"The brave die never, though they sleep in dust, their courage nerves a thousand living men." – Minot J. Savage (June 10, 1841-May 22, 1918) an American Unitarian minister, psychical researcher and author
Someone once said that "our nation is home of the free because of the brave." May we never forget freedom isn't free.
My Dad's favorite hymn
He was a Naval veteran WWII and Korea. This slow haunting version is my favorite style of singing it. The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters perform "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," the Navy hymn, at the commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the Korean War armistice at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. on July 27, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic8zMkYwnq8
"The Star-Spangled Banner" – The Soldiers' Chorus sings the U.S. National Anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvf81y3lTUw
Memorial Day
The history of Memorial Day 2023 dates back to the American Civil War. It started as an event to honor soldiers who had died during the war. Traditionally Memorial Day is viewed as a time of honor and remembrance.
Throughout the United States it is common to visit cemeteries, particularly military ones, and decorate graves of the deceased with flowers, small flags and wreaths.
Adlai Stevenson II said, "Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."It is my hope that parents, grandparents, teachers join together to help young people understand how precious our freedom is, hard fought for, hard won.
Other common traditions of Memorial Day 2023 that are still practiced today include raising the U.S. flag quickly to the tops of flagpoles, slowly lowered to half-mast, and then it is raised again to full height at noon. The lowering of the flag at half-mast is meant to honor the fallen soldiers who have died for their country over the years, while re-raising the flag is meant to symbolize the resolve of the living to carry on the fight for freedom so that the nation's heroes will not have died in vain.
Local observances
Ukiah Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1900, in conjunction with Lewis White Post 76, will hold its annual commemoration service of all who have died in military service in the U.S., Monday, May 29, at noon at Russian River Cemetery, 940 Low Gap Road, Ukiah.
Memorial Day service is at Potter Valley Cemetery on Westside Potter Valley Road at 9 a.m. American Legion Lewis White Post 76 – Potter Valley, spearheads this celebration; former Post 76 Commander Ralph Paulin will lead the ceremony, and Potter Valley Scout Troup 72 will assist. Kate Magruder and her daughter, Grace Farmer, are also performing part of ceremony (Kate doing a reading and Grace singing).
Flag Bearer/Presenter, Staff Sergeant Jake Tangerman, U.S.Army Bugler, Jason McDonald. Refreshments served by PV 4-H Club. Individual small flags placed on each veteran grave site. Some 100 large flags on poles line the Cemetery Avenues.
Boonville's Memorial Day observance is 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, at Evergreen Cemetery in Boonville, sponsored by American Legion Post 385.
Remembering
"In Flanders Fields" is a war poem in the form of a rondeau, written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Originally published Dec. 8, 1915, Flanders Fields is a common English name of the World War I battlefields in an area straddling the Belgian provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders as well as the French department of Nord, part of which makes up the area known as French Flanders.
According to historians, McCrae was inspired to write the poem on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write.
According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially dissatisfied with his work, discarded it. "In Flanders Fields" was first published on Dec. 8 of that year in the London magazine Punch. Flanders Fields is a common English name of the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France.
It is one of the most quoted poems from the war. As a result of its immediate popularity, parts of the poem were used in efforts and appeals to recruit soldiers and raise money selling war bonds. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world's most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. The poem and poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada, where "In Flanders Fields" is one of the nation's best-known literary works. The poem is also widely known in the United States, where it is associated with Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields, the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days agoWe 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 throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.
Veterans Services info
Lewis White Post 76, Ukiah American Legion June meeting will be on the first Monday in June, (June 5) at 6:30 p.m. Program for the evening will be a representative from our local County Veterans Service Office reviewing services available and how to access them. All veterans, family or friends are welcome to attend. Coffee and refreshments provided. For more information, contact Adjutant Ralph Paulin at 707-489-1260 or rpaulin @willitsonline.com
Cheer-i-o!
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