posted on May 28, 2007 10:12:23 AM new
By Frank Salvato
As we enter into the Memorial Day weekend, many people are preparing their families for a weekend of fun, sunshine, the celebration of the unofficial beginning of summer, BBQs, picnics, and the like. Many people will be traveling to see family and friends, taking the opportunity that an extended weekend affords, to spend time with the ones they value most in life. While all of these actions can be considered “traditional,” they miss the mark on what Memorial Day is all about and miss it by a country mile.
The origin of Memorial Day centers on the American Civil War. This day, originally set at May 30 of every year, was at first an observance of those who died fighting for the Union cause.
One scholar, Professor David Blight of Yale University’s history department, cites the first Memorial Day as having taken place in 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. On this day, according to Professor Blight, liberated slaves and Union soldiers gathered on the grounds of a former Confederate prison camp, grounds that also served as a mass grave for Union soldiers. A solemn parade ensued culminating in the singing of patriotic songs, a picnic, and a remembrance of those who gave their lives to secure the unity of the Union.
In this long standing tradition, Memorial Day has come to symbolize a day when Americans of every political and ideological stripe break from their everyday lives in order to give thanks to those who have died taking up arms to afford our nation the freedoms and liberties that most of the time we all take for granted.
But the true meaning of Memorial Day has progressively become bastardized over the years. It has become simply another three-day weekend when car dealers, clothing stores, and furniture outlets market “big, big savings,” and oil companies jack gasoline prices through the roof just in time to fleece motorists traveling over the holiday weekend.
Memorial Day has this year become a politically opportune occasion for Democrat presidential candidate John Edwards who narcissistically--and repulsively--issued antiwar campaign propaganda telling his supporters to make Memorial Day about ending the Iraq War rather than about honoring those who made it possible for him to desecrate the day with partisan politics.
Americans owe it to those who have been felled protecting our freedoms to honor them on this, the one day of the year set aside for contemplating the sacrifices of the few for the many who take their deaths for granted. Consider it a civic responsibility. Consider it a teachable moment, should you be a parent, an opportunity to explain to your child or children what freedom and liberty really mean. Explain to them that declared independence brought with it a need for the loyalty of patriots willing to die so that we could reap the benefits of their dedication.
This day is not about you, it is about them.
This Memorial Day, take the time to remember those who have given all so that we may live free. Use the Internet to find memorials, parks, and museums dedicated to those who have died securing the liberties which we enjoy every day and go to them. Honor the memory of our fallen heroes. Honor them by remembering them. Thank them. Be thankful for them. . .and be proud to be thankful for them.
This Memorial Day, as you sit along Main Street, USA, watching the parade, remember to stand up when those in uniform and those who have served pass in review. Honor their service, their sacrifices, their commitment to our freedoms--to your freedoms--by being reverent and showing your gratitude.
Those who condemn me for my loyalty to our country--my patriotism--and my appreciation for those who afforded me the opportunity to express my opinions, do so in direct contempt of the efforts of those who have died expressly so they could be so ignorant of the freedoms they enjoy.
This Memorial Day, I remember those who have died in the service of our country. I remember the U.S. soldiers who died on all the battlefields to which they were called, from the battlefields of the Civil War and Cantigny to the beaches of Normandy and the desert sands of Iraq. I remember those who braved death so that we could live. . .in freedom, with liberty. I am thankful for their sacrifices. I am thankful for their service. I stand proud to be an American, a champion for the light of freedom around the world, that light illuminated by the dedication and sacrifice of those who have taken up arms to defend our nation and the ideals for which it stands.
It’s about time those who have nothing good to say about our country realize that they have this luxury because of those we honor on Memorial Day. To the ungrateful, the visionless, to the hate-America crowd I say, especially on this solemn day, shut-up, sit down, and think about the gift that you desecrate with each condemnation of the freedoms you abuse. Shame becomes the shallow, it’s just too bad they are too shallow to feel it.
