Fort Collins, CO
Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude, -- the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
General John A. Logan in his General Order No. 11 of May 5th, 1868, Decoration Day
As freeborn children we should spend this day in celebration. We should do so out of respect for the sacrifices made by generations of soldiers who have paid and continue to pay the ultimate price on our behalf. We should celebrate with a proud eye on the flag. We should lend an attentive ear to the families and friends of those who have fallen in the service of our country. And, we should pay our respects to our own veterans, the men and women in our own families... grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, and cousins. We cannot let ourselves be blind or deaf to sacrifice of increasingly unsung valor. We cannot become so immured to the reality of war that we fail to respect the soldier's reality - those brave souls who defend and protect and serve. Let our hearts not be so jaded that we cannot feel the loss of a single one of our brave.
Let us celebrate being American. Let us raise our flags high... let us raise our hands in salute... let us raise our voices in patriotic tribute... let us raise our heads in pride of country... let us teach our children an appreciation of freedom and liberty, justice and independence... Let us do these things and celebrate our unity. United We Stand is not just an old catch phrase - it is a call to duty. We should strive to be the best Americans we can be today and every day so that those we memorialize know that giving their all was worth the cost.
As we celebrate Memorial Day as we do so many holidays in the good ol' USA -- with picnics and beer, car races and concerts, flags and fireworks, let us pause in the revelry with grateful hearts... let us rejoice that we live in the land of the free, let us renew our allegiance, let us proudly salute the stars and stripes and honor those who have so gloriously served it...
Thank you...
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post !!
How close are you to the fires they say are west of Ft. Collins?
ReplyDeleteWe are "in town". The fires are about 10-15 miles to the northwest by the way the crow flies.
ReplyDelete