Today Is Memorial Day

[Burning Petard]

in the USofA. I like the reality that this forum includes contributors who are not a part of my nation. For them, I remind that this national holiday began as a remembrance of the individuals who died in the American Civil War. It was called by many 'decoration day' in my youth--a day to add flower and flag to the grave markers of family members, what ever their circumstance at death.

It morphed into 'Memorial Day' a day to remember the many who died in military service, where or when ever. It is NOT a day to thank a living veteran for their service. That day comes in November.

Someone here on this forum introduced me to the blog of Jim Wright, a retired US Navy warrant officer. He writes of many things of importance to current events. He regularly posts about Memorial Day:

http://www.stonekettle.com/2016/05/memo ... -2016.html

It is a long post, properly looking back. But he also writes of today

"Today there are those who instead of picnicking  with their familiars, instead of working in their yards or enjoying the day, will be patrolling the dark and dangerous corners of this world.  They’re out there, right now, walking the bitter broken mountains of central Asia. They’re out there right now standing the long watch on and below and above the seas. They’re out there in the fetid festering jungles of South America, in the dry dusty deserts of Africa, in the blistering heat of the Middle East, in lands so remote you’ve never even heard of them – and wouldn’t believe the descriptions of such places if you did.  They are out there right now, as far away as a cold airless orbit high above the Earth and as close as local bases in their own states and the armories of their own home towns.  
Some of these men and women will not live out today.
Some will most certainly come home to Dover Air Force Base in a cold steel box beneath the draped colors of the Stars and Stripes, their war over, their dreams ash, soon to be just another restless ghost in America’s legion of the dead."

I live just 30 minutes up the road from Dover Air base. Those metal boxes covered with a flag are frequently in my thoughts.

snailgate

[oldr_n_wsr]

I said a prayer of thanks to those who gave it all that I may live in a free country.
Thanks again.