting those who are still sacrificing on our behalf.
- Troops Charities - From Salute America's Heroes to The Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury, there are many great charities that can connect you with troops and veterans in need. We've highlighted a few of the best.
- Events in Your Area - Some of our member veterans sent us information about the events they will be attending in their hometowns. See if there are any near you.
- Support IAVA - Here are some creative ways for you to support our work, along with some suggestions for how you can learn more about what our troops experience during and after their service.
Whether anti-war or pro-war, Democrat or Republican, all Americans have a moral obligation to respectfully care for and honor those who have served. Please find some time during the long weekend to remember the enormous sacrifices paid by the over 1.7 million troops who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Rob Timmins
Iraq Veteran
Field
Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
May 26, 2007
PTSD
The most resent numbers for PTSD were released today. The report says that 51% of the Guard and Reserve, 38% of the Army and 31% of the Marine corps veterans of Afghanstan and Iraq are displaying symptoms of PTSD. This is really big. You know how Macho the leathernecks are. For them to admit to PTSD while still in theater is unheard of. Some of these veterans are battling with the VA and the VA is doing the loop-de-loop. In some cases the VA is taking away service connected PTSD ratings and telling the vets they have a personality disorder. Thats a good way to piss off a guy with a gun. It's also not a smart thing to do.
Once again I make the call to award a lifetime pension to all combat veterans. The pension to include medical and mental health care coverage. In this war no one but the veterans and their families are suffering because we have no mandatory service. Joe blow jumps on his four wheeler and heads for the hills. The veteran can't even get an appointment for 2 months or more and when he does they call him a lier. The freaking oil companies and Bush's secret army are making Billions while the veteran has to stand in line just to get someone to stick a finger up his ass.
These veterans are going to take the PTSD to the streets of America. Crime rates will soar. Substance abuse will soar. Violent behavior with little provocation will soar. The politicians and the civilians will build more prisons and make more laws to protect themselves from the people who have been protecting them from the axis of evil. I am on the side of the veteran. Screw Joe Blow, he does not deserve the four wheeler. America is so screwed up. Each veteran should receive a lifetime pension, health care, a job and/or education and job.
I hope the fact that I am willing to share my ammo with these veterans is enough to scare the hell out of the civilian population. This whole thing will get much worse before it gets better.Foxtrot