Memorial Day

[Harpoon]

Without opening a pandora's box or can of worms or bag of cats or whatever....

One is not REQUIRED to love the President of the United States. No one will go to federal prison or be strung out on a rail or tarred and feathered for holding malice or ill will towards W (unless you choose to act on your feelings of course, but that's another matter.)

However, the OFFICE of the President of the United States is something that demands respect. If you don't like the man, at LEAST honor the Office. Bushy was performing a duty that all Presidents have honored for generations now, speaking to the American public on one of it's honored and "sacred" holidays.


I'm not a fan of Bush. I think Gore as president would have been an utter catastrophy, he's a dullard and his wife is anti-arts, anti-free speech.

The photo was not political, it was OUR president speaking on a national holiday in front of a national memorial honoring war dead on a day set aside to honor our military service men and women.

I doubt the photo was posted as a political statement. If you view ANY such photo of the sitting president as a political statement, that' is a bit unfortunate, however, you are as entitled to your opinions as I and everyone else here is entitled to theirs/mine.


~putting the soap box away for yet another day~

 

[Harpoon]

Oh yeah, as a photographer, that's a pretty good photo you shot there! =)

 

[hensylee]

Tom that truly was beautiful. I can just imagine.

Taps - does anyone know the words? It does have words,you know. Mother was born in Key West and lived near the Navy and Army bases. They were privileged to hear Taps every single morning and every single night. She taught me the words, but I have forgotten......

Day is done
Gone the sun
All is well
All is well

But there's more........

 

[medtronic of borg]

I think you are missing my point!

I think you are missing my point!

Well rain...it just so happens that several members of my family have been in EVERY american war. Our family has a small old wooden chest with war letters from most of my relatives. And it will be passed on again soon. The worst part of my families military history was surviving andersonville. Some of them survived it...others are barried there.

The letters clearly depict war as nothing to aspire to. "It is a unlike god like thing that I do...killing, I want nothing more then to leave this rechid place. My fear is it will never leave me!" Corp. George McCoy ,Co.G, Reg.5, Ia Inf. 11/1/63 He died there on 11/25/63

That is just one example of what is in the box.

Med

 

[SJJ]

Ann,
You made me curious as I too, had forgotten all the lyrics. Try www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/taps.html
Sue

 

[hensylee]

That's really beautiful, Rain - all of it. Precious moments in our lives.

Thanks, Sue. I went there and read the lines again. So touching.

 

[epstns]

Tom,
I was going to comment about Marty's great photo, and THEN I read your moving post. Thank you for putting our thoughts to words. I have made the trip to Arlington on a quiet summer afternoon. I don't think even my wife understood why I was so moved, to silent tears for all the soldiers, known and unknown, who gave so much so that we could live the lives we can. Later that week we visited the (then very new) Viet Nam Memorial, and I found the names of several high school classmates on the wall. That was a very emotional trip for me, but one that I would not have missed for the world.

Thanks again, Tom and Marty.

 

[Mary]

I'm just reading this thread for the first time this morning. My two cents are just now being thrown in the pot. . .
This thread is posted on Small Talk, where it states we can discuss issues other than heart.

Marty, it was a great picture and I'm so glad you were there for the ceremony.
Borg, it struck me that Marty wasn't being political. He wanted everyone to see what a great event was taking place in our nation's capital. and he was a participant.
As regards memorials. . .my best friend, who was killed last year, wrote the definitive book on the history of the Army's Special Forces. He was there at the creation of SF in 1953. He has/had a fictionalized account of his service in Vietnam due to be published this September. I was privileged to help edit the novel.
We talked many times about his three tours of Vietnam, and he said he had no desire to visit the Vietnam memorial, and he never did. This is not to say that he didn't believe in the remembrance or ceremony associated with military service. Early in his military career, he had been a member of the Old Guard stationed in Washington and had handled some arrangments of President Kennedy's funeral. He felt that no one should presume to know another's thoughts and experiences; we should all do our own thing.
He chose not to visit the Vietnam memorial, but that should not serve as an indictment of his patriotism or loyalty.

He fought for that right and defended it vigorously. This thread exemplifies what he fought for. . .

On a personal note, I learned when my son went into Marine Recon in 1996 to tell new acquaintances that I had a child in the service. My hope was they would not say anything stupid to me about the military.I wanted to head them off before they went there!
No matter what I feel politically, I would never, ever criticize an action taken that might impact the life of military personnel. That's my choice, but believe me, most parents, spouses, children feel the same way.

Gee, I love this forum!
Mary

 

[tommy]

Taps

Taps

Here's a website with three verses and a story of the origins of TAPS. I don't know if there is anyway to verify the story, but it is very moving and speaks to me.
http://freepages.music.rootsweb.com/~edgmon/cwtaps.htm

It is soldiers that sacrificed to secure our freedom. At this time, we honor those that purchased freedom for us. Our honor to them does not repay them nor repay their families for their sacrifice. But the act of remembering and honoring those in our debt reminds us that freedom is larger than any one of us, but requires something from each of us.

 

[tobagotwo]

My grandfather, Eddy Hendricks, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. John Kennedy's spot is about 35 feet away.

 

[hensylee]

fitting to put it in here in full:

fitting to put it in here in full:

TAPS, circa 1862

It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy has been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge of the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals.

Information provided by Lt Colonel Lewis Kirkpatrick, (Ret) Reserve Officers Association

LYRICS

Day is done,
gone the sun,
from the lakes
from the hills
from the sky,
all is well,
safely, rest,
God is near.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing, near,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This, we, know,
God is near.

 

[Harpoon]

Ummm... Trumpet's only beautiful if the person playing it knows how and is in tune.....


I've spent too many rehearsals in all kinds of orchestras cringing at the sound of trumpets (and other brass instruments) that were well out of tune.


However, in their defense, I LOVE jazz trumpets, solo or accompanied.

My dad had and played one in high school and college. Gave it up and ended up handing the trumpet over to a cousin of mine who wanted to start playing.

It's one of a list of instruments I would have liked to try to learn to play.

 

[Harpoon]

Oh yeah, on the subject of "memorial music" I like bagpipes too...


Those two usually draw tears from me during solomn ceremonies and the like.


I LOVE bagpipers (and drums) in marching bands during parades. My favorite part, next to the fire engines....

 

[ticktock]

Marty
Just now saw the photo you posted, and wanted to thank you for going to the trouble of sharing it with all of us here. I appreciate your efforts, and applaud your sense of Citizenship.

Mindy