Memorial Day...a little anger and an uplifting video you MUST NOT miss

Memorial Day commemorates the memory of our soldiers who died for this country and for the flag for which it stands. But today..........
Some can't fly the flag on Memorial Day.
A little boy can't display his drawing of the flag in his classroom.
Another little boy couldn't fly the flag on his bike to school
Children don't have to recite or stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance anymore....that's now thought of as 'coercion'...

The fact that our hard-fought-for 'rights' protect the people who are imposing their viewpoints on those above who can't even fly their flag anymore is more than sad. The fact that people don't feel they want to respect our country is worse...that is the biggest rub....what kind of people would encourage that? And, is that supposed to be 'more enlightened?' Apparently, there are Americans who are afraid that flying the American flag will offend some who live here but apparently hate America too much to have to cast their eyes upon the symbol of her greatness...and some Americans feel that's just fine. The guys in the FABULOUS video link below don't and........

....I don't. People who can't bring themselves to look at the flag should be invited to go to their homeland where they can fly their own flag high and be proud of their country, even if it will not support them financially or politically as we do. Imagine there are those in this country who will sell out our flag for votes? I'm sorry to sound so negative on this Memorial Day; I usually do posts celebrating the great Americans who loved this country enough to fight and even die not only for its flag but for the right to criticize her, too. But, I do not believe they died to protect the rights of those few who can't bear to look at our flag over the rights of all of us Americans who love this country and would like to fly Old Glory high whenever we can, and encourage future generations to.

I have never said this at my blog, but if you don't watch this video, you're a damned fool! Here are people putting their money where our mouths are! If you don't get teary-eyed watching even as you smile, then I'm the damned fool! Please give THIS VIDEO a look........it's amazing, it's not long at all, and gets even better at the end. I promise.

This country needs something, doesn't it. You might not think it's prayer, that's fine. You may think the Creator had nothing to do with this country, but our soldiers died for the right for me to suggest He did. Except I am insulted for saying it and those who disparage me are looked upon as 'cool' and 'above faith'...........we need to all grow up.

God bless our fallen heroes who fought so hard for our rights and God Bless America......we really blessings..... now more than ever.

z

Memorial Day .........have a great one...and remember our soldiers

Memorial Day at Frank and Ellie's, 1998*

Windermere, Florida

The lake bumped the sand

causing the water to wrinkle

at the end of the long grass slope

that started back up at the house

The slope was lime green and shadow leaves swayed across it in the breezy heat

The barbecue was smoky with hamburgers,

and the table was piled with bowls of cole slaw, potato salad,

pickles, catsup and mustard

We sat under towering oak trees

with black angled branches

and a white blue sky

that held the heat in like

the lid on a pot of corn on the cob

Bessie the dog ran through the trees and into the lake

while the four small boys splashed in the water

and Grandpa shouted advice about their plastic raft,

him being an old Navy man

The furniture in the house was American Primitive,

dark wood-spoked chairs on an intricate wood floor

and bright orange crate labels from the family business

hung framed against pine slat walls

A small American flag waved out of the large spoon pitcher on the stove next to Grandma’s three layer chocolate cake, and the childrens' popsicles were red, white and blue

and left their mouths patriotic with color

It was Memorial Day that warm Florida Monday

We didn't mention it, but it was there.....

Z *a reprint

Between the burgers and the ribs, the chance to have a day off in the sun with friends and family or shop for a new mattress at the sales which save us money but seem the wrong emphasis for a weekend such as this, stop and remember who made all this possible. Blessings to you who fought and came home, blessings to you who lost a loved one fighting for our freedom, and blessings to you who are missing someone now who’s still at it. We owe you a lot. No, we owe you everything.

z
I posted this Friday, but I had to post it again today....I want as many people as possible to watch it.........thanks.