To those who understand the gifts presented to us by the fallen, I ask you to join me in recommitting yourselves to celebrating the correct things this Memorial Day. The lives, the memories and the sacrifices of those whose deaths allow us not to live in fear.
In their memory, I stand proud. And so should you.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
posted on May 28, 2007 01:56:44 PM new
"Consider it a teachable moment, should you be a parent, an opportunity to explain to your child or children what freedom and liberty really mean. Explain to them that declared independence brought with it a need for the loyalty of patriots willing to die so that we could reap the benefits of their dedication"
This is especially important in the current day and age where the liberal schools are NOT teaching respect for much of anything anymore. Where they fight tooth and nail so military recruitment CAN'T take place on OUR TAXPAYER funded school grounds.
And they're certainly NOT teaching pride of country, honoring those who died so that they could live in freedom.
It's a shame...but our liberal school indoctrination agenda, doesn't respect nor honor our military and they certainly AREN'T teaching it to our children/grandchildren.
If fact they do just the opposite. They encourage them to think of them as losers and that the Armed Forces is the last resort. [per kerry's statements]
"This day is not about you, it is about them."
Except for the edwards' of the world. Then their OWN political gain is more important. tsk tsk tsk
There are hundreds of sites all over the internet that ARE honoring our Vets....and for that I am grateful.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on May 28, 2007 02:57:10 PM new
What Memorial Day is all about:
By the numbers: Minnesota soldiers killed in Iraq
Associated Press
Last update: May 21, 2007 – 2:42 PM
The number of people with strong Minnesota ties who have died in connection with the war in Iraq reached 35 on Wednesday with the Department of Defense's announcement that Army Cpl. Andrew J. Kemple, 23, of Cambridge, was killed in Tikrit on Feb. 12.
The list:
1. Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee, Army, killed July 3, 2003, when a sniper shot him in the neck outside the national museum in Baghdad.
2. Sgt. Brian R. Hellermann, 35, formerly of Freeport, Army, killed Aug. 6, 2003, in an ambush in Baghdad.
3. Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, 26, of Northome, Army, killed Nov. 17, 2003, in an ambush on his patrol near Balad.
4. Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Dorff, 32, of Minneapolis, Army, died Jan. 25, 2004, when his helicopter crashed in the Tigris River while on a rescue mission.
5. Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, 18, of Kettle River, Marines, found dead in Kuwaiti chapel March 7, 2004. Military investigators said he shot himself.
6. Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, 22, of Eden Prairie, Marines, killed in fighting April 4, 2004, in Al Anbar Province.
7. Pfc. Moises Langhorst, 19, of Moose Lake, Marines, killed in hostile fire April 6, 2004, in Al Anbar Province.
8. Lance Cpl. Levi Angell, 20, of Cloquet, Marines, killed April 8, 2004, in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Al Anbar Province.
9. Spc. James Holmes, 28, of East Grand Forks, Minn., North Dakota National Guard, wounded May 3, 2004, when a roadside bomb exploded while he was on vehicle patrol, died May 8, 2004, in Landstuhl, Germany.
10. Cpl. Demetrius Lamont Rice, 24, of Ortonville, Army, died July 14, 2004, in a vehicle rollover near Talafar, 45 miles from Mosul in northern Iraq.
11. Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Navy, collapsed in non-combat incident Sept. 11, 2004, near Iskandariayah, Iraq. Death ruled natural causes.
12. John Pinsonneault, 39, of North Branch, civilian contractor for Iraq security firm when killed by bomb Oct. 14, 2004, in Baghdad.
13. Spc. Daniel McConnell, 26, of Duluth, Army, killed Nov. 16, 2004, in vehicle rollover in Kirkuk.
14. Spc. Dwayne James McFarlane Jr., 20, of Cass Lake, Army, died Jan. 9, 2005, from bomb attack while on patrol in Baghdad.
15. Sgt. Mike Carlson, 22, of St. Paul, Army, died Jan. 24, 2005, in Mohammed Sacran, Iraq, with four others when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle overturned.
