“They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,
And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Alamo (photo by Scott Holleran)
Today is Memorial Day.
Have you visited Concord? Lexington? Gettysburg? The Alamo? Pearl Harbor? The United Flight 93 field in Southwestern Pennsylvania? The Vietnam War memorial? A Korean War memorial? Do you memorialize the fallen American soldier? And, if so, why? How? Please comment and explain.
Think about, contemplate and remember the dead.
Great War solider memorial, San Rafael, California (photo by Scott Holleran)
Thanks, Scott. In addition to remembering, I am looking forward this Memorial Day. Tomorrow evening I am going to see the the new "Top Gun," hoping to get a glimpse of the heroic men who still exist in my country. We need to release these men from Woke Prison! Here's a positive review:
I'm usually a minority of one, but, here goes anyway.
I totally disagree that Memorial Day shouldn't be a happy holiday. A somber remembrance of the war dead is completely in order, as a priority. But then, there's everything right about immediately kicking off the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of hot dogs and pretzels and beer", at a back yard, lakeside or otherwise outside, outdoor cookout, with more such events throughout the summer, as desired, clear through and even beyond Labor Day. With due respect, let's not be inhibited about enjoying life, ESPECIALLY in connection with a day like Memorial Day.
Mike, I agree that Memorial Day can include joyful celebration of life, which underscores the reasons why it’s a serious, somber holiday. In fact, soldiers died defending the liberty to enjoy living and most were robbed of that joy without reason.
Memorial Day is an acknowledgment of this fact.
So, it’s not a contradiction to celebrate with hot dogs and beer but only and strictly if you grasp the seriousness of what Memorializing the dead means.
Since we're talking about Memorial Day, I agree. This is really what I meant. In a way, and although I'm an atheist and maybe you are, too (correct me on that, if I'm wrong), this is about like Christians praying, then having their festivities, although we're not praying. We're remembering. And it's not any positing of any deity, but remembering natural people, like us, who died for the universally human value of rights and freedom.
I wrote this greeting because Memorial Day has been demoralized to mean something blank, vacant and meaningless. People say “Happy Memorial Day” without any sense of what the holiday means. Worse, they generically wish others a happy holiday weekend. It should be fundamentally serious, somber and grave, as far as I’m concerned, if only for a time. Have a drink if you want. But it isn’t a Memorial Day if it doesn’t include an upright, sobering recognition of the war dead.
Thanks, Scott. In addition to remembering, I am looking forward this Memorial Day. Tomorrow evening I am going to see the the new "Top Gun," hoping to get a glimpse of the heroic men who still exist in my country. We need to release these men from Woke Prison! Here's a positive review:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/05/top_gun_maverickthe_right_stuff_reduxa_good_thing.html
Timing the movie’s release to its military theme makes sense. Did you enjoy it?
We're seeing it tomorrow night - Ill let you know!
I'm usually a minority of one, but, here goes anyway.
I totally disagree that Memorial Day shouldn't be a happy holiday. A somber remembrance of the war dead is completely in order, as a priority. But then, there's everything right about immediately kicking off the "lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of hot dogs and pretzels and beer", at a back yard, lakeside or otherwise outside, outdoor cookout, with more such events throughout the summer, as desired, clear through and even beyond Labor Day. With due respect, let's not be inhibited about enjoying life, ESPECIALLY in connection with a day like Memorial Day.
Mike, I agree that Memorial Day can include joyful celebration of life, which underscores the reasons why it’s a serious, somber holiday. In fact, soldiers died defending the liberty to enjoy living and most were robbed of that joy without reason.
Memorial Day is an acknowledgment of this fact.
So, it’s not a contradiction to celebrate with hot dogs and beer but only and strictly if you grasp the seriousness of what Memorializing the dead means.
Since we're talking about Memorial Day, I agree. This is really what I meant. In a way, and although I'm an atheist and maybe you are, too (correct me on that, if I'm wrong), this is about like Christians praying, then having their festivities, although we're not praying. We're remembering. And it's not any positing of any deity, but remembering natural people, like us, who died for the universally human value of rights and freedom.
As an Objectivist, I am an atheist.
I wrote this greeting because Memorial Day has been demoralized to mean something blank, vacant and meaningless. People say “Happy Memorial Day” without any sense of what the holiday means. Worse, they generically wish others a happy holiday weekend. It should be fundamentally serious, somber and grave, as far as I’m concerned, if only for a time. Have a drink if you want. But it isn’t a Memorial Day if it doesn’t include an upright, sobering recognition of the war dead.
Yes. I think we have agreed, and do agree on that'