Sunday Faith Blog...Memorial Day

It's hard to say it better than this:

A Memorial Day Poem
By C W Johnson

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplain led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore

“When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause." 2 Chronicles 6: 34-35 Amen.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day ....tell the young people around you about the meaning of tomorrow and make sure they're listening because they don't get it much in schools anymore...and maybe we can all make some small sacrifice for someone today, in memory of those who made such a huge sacrifice for us. GOD BLESS AMERICA

z

Blumenthal: Would you vote for a liar for ANYTHING? And the media lies for him

Yes, I know..."all politicians lie"...probably true. But, this guy didn't just lie about promising no new taxes or that you can keep your health care if you like it, the kinds of lies that can go either way depending on how congress acts, how the people act, the political situation at the moment.....No, this guy LIED ABOUT SERVING IN VIETNAM! You've all heard about Senate Candidate Richard Blumenthal by now....The thing that caught my attention is at the end of my post. First, check out the quotes just down below in blue from the NYTimes (you have to hand it to them, they DID rag on a Democrat, wonder of wonders...), they're quotes by Blumenthal and quotes from the Times on their take on all of this...read these and then please read my comments about THE LIE and something even WORSE, in my opinion:

Quotes from the New York Times Article:

"When we returned, we saw nothing like this,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “Let us do better by this generation of men and women.” "The New Haven Register on July 20, 2006, described him as “a veteran of the Vietnam War,” and on April 6, 2007, said that the attorney general had “served in the Marines in Vietnam.” "On May 26, 2009, The Connecticut Post, a Bridgeport newspaper that is the state’s third-largest daily, described Mr. Blumenthal as “a Vietnam veteran.” The Shelton Weekly reported on May 23, 2008, that Mr. Blumenthal “was met with applause when he spoke about his experience as a Marine sergeant in Vietnam.” “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Mr. Blumenthal said to the group gathered in Norwalk in March 2008."

"In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam."

"He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records."

"But what is striking about Mr. Blumenthal’s record is the contrast between the many steps he took that allowed him to avoid Vietnam, and the misleading way he often speaks about that period of his life now, especially when he is speaking at veterans’ ceremonies or other patriotic events."

"Sometimes his remarks have been plainly untrue, as in his speech to the group in Norwalk. At other times, he has used more ambiguous language, but the impression left on audiences can be similar. "

The NYTimes adds this: "It does not appear that Mr. Blumenthal ever sought to correct those mistakes." Apparently, not, and thanks for being honest, NYTimes... Okay, folks...so having read those quotes.......

.....now read THIS ARTICLE from the Associated Press published on Yahoo...it includes this:

"Blumenthal, the longtime state attorney general, admitted he misspoke about his military service on various occasions by saying he served "in" Vietnam when he actually served stateside as a member of the Marine reserve."

REALLY? THAT'S ALL HE SAID? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? The ONLY QUOTE THEY MENTION is what they say is a MISSPEAK...like "oops!..well, no biggie!!"...THAT'S IT, FOLKS! THAT's all that the AP decided people should know among all of Blumenthal's quotes (sorry "quote", singular, according to the AP?!).......imagine that? This dishonest and so incomplete AP article irks me MORE than the LIES! See my point?

And, really, COULD YOU VOTE FOR THIS GUY? EVER? HE LIED BLATANTLY...it's Memorial Day in a few days...........many, many Americans did go to Vietnam and many didn't return.......think of those soldiers who died! This guy LIED!

z

Obama won't be at Arlington Cemetery........and I just added new info on Obama you might like to see, I sure did...it says a LOT about him

Obama's Visit Back Home Leaves Chicagoans Guessing is the title of THIS STORY:

May 25, 2010 9:31 AM (my article quotes are in italics)

WASHINGTON -- The news that President Barack Obama and his family will return to Chicago for the Memorial Day weekend has triggered a guessing game.

Where will they dine? What will they do for fun? With the Sox on the road and the Blackhawks skating into the Stanley Cup finals, might the first family ditch its predictable pastimes -- basketball, golf and tennis -- and go to the United Center for hockey?"

"Where will they DINE?" Is that a joke? Isn't it odd? I felt a wave of sadness when I saw that our president won't be at Arlington and Chicagoans care WHERE HE'S DINING in their city? It made me feel so badly for America that her President is taking his family to his hometown on Memorial Day instead of doing the traditional wreath laying at Arlington. He's sending Joe Biden instead. But, of course, Obama will be visiting a cemetery in Chicago, as this says:

According to a White House official, the Obamas will arrive Thursday and stay until Monday, when Obama will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. The veterans' cemetery is about 50 miles south of Chicago.

I guess that ought to do it for me, but I'm feeling a little odd about it and I am quite sure I'd feel odd about it if a Republican president did this, too. Maybe they have and maybe it's my bias showing....but it feels BAD. He was there last year, see my image above, but with all the sentiment against Obama these days, with his numbers so down, his allegiance to this country that many feel is questionable, wouldn't you think this would be one weekend he could have sucked it up and attended this event that so honors all of our fallen heroes? Does he care what anybody thinks?

z (thanks for the scoop, major...when I saw your comment, I thought you were joking, but, alas...)