16. Sgt. 1st Class Mickey E. Zaun, 27, of Brooklyn Park, Army, died Jan. 28, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq of injuries after two armored vehicles collided.
17. 1st Lt. Jason Timmerman, 24, of Tracy, Army National Guard, died Feb. 21, 2005, when roadside bomb went off in Baghdad.
18. Staff Sgt. David Day, 25, of St. Louis Park, Army National Guard, died Feb. 21, 2005, when roadside bomb went off in Baghdad.
19. Sgt. Jesse Lhotka, 24, of Alexandria, Army National Guard, died Feb. 21, 2005, when roadside bomb went off in Baghdad.
20. Spec. Travis Bruce, 22, of Rochester, Army, died March 23, 2005, in Baghdad when struck by a rocket-propelled grenade as he stood on the roof of a building his unit was guarding.
21. Capt. Kelly C. Hinz, 30, of Woodbury, Marines, died May 2, 2005, when the F/A-18 Hornet jet he was piloting crashed with another jet fighter in south-central Iraq.
22. Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Lourey, 40, who grew up in Kerrick, Army, died May 26, 2005, when the Kiowa Warrior helicopter he was flying was shot down in Iraq.
23. 1st Lt. Michael Fasnacht, 25, of Mankato, Army, died June 8, 2005, when a roadside bomb hit the Bradley fighting vehicle he was driving while on parole in Iraq.
24. Sgt. Bryan James Opskar, 32, of Moorhead, Marines, died July 23, 2005, in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near Ar Rutbah, Iraq.
25. Sgt. Mike Benson, 40, of Winona, Army, died Aug. 10 of injuries suffered Aug. 2 while riding in a convoy that was struck by a bomb in Baghdad.
26. Pfc. Elden D. Arcand, 22, of White Bear Lake, Army, died Aug. 21, 2005, along with a soldier from Michigan when their M915A1 tractor pulling a 7,500-gallon tanker accidentally rolled over in Mosul, Iraq.
posted on May 28, 2007 03:00:16 PM new
27. Spc. Jacob T. Vanderbosch, 21, of Vadnais Heights, Minn., died Oct. 3 along with soldiers from Ohio and Florida in Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.
28. Master Sgt. Brett E. Angus, 40, of St. Paul, Marines, killed Nov. 26, 2005, while conducting combat operations near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. Apparently his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
29. Marine Lance Cpl. Scott Modeen, 24, of New Hope, a 2000 graduate of Cooper High School in New Hope, one of 10 Marines killed Dec. 1, 2005, when buried artillery shells were detonated outside an abandoned flour mill the Marines had been using as a temporary patrol base in Fallujah.
30. Cpl. Anthony McElveen, 21, of Little Falls, a 2003 graduate of Little Falls High School, one of 10 Marines killed Dec. 1, 2005, when when buried artillery shells were detonated outside an abandoned flour mill the Marines had been using as a temporary patrol base in Fallujah.
31. Marine Staff Sgt. Kenneth B. Pospisil, 35, of Andover, died Dec. 14, 2005, when a bomb he was going to disarm went off while he was involved in combat near Ar Ramadi.
32. Kyle Kaszynski, 39, of rural Elmwood, Wis., died Dec. 22, 2005, when a roadside bomb in Iraq killed him. He was working for a private security company, Kroll Inc. Kaszynski is a former St. Paul police officer and also worked as a police officer in Bemidji.
33. Army Reserve Maj. Stuart Anderson, 44, of Peosta, Iowa, a native of west-central Minnesota, died Jan. 7 in a military helicopter crash in northern Iraq.
34. Roland C. Barvels, 42, of Aberdeen, S.D., a native of Fairmont, Minn., who graduated from high school in Underwood, Minn. He was working as an international police liaison officer for DynCorp international. He died Jan. 18 when a roadside bomb hit his convoy near Basra.
