Monday Moments - Memorial Day

Fort Sumter - We took the harbor ferry out to the island for the tour.  Well done by our National Park Service.  They gave us the history, what built to that day that "started" the Civil War.  Shots fired on this Union fort and control by the Confederacy of Charleston Harbor beginning April 14, 1861

We were the first tour of the day and participated in the flag raising.  The Park Service emphasized the meaning of the flag - it flies over the United States of America and represents SO much

Ray hanging out with a cannon.  Sad to think that Americans shot at Americans from 1861 to 1865. Our official Civil War. 
 

Part of the reason we were in Charleston area was the birth of my grand nephew, Myles. He's my brother's first grandchild. One can only reflect on Myles' First Memorial Day, remember those lost in so many battles for so many reasons, and hope that there's peace for his lifetime.  So far - he's been being a baby for a month - up to nine pounds. 

And then there's the other side of Memorial Day - the opening of summer pools, beer cans, and the sizzle of burgers on a grill.  Here's an oldie flamingo picture.  We actually now have an Eagle floatie. 

Have a safe and memorable Memorial Day.  Pause and reflect on the meaning, salute the fallen. 

Peace

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!   A time of  remembrance and a salute  to  those who died in war

and of course, a time to welcome summer pool season

 Fly the flag, enjoy picnics, but honor the fallen

And blood in torrents pour

In vain - always in vain

For war breeds war again 

        John Davidson "War Song"  1899

Finally Friday and Memorial Weekend

Finally Friday and last Friday we headed to AR for our Crystal Bridges Art Museum adventure

Just some Chihuly tucked in a corner

Depression line sculpture

Look up - more Chihuly awaits

Modern wing

 And the natural beauty of the grounds as we strolled the trails

Such variety and peace

And now it's Memorial Weekend.  We remember all that served and died in service to their country

Wars are bred by poverty and oppression. Continued peace is possible only in a relatively free and prosperous world - George C. Marshall 1956

 Enjoy family and nature this weekend. Appreciate our United States of America in all it's flaws, we can still find community. 

Memorial Day - 2020

 Olden days - Patriotic baseball

 Unless it's raining, we'll have our flag flying out front on this trusty big tree

 Pretty flower pic - just cuz

 This wee one, Dakota, actually turns 3 today. I do not have a current picture. Maybe we'll see her before high school graduation - ha!   Happy Birthday, Dakota.

And this is from the USS Alabama (circa WWII), now a museum, in Mobile Alabama.

On Memorial Day, we remember those who fought and lost their lives for their country.

Monday should be a huge day of reflection - on the past and on our current situation.
Who are we as Americans?   What the heck are we doing as Americans?

Today should be a bit of a turning point for 2020 America - we truly should attempt to be better people, leaders for the world, and re-think who we are, who we want to be, and how we want to be seen. We should dig deep into our souls and think about how we want to be represented as America.

That all sounds so grand as I type it. Meanwhile, I'll float in the pool, eat a hot dog, and be a very lazy American. I need some gumption, some spirit, some mojo....

All the best for Memorial Day. Stay safe my friends.

Memorial Weekend

 Happy Memorial Day Weekend.  This is the fun, whimsy stuff.  Here are my little displays.  In the dining room I've got the flag runner and then symbols of summer - shells, etc. 

In the bathroom - more summer stuff - flamingos, fish, and beach turtles.  Heck yeah - I'm ready to swim.  It will be a fast plunge this weekend - from all of our rain, the pool is a brisk 68 degrees.
I'm a hardy Yankee gal - I can do it.

And the serious stuff for Memorial Weekend. It's not all about swimming, grilling, and chilling.

Soldiers everywhere have given their lives in the pursuit of freedom.  We shall remember and salute their sacrifice.

Cheers everyone and enjoy a safe and wonderful Memorial Weekend.
(and yes, I'm SO grateful to have a three day weekend - no work Monday - whew!!!!!!!!
It has been forever at work since New Year's Day - our last paid holiday. Holy Crap!!!! )

Memorial Day 2018

Memorial Day.   Remember and honor

War with its million horrors - Percy Bysshe Shelley

There never was a good war or a bad peace - Ben Franklin

Peace hath higher tests of manhood
    Than battle ever knew  -  John Greeleaf Whittier

Memorial Day

 The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree -  Thomas Campbell

All we have of freedom, all we use or know, this our fathers bought for us long and long ago - Rudyard Kipling

Happy Memorial Day.  As we celebrate and grill, swim, and hang out - let's remember........

Monday - Memorial Day

For love of country they accepted death -  James A. Garfield

Ah! never shall the land forget - William Cullen Bryant

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost - Arthur Ashe

Friday Flows into Memorial Weekend

It's Friday and we are amped for Memorial Weekend. Summer temps sizzle already in Texas. No doubt, we have the grocery list ready - hot dogs, burgers, rolls, chips, and don't forget the beer.

Let's also remember. Let's not forget...our fallen soldiers. Reflect on America and fly your flag. A lot of history brought us to this weekend.

The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem - Aaron Kilbourn

Stay safe my friends. Use sunscreen. Enjoy your weekend and reflect

Memorial Weekend

The drought is over in the DFW area. It's been raining, and raining, and raining. The poor flag has been sitting in the garage corner day by day by day eagerly waiting to be unfurled. However, it shall not wave proudly this Memorial Weekend due to rain and high winds.

And for the first time in a long time, I doubt I'll take a dunk in the pool for Memorial Weekend. No patio sit, no sunscreen, no friends with boats on the lake, and no shorts. Oh, I'll have fun, but it's a most peculiar Texas Memorial Weekend.

But we shall reflect and be grateful for our freedoms, the roof over our head, and the joy of rain.

I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, and its stupidity - Dwight D. Eisenhower in a speech January 1946.

Memorial Day 2012

The noble kind of patriotism ... aims at ends that are worthy of the whole of mankind
Albert Schweitzer

Remember

Memorial Weekend 2010, we fly our flag proudly on most sunny days and fortunately this weekend is proving perfect for the Stars and Stripes. Ray's sons - Chris and Kevin - are Marine veterans. They fortunately served and survived their five years of commitment to the Armed Services. Sadly, many do not and for that we remember and honor service, duty, and all soldiers who serve(d).

Oh, Ray and I grill burgers and float in the pool, and yeah, we take in a Memorial Day sale. However, we do truly salute all of our fighting men - living, dead, past, and present. My Uncle Bill fought in WWII and lost a leg and a year of his life in service to the United States. He turned ninety this month - a humble, great man, I'm proud to know. Ray's Uncle James served in Vietnam. He came back from that war a different person, and ultimately succumbed from post-war trauma - he was a delightful man and a hero our family remembers.

So many enlist for the United States of America and all it stands for. I shall mention freedom of speech, because obviously that is dear to my heart. I'm grateful I can post this blog. I'm grateful I can publish without fear of reprisal. Thinking about patriots cranking out words on printing presses, I'm in awe.

And in today's world, the publishing industry is in flux and yet survives with banter. Here's a quote from Garrison Keillor (Chicago Tribune/New York Times), " I think the publishing industry is about to slide into the sea. "

In turn, Jon Stewart said at the New York Book Expo, "I think the most surprising thing about the Keillor op-ed is that I thought he was dead." Ba-zinga (as Sheldon would say on Big Bang Theory)

Publishing shall flourish and the Internet is a potential friend and not enemy. Printed books versus e-books is still up for debate and perhaps both can live in harmony. And that's the joy of America. Choices. Freedom.

Memorial Day - I bow my head in remembrance