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Memorial Day 2005


Photo taken at the war memorial, Eishenhower Park, East Meadow, NY. More pictures from that memorial can be found here.

A NATION'S STRENGTH
Ralph Waldo Emerson

What makes a nation's pillars high
And it's foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?
It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.
Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.
And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.
Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky

- In memory of all those who gave their life in service to this country -

Most of us will have parties and barbecues today after we attend parades and ceremonies and listen to speeches. We wil bow our heads in rememberance and some of us will pray and some of us will give silent thanks.

There's nothing wrong with going home afterwards to spend the day with family and friends, having a picnic or celebrating the coming summer.

Just remember what this day is for. When you raise that first cold one, give a toast to those who this holiday is for. Remember their families, as well.

Memorial Day

Cox and Forkum

Posted by me on May 30, 2005 07:04 AM |

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» Memorial Day Around the 'Sphere from Yippee-Ki-Yay!

(Subject to update as I find more to link.)
As usual, Cox & Forkum have a great post.
Jeff Goldstein takes an ironic look at how people observe the holiday. Man, who would have seen that coming?
Michele quotes Emerson -&...

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Tracked on May 30, 2005 08:32 AM

» Memorial Day 2005 from Outside The Beltway
President Bush’s Memorial Day Radio Address This Memorial Day weekend, Americans pay tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. As we honor the members of our Armed Forces who have died for our freedom, we also h... [Read More]

Tracked on May 30, 2005 09:23 AM

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» Another Spring Ends from Late Final
You can tell by the sound of helicopters moving from east to west over Long Island that the privileged are ending their Memorial Day weekend and leaving the Hamptons for Manhattan. In other places spring ends, with prayers, thanks and... [Read More]

Tracked on May 30, 2005 07:27 PM

Comments

But do you remember when it was called Salisbury Park? I think it was just after Ike's death in the 1970's that they changed it.

Let's remember not just those who died, but all those who served (and currently do). I know we have Armed Services Day and Veterans' Day, but Mem. Day gets all the press, so let's take advantage of it, eh?

Posted by: Eric Sohn | May 31, 2005 10:48 PM

Eric, sometimes I still call it Salisbury.

Posted by: michele | June 1, 2005 05:43 AM