Memorial Day: Remembering all who have fallen

[Linus]

Memorial Day is Monday May 31 this year. It is a day to remember the women and men of all walks of life who gave up their lives in belief of their country.

Although I am not an American, I do believe it's important to remember those who were lost physical, those who were lost mentally and those who lost their inner soul.

In Canada we remember through the wearing of poppies (Remembrance Day falls on the 11th month, 11th hour, 11th min, 11th second). And on that day, I remember as a child, we recited "In Flanders Field". So, to remember the Americans' who have given up their lives here, I hope it's ok to recite that here as well.


In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army


In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[Andrew, Jr.]

Thanks Linus. I think it is so important to remember this. :candle:

[Diva]

http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/amyjayne10/Memorial%20Day/7726b210.gif

[Kenna]

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[PinkieLee]

"Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave."

For me, the simple words of THANK YOU are never enough to show appreciation for all the sacrifices these men & women have made for our freedom. Being raised in a military family, and being around Veterans my entire life, has made me thankful for their honor, duty & love of country.

We honor you & thank you... not only today but everyday.

[Linus]

**BUMP**

A reminder that this weekend isn't all about the sales.

[Ms. Tabitha]

Freedom Is Not Free

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
~Kelly Strong

[theoddz]

Remembering those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Here's to those who are also in uniform now, standing the watch and keeping us safe 24/7/365.

Thank you for your service. (f)

nptA5uj6ZRY

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[DapperButch]

Thanks to all who are serving and have served!

[Andrew, Jr.]

I am so very grateful for all of the men and women of the military. :praying:

[Enigma]

~A Tribute to The Fallen~



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In Humble Gratitude
~Thank you and Bless You~


.

[Unndunn]

Linus,
Thanks for starting this thread. It's an important holiday and not all about picnics and sales. I didn't know Canada had Remembrance Day. On that same day in the US we have Veterans Day (on the 11th day of the 11th month).

Here's a song that always gives me goosebumps when I listen to it. It was written by Eric Bogle and has been done by quite a few singers but this is my favorite version, done by Dropkick Murphys:

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lyrics:

oh how do you do, young willy mcbride
do you mind if i sit here down by your graveside
and rest for a while in the warm summer sun
i've been walking all day, and im nearly done
and i see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
when you joined the great fallen in 1916
well i hope you died quick
and i hope you died clean
oh willy mcbride, was is it slow and obscene

[Chorus]
did they beat the drums slowly
did they play the fife lowly
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus
did the pipes play the flowers of the forest

and did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
in some loyal heart is your memory enshrined
and though you died back in 1916
to that loyal heart you're forever nineteen
or are you a stranger without even a name
forever enshrined behind some old glass pane
in an old photograph torn, tattered, and stained
and faded to yellow in a brown leather frame

[Chorus]
did they beat the drums slowly
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/d5q ]
did they play the fife lowly
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus
did the pipes play the flowers of the forest

the sun shining down on these green fields of france
the warm wind blows gently and the red poppies dance
the trenches have vanished long under the plow
no gas, no barbed wire, no guns firing now
but here in this graveyard that's still no mans land
the countless white crosses in mute witness stand
till' man's blind indifference to his fellow man
and a whole generation were butchered and damned

[Chorus]
did they beat the drums slowly
did they play the fife lowly
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus
did the pipes play the flowers of the forest

and i can't help but wonder oh willy mcbride
do all those who lie here know why they died
did you really believe them when they told you the cause
did you really believe that this war would end wars
well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
the killing and dying it was all done in vain
oh willy mcbride it all happened again
and again, and again, and again, and again

[Chorus]
did they beat the drums slowly
did they play the fife lowly
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus
did the pipes play the flowers of the forest
[end]