Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

The OP Pack would like to dedicate today's post to the many veterans of war.


Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Freedom is not free

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Service man saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
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.

LCDR Kelly Strong, USCG - Copyright 1981


Memorial Day should remind us that freedom is always under challenge and that freedom is never free. Freedom is important enough to live for, and precious enough to die for. Let us not forget those men and women who have served our great nation during times of both peace and conflict.

Woos, the OP Pack

36 comments:

  1. Thanks for the nice tribute to all who have served.

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  2. We have just visited Khyra and remarked there how saddened we are that lives have been lost.
    We thought your poem was very moving and sadly very true.
    There are people left behind whose lifes remain forever incomplete because of loved ones who never returned.
    love
    Martha & Bailey xx

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  3. Hi, You Guys...

    What a beautiful tribute...

    Abby xxxooo

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  4. Thank you for posting this fitting tribute to our veterans.

    XOXO
    Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

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  5. Thank you for this very important post.

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  6. Furry well said!
    Big licks to you
    Suzuki
    xxx

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  7. What a beautiful tribute!
    Happy Memorial day, guys!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  8. We shall never forget the bravest of the brave!

    That was a beewootiful poem !

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  9. Amen... it's tough to read this poem without choking up.

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  10. Thank you for your thoughts and also for that very tender, touching poem.

    Kisses,
    Stella

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  11. Thats a very nice tribute you guys (:

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  12. Great poem, woos! I hope that you are enjoying your Memorial Day.

    Ozzie

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  13. What a great tribute! We will never forget what our troops do for us.
    Hugs,
    Sitka

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  14. Nice post. In our country there's no tradition for this kind of celebrations.
    Greetings.

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  15. Wow!

    What a moving and pawesome post...

    Tank woo as we tank them!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  16. That was beautiful, OP Pack! Thank you for honoring our fallen service members!!!
    That poem is just incredible!
    Tail wags,
    Storms

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  17. Awesome post! Furry interesting history, and a beawootiful poem! God bless the veterans and their families!

    Woos & a-roos,
    Star & Jack a-roo

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  18. Awesome post! Furry interesting history, and a beawootiful poem! God bless the veterans and their families!

    Woos & a-roos,
    Star & Jack a-roo

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  19. Hello there Woo Pack,

    What a great tribute.

    We will not forget how many have sacrificed thier lives for freedom.

    Licks and Wags

    Tuffy and the Dog WOods Pack

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  20. That is a realy lovely tribute ..

    Hugs GJ xx

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  21. That is an awesome tribute.. So many of those soldiers are my kids age. Toph has a friend that calls him from Iraq quite often.. We keep are paws crossed all those kids are safe..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus, Louie and Callie

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  22. Great post guys, Happy Memorial Day!

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  23. That's a very nice tribute pups.

    Huffle Mawson

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  24. Perfect post for this holiday, beautiful...

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  25. Thanks for sharing your beautiful tribute!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  26. Well done!

    Wonderful tribute!

    Chasing my tale...
    Addie, Lucie, and Hailey

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  27. Thank you for posting this beautiful tribute.
    And thank you to all the brave ones who have served!
    tweedles

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  28. That was a very beautiful tribute.

    Mochi

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  29. What a beautiful tribute for Memorial Day!
    It's been ages sonce we visited and we're sorry :o( You PIF parcel went over a week ago (surface mail though....it was going to cost an arm and a leg to airmail....personally we think SHE could have made the sacrifice....she only uses one finger to type with anyway!)
    Hope you guys are all well!
    Slobbers xx

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  30. Excellent tribute. We hope you had a good day.

    Steve and Kat

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Thanks for wooing at us. We love your comments!