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Saturday, May 26, 2007

recent photo I took at the Tomb of the Unknown Soilder
Memorial Day 2007

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Service man saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

Sally Jane - Arlington President Kennedy's Grave April 2007

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.


Korean War Memorial this was the second Memorial we visited when we moved to D.C.
Lincoln was the first. I will never forget how I felt when I read this on the wall.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

Annie Kate at the Vietnam War Memorial July 2006

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.



Sally Jane at Iwo Jima Fall 2006

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.



Eve of Christmas Eve 2006 Adam and Lisa World War II Memorial


I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Eulogy for a Veteran
Author Unknown

my first photo of the capitol when we moved here
"Any nation that does not honor its hero's
will not long endure."

- Abraham Lincoln


ways to celebrate Memorial Day (I found this list on this site)
  • by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

  • by visiting memorials.

  • by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

  • by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

  • by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

  • by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.




15 comments:

Liz said...

That poem is beautiful!! I am glad you posted it. I love all of your pictures!

Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post, and how we do need to remember all who have sacrificed that we might live such wonderful lives today. May we never forget.

Anonymous said...

What a powerful post, Kristi. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your personal photos were beautiful and made it real.

denise @ little ant design said...

thank you for posting such thoughtful words. what a tremendous amount we owe to all the brave men and women who have given much so that we might live free. may god bless them. help us to live with gratitude for each day we live in this free country we call home.

Elizabeth said...

Beautiful post to wake up to on this day. Thank you!

Tasha said...

Great post Kristi, and anything with Neil Diamond in the back ground is a sure bonus!

Freedom isn't free, is it? I took so many pictures of the quotes on the monuments when we went for the first time. They are so inspiring.

Julie said...

Thanks so much for posting this Kristi, and helping me remember what today is all about!

Anonymous said...

Happy Memorial Day!

I just have to say that was my ALL time favorite song when I was a kid. Thanks for the flood back of memories. Have a fabulous day.

Anonymous said...

sorry that was me.

Jenny :)

Rachel said...

A wonderful tribute to this day and all of the courageous men and women who have served and coninue to serve this country! Thank you!

mimi said...

Kristi, this was an especially wonderful post. The pictures brought history to life, as did the poem and your family. Thanks for reminding us what today is about.
As I grew up in Price, qw took my Mom's fresh irises to the cemetery on Memorial Day in large buckets to put on relative graves. My aunts drove down from Salt Lake and we all spent hours at the cemetery. It wasn't Arlington, but it was a place that we were taught was sacred. I love those memories.

Laura B. said...

What a great post to end this day. The pictures of your girls were darling!

Jill said...

It's so great that you guys have visited all these monuments so many times. The pictures are all fabulous and humbling. Great post.

LaNan said...

What an awesome post! Loved that quote by Pres. Lincoln.

michelle said...

I agree with Jane, your beautiful photos made the sentiment hit home even more. Freedom isn't free. So true.

p.s. where did you get that great tutu SJ is wearing? I want one like that for Eva.