35. Cpl. Andrew J. Kemple, 23, of Cambridge, died Feb. 12 when his Humvee came under small arms fire in Tikrit. Kemple was assigned to the Army's 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
posted on May 28, 2007 03:55:55 PM new
Glad to see there are others who agree with me that the LEFT is USING the deaths of our soldiers for their OWN anti-war agenda.
Hope MORE voters eyes are opened to the same TRUTH also:
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Happy Memorial Day
I thought body counts went out with the Vietnam War. The AP is kicking off Memorial Day weekend with a fresh body count in Iraq.
How come no mention of Americans killed in Afghanistan since last Memorial Day?
The AP story leads with the number of new graves opened for dead American soldiers since Memorial Day last, but only those killed in Iraq. Why this slight? Are the dead in Afghanistan not worthy of respect in the eyes of the Associated Press? It is possible that this article is not about honoring the dead at all, or even about reporting the news, but just another thinly veiled editorial attack on the Bush administration? Would the Associated Press be so callous as to use American dead in this manner, as a political tool?
I’m beginning to get the impression there is nothing more important to the Associated Press in its Iraq reportage than the number of “American soldiers killed in this unpopular war.” That phrase, with a number, is typically trotted out no later than graph three in AP stories on Iraq. It’s as though the body count is the sole measure upon which all decisions and action must turn. There certainly has been no effort by the Associated Press, or other major news organizations on the ground in Iraq, to examine progress in anything but the most dismissive manner, with a quick revert to body count.
In case you care, Terrorist Death Watch’s tally of officially announced terrorists offed by U.S. forces in Iraq since June 1 last year is 1,578. I suspect that number is conservative. The Associated Press remains noticeably disinterested in that number. In addition to that, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of terrorism suspects taken prisoner. There are car bomb factories and Iranian weapons smuggling operations that were shut down. There are people who have come forward with information. There are Iraqi units that have come on line, combat effective, playing a growing role in operations.
Since Memorial Day last year, we’ve seen Anbar turn, we’ve seen Sunni-Shiite reconciliation become popular enough that Moqtada al-Sadr is now trying to get in front of it.
We’ve seen businesses reopen and people return to their homes in Baghdad.
We’ve seen Shiite militias aggressively engaged and Sunni insurgents on the run.
We’ve seen the number of sectarian murders drop.
Those facts typically get buried when they are mentioned at all, unless there’s an uptick in death, when they suddenly become news again, to be cited as evidence of failure. AP prefers its milestones grim.
We have seen a backlash in the face of these advances, as our enemies attempt to undermine the surge strategy. The enemy, unhappy with the surge, has responded with a car-bomb campaign.
This has been a great relief to the Associated Press and others who would like to see us lose in Iraq.
Each car bomb has been savored by the Associated Press, like every American death,another sign of hopelessness to cling to.
There will be more death before it is over, in Iraq and Afghanistan and probably other places. It may well pick up over the summer, and there will be other terrible days for American families, and more wartime Memorial Days. The blood of our soldiers is part of the price a few pay for the freedom and security of us all.
Their sacrifice is meant to be honored on Memorial Day, not used for for scoring cheap political points.
Michelle rounds up reporting of other varieties on Iraq and Afghanistan, including in response to this post a link on the dead in Afghanistan.
My pal Surber would like to know why the MSM isn’t interested in al-Qaeda’s torture handbook. Bet they would be if it was a Gitmo cookbook.
[ edited by Linda_K on May 28, 2007 04:01 PM ]
posted on May 28, 2007 04:12:54 PM new
Too bad you and bushit don't like seeing lists of the dead ....too close to the REAL carnage for you two cowards.
Can't have it both ways linduh. The "liberals" talk about those who died and you say it's a political agenda....if "liberals" didn't talk about the dead you'd say they don't support the troops.
Bush gave a political speech today and so did other politicians.
The OP in this thread made it political.
Hey, I like that last post....what chatroom/blog is that from ????
[per kerry's statements]