The last Monday of May is Memorial Day. This is the day we honor our dead who have served our country.
It is the only day the flag is flown at half-staff until noon, then raised again until sunset.
It is not the day we thank our veterans who are still with us. That is Veteran's Day.
It is not just to honor those who fell in battle. It is for any veteran who has died by any means, during war or peacetime.
You familiar with this blog know that I come from a military family. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
I grew up on bases, hearing TAPS. Played each evening as the flag is lowered and signifying day is done.(During the civil war signifying go to sleep.) Since attending my first military funeral(my cousin in the Navy), it became a very different song to me and can bring tears to my eyes immediately.Especially since my Dad's.
Please take a moment to say a little thank you. If not for them, we would not be who we are today. Thank you also to all the volunteers who spend days putting a flag on each and every grave in our National Cemeteries. Thanks from me to you, I appreciate it.
Three volley salute (often called 21 gun salute, but that is actually only for a Preident of the United States.) There are 21 bullets fired, just that 7 rifles, fire once,lower rifle,2nd time, lower rifle, and third time, lower rifle, and march away.
Taps(bugler is always off from where the family is)
The flag is lifted and crisply, precisely folded, then given to the presenter(at the head)
It is then given to the next of kin. At my Dad's, to my mother. As he gives the flag, he says to her/him:
"On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation, please accept
this flag as a token of the honorable and faithful service of your loved one."
I hope you do take the time to say thanks. And to be a part of "a grateful nation".
God Bless them all. And I will be thinking of all the sacrifices all have made for this country I love.
Jamie
(pictures of actual services are not from my Dad's, they are from internet) Those of you who have known us for sometime also know it was this time last year that Mom was laid to rest with Dad.
27 comments:
It is always nice to be reminded of the true meaning of and history behind this special weekend. Thanks for sharing.
Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
I attended a military funeral a few years ago at the cemetery out at the Point Loma naval base, where they buried the son of a co-worker. He had been KIA in a helicopter crash in Iraq. It was sad and quite moving.
Beautiful, Jamie. We thank God for men like your father. May he - and your mom - rest in peace. Until you meet again -
KZK and the Ao4.
It is right to reflect and remember the sacrifices that so many have made for their country.
xxx
A very moving Post. Jamie.
My Dad lost many friends in WW2 and also he lost his sight in battle in Europe.
So, we are thinking of all the military who have given their lives so that we may live in freedom.
Paws Across The Oceans, Hands Across The Seas.
Brave Men Who Died so We Can Be Free.
Your Friend Jeannie xxxxxxx
Thank you for a beautiful post...those of us who are children of the "greatest generation" should stop today and honor our fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts (honorary and blood-line) who served.
barb
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post.
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Memorial Day is important here for us, too! Many thank yous to all who have served our country!
Bunny and her mom
Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing.
As Mom shared on her blog and on the transport video dedikhation, Memorial Day isn't just to signify the start of summer -
Thanks fur sharing -
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie
Beautiful post! My father was in WWII, my husband was in the Navy, and so I know the peace and beauty that are the flag raising and lowering ceremonies on base.
God bless America
God bless our Troops
What a beautiful post - it made us cry. It is important to remember.
We also stopped by to say Thank you for all your energy and good wishes - Paddy is home and well - so many things to be thankful for.
Lots of licks
Sally (and D)
A big THANK YOU to all the men and women who have given the ultimate for their country.
What a great post!
What a wonderful post! Everyone needs to be reminded of those who have served and are no longer with us. A few years ago, mom when to her uncle's funeral. Since he had been a medic in Europe during WWII, they played taps, shot the volley and presented the flag to mom's aunt. Mom cried during the entire thing. Mom tries to take yellow roses to her uncle every Memorial Day to honor him and the rest of those who have served and died.
Roxie, Sammy & Andy
Jamie,
Beautifully said. As a veteran, I believe that only those whose who have worn the uniform and their families can truly understand and appreciate the sacrifice. And to borrow from Abraham Lincoln,
"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom".
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Teresa
How are you guys doing? Mom is really behind in getting caught up with blogs and we saw you come by!
Hope you are have a wonderful Memorial Day and hope you are doing well!
--JB
Sunny , Scootew and auntie Jamie
We awe cewtainly pawt of a Gwateful nation ..gwateful to all those men and women who died in the cewvice of ouw gweat countwy. Thank you to youw Dad fow his sacwifice.
Thank you fow explaining the sewvice to us. we didn't know those details
smoochie kisses
ASTA and Mommi
Hi
Beautiful tribute. And thanks for explaining the military traditions bestowed at the funeral. Thank you and your family and the many soldiers today. A simple thank you is all you expect in return for all you do.
norwood
We are so glad that you did this post and we were able to read it.
We saluted our soldiers on that day for sure!
Just poped bye to wish you a happy weekend
nice woooh
Sally
That was a very nice post.
Thank you for visiting our blog. We love meeting new friends and we don't know many Texas dogs.
We hope you'll join us for Bandana Day. It's a fun way to meet lots of other animals from all over the world.
Morgan, Tsar and The Porties
What a great post. So many people do not realize the meaning of a military funeral..
Each fold in the flag also has a significant meaning..
Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie
That was a beautiful post! We saw a program on Sunday morning (CBS) that showed one family that, for years, has putsa flag at every grave in the military cemetary on Memorial Day. It was so touching to watch them read the person's name out loud and then place the flag. Husband, wife, and children participate each year in this volunteer initiative.
Wirey woofs,
Jake and Just Harry
A very touching post & lovely pictures
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