UPDATE Wed. morning; Please visit THIS BLOG, "Another Black Conservative"...he has an amazing piece with information I hadn't heard about Obama and how he relates behind closed doors with the Republicans. You won't want to miss that. (and it's a good blog, a very good blog)

z

Last minute thoughts and pictures for Memorial Day........

Pictures from the Westwood VA Cemetery ceremony today....from afar (every one of the 86,000 graves have flags on them), a little closer in the second shot (note the choir to the left and the bandstand), and a little girl running free because of the men lying in rest under her feet. The chaplain closed the ceremony with ".....to God we pray, in the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES..." No, happily and surprisingly, he was not arrested shortly after the service. 14 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are at rest very near UCLA. They should have gone there to college instead. School, family, love, joy......all sacrificed.

When I got home to post these, a friend had sent this poem. What could be better?

A Memorial Day Poem By C W Johnson We walked among the crosses Where our fallen soldiers lay. And listened to the bugle As TAPS began to play. The Chaplain led a prayer We stood with heads bowed low. And I thought of fallen comrades I had known so long ago. They came from every city Across this fertile land. That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand. I felt a little guilty My sacrifice was small. I only lost a little time But these men lost their all. Now the services are over For this Memorial Day. To the names upon these crosses I just want to say, Thanks for what you've given No one could ask for more. May you rest with God in heaven From now through evermore God bless them all. Please see Sparks from the Anvil's AMAZING video. z

Have a great Memorial Day.........

Our dear friend Mustang, about eight months ago, emailed me his version of an HONORARY MARINE proclamation. Mr Z printed it and framed it and it hangs in our living room. When I first saw it, it brought tears to my eyes. We all know it has nothing to do with the huge honor of a real Marine proclamation of ANY kind, but he said he gave it to me for my work here at the blog and was I thrilled. Reading it hit something very deep inside me. Those tears reminded me of how much I knew I didn't deserve even a 'mock' proclamation, how much I admire the immense courage and sacrifice of our soldiers, and how it felt that someone actually went to the trouble of doing something like that because in this TINIEST way, because of blogging, he thought I measured up (super, considering they'd have had to chisel my hands off those boats in Normandy before they got me in those waters facing Germans on those coasts, TRUST me). Mustang doesn't know quite what it meant to me, but, considering it came from him, someone I so admire for his service, his love of America, and so much more, I'm telling him now it meant a LOT. There are others among you who're reading this who served our great country and I thank you. But, I have the privilege of knowing Mustang the best, so this is for him. This is a Memorial Day salute to Mr and Mrs Z's 'family soldier and friend'. You make us proud, Mustang. Semper Fi, SIR. (Please read Mustang's Sunday post...and his others...amazing) Thanks also to ALL you patriotic bloggers who do so much for our country. I send an unwritten proclamation to YOU...I admire each and every one of you.

And now, the annual printing of my poem from 1998......(like it or not, it puts me in the mood for Memorial Day)

Memorial Day at Frank and Ellie's
Windermere, Florida

The lake bumped the sand, causing the water to wrinkle at the end of the long grass slope
that started back up at the house

The slope was lime green and shadow leaves swayed across it in the breezy heat...the barbecue was smoky with hamburgers, and the table was piled with bowls of cole slaw, potato salad, pickles, catsup and mustard

We sat under towering oak trees with black angled branches and a white blue sky that held the heat in like the lid on a pot of corn on the cob

Bessie the dog ran through the trees and into the lake while the four small boys splashed in the water and Grandpa shouted advice about their plastic raft, him being an old navy man

The furniture in the house was American Primitive, dark wood-spoked chairs on an intricate wood floor and bright orange crate labels from the family business hung framed against pine slat walls

A small American flag waved out of the large spoon pitcher on the stove next to Grandma's three layer chocolate cake, and the childrens' popsicles were red, white and blue and left their mouths patriotic with color....It was Memorial Day that warm Florida Monday. We didn't mention it, but it was there. Z

For a really good laugh, don't fail to see Zack's Diversity Lane cartoon..........wonderful.

Enjoy your day....while we have the freedoms our soldiers fight for!

Memorial Day is Monday.........

And, did you see this? Some soldiers have a wicked sense of humor! What do you think?
And please make sure you read Frogburgers interview below, the third answer of which will be published early next week....thanks!
z