It is at times like this that I wish I was blessed with the rhetorical skills to adequately express the profound awe I’m in of people who willingly put their devotion to their country and the welfare of strangers, many of whom show animus toward them, and lay down their lives for what is in their hearts the noblest of causes. How my heart aches for the gold star families who were deprived of loved ones just entering the prime of their lives. I can scarcely contain my utter contempt for a president who treats such warriors as no more than gum on the sole of his shoe. I’ll not dwell on a critique of the Commander-In-Chief, this is not the day for it. It is rather to honor those who, as Lincoln said, “gave their last full measure of devotion.” We owe these immortals a debt we can never begin to repay. The best we can do is to honor them and make sure the sacrifices they made will not be in vain.
I had a bunch of links bookmarked from over the weekend that I planned to post here,but it doesn’t seem appropriate just now.
polination.blog 
The Old Guard places over 228,000 flags at Arlington National Cemetery
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Grandfather to Granddaughter First Salute
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Monday, May 25, 2015
FROM DIOGENES’ MIDDLE FINGER
On Memorial Day
“In our effort to accommodate many Americans by making the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, we have lost sight of the significance of this day to our nation. Instead of using Memorial Day as a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in defense of freedom, many Americans use the day as a celebration of the beginning of summer.” — Purple Heart Recipient and Former United States Senator Daniel Inouye
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.
Written by Major John McCrae, – 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery – May 1915.
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This weekend, the school children of Waregem and nearby Mons will turn Flanders Cemetery into a sea of color; of Red poppy flowers and American and Belgian Flags just as they have for more than 90 years. On the door to the Flanders Field Chapel are written but three words: “Lest We Forget”.
We need not forget as well…….
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92-year-old WW2 veteran flies Spitfire again – BBC News
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5 year old’s touching gesture feeds homeless man at Waffle House
I predict this boy will grow up to be a soldier
There’s a good chance the man was a veteran.Shame on us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxcVlWEnxfY
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Beautiful, Pete. Thank you!
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