May 29, 2023, a Day of Remembrance

cj Sez:  Because I believe this info needs repeating . . . 

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.

   Many people confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day and think of the two days as being interchangeably one and the same, but there is a difference between them. Do you know what it is?

   Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military—in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all who served—not only those who died—have sacrificed.

   Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring those who died in the service of their country, particularly the military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In England, it’s known as Remembrance Day.

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day…it was once known as Decoration Day. Then the name changed again and became Poppy Day. When I was little, we bought and wore little red, paper poppy flowers as a remembrance. I believe the flowers were made by disabled Vets back then. Whatever the name, it's a day to remember and honor all those heroic men and women who have died in service of the United States of America.

  Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers. The date of the first Decoration Day, the 30th of May, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle. 

  Inspired by the rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while still at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael, a University of Georgia professor, came up with this simple idea: Sell poppy flowers to raise money on behalf of soldiers killed and injured in World War I--the red of the petals representing the blood of heroes shed on those fields of war. Michael was the first to wear one, and she sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

   In my original Lyrical Pens post a few years ago, Janie Delchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250, shared insights on how to honor our fallen heroes. Janie told me then that what follows here had been a Facebook repost and gave me permission to use the words. Please take a minute to read it all the way through. It says everything.

“Just a reminder of what we celebrate next weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans, however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone onto their eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for your use, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor on Memorial Day. 

Here's some ground rules:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not Disneyland.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in “peace”. God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

   cj Sez:  I owe an awesome debt, one which can never be repaid, to the thousands upon thousands of heroic men and women who died so that my family and I live in freedom. I pray God’s blessings and comfort rain down on the grieving families and friends they left behind.

   That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

  My ebooks are available on Amazon or through your favorite bookstore.

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Why we honor Memorial Day

cj Sez:  It is not unusual for people to confuse the purposes of Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Today these two days are often treated by many as interchangeable opportunities to thank and honor all military veterans, living or dead, who served honorably in wartime or peacetime. But did you know there’s a distinct difference between the two?

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.

  Veterans Day (November 11) is set aside to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served—not only those who died—have sacrificed greatly and done their duty.   

  Memorial Day (May 30) is a day that set aside to remember and honor military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

 A little history about a solemn remembrance:

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day — it was once known as Decoration Day. (cj Sez: When I was little, we called it Poppy Day and for a few pennies, we’d get a red paper poppy to pin on our shirts and blouses.) Whatever the name, it's a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.

   Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers—some states may still have separate Confederate observances. 

(cj Sez: In this era of intolerance and cries to erase visible traces of our sad history, the memorials respecting Confederate soldiers who died fighting for what they believed in may not exist much longer. How will future generations learn from the mistakes of past generations if the woke generation erases the history they dislike?)

   The date of the first Decoration Day, May 30, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

  In 1915, inspired by the rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while still at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. The American Legion still sells poppies to honor the fallen. National Poppy Day in 2022 was May 27.

///

   The thoughts below are from a years-old Facebook post by Janie Delchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250. It says everything. In 2018 Janie told me it had been a repost and gave me permission to use it. I repeat it again today. Please take a few minutes to read it all the way through.

  “Just a reminder of what we celebrate (this) weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans, however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone onto their eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for your use, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor on Memorial Day.”

 Here are some ground rules for Memorial Day…

1. Don’t wish me a Happy Memorial day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It’s not a holiday. It’s a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not Disneyland.
4. Don’t tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don’t tell me I don’t know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you’re there, we’re losing too many in “peace”. God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

—  Janie Delchamps Zetsch

§§

cj Sez:  I owe a mighty debt of gratitude—one I can never repay—to the heroes who died and are dying still today so that my family and I live in freedom. 

  I pray God’s blessings and comfort rain down on their families who are joined in that great sacrifice.

§§

 That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. (I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend…sending up prayers for your health and safety.)

cj

§§

 The ebooks of DEATH ON THE YAMPA and THE DAWGSTAR are now $2.99.

  Just in time for your summer reading pleasure . . . fast-paced, exciting thrillers with a smidgen of romance (ala Jane Bond).

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To Honor Those Who Gave Their Lives in Combat

cj Sez:  “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.”  - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

   Parades and outdoor get-togethers mark Memorial Day, often considered the unofficial start of summer. But the day is about much more than that. 

   Memorial Day is a day set aside as a national remembrance of the men and women of America’s armed forces who died in combat to preserve this country’s freedoms. It is about a demonstration of gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.

 

   The modern observance of Memorial Day began after the end of the bloody Civil War. More than 622,000 Americans, from the North and the South, died in those four years of battles.

(*See quoted sources below.)

   “Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans —the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

   “It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day.” 

[*Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/memorial-day-history.htm

https://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp ]

§§

On the home front: 

Son Jeff D. Johnston’s photo of America’s National Symbol.

   The American bald eagle was chosen as the nation's symbol because it represents courage, strength, and freedom.

cj Sez: And I chose this eagle picture for today's post because I love that guy's attitude.  

     §§

Writerly/Readerly quotes: 

   “There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book.” — Marcel Proust

§§ 

And now a few words from my sponsors:

   My newly released thriller/suspense novels are available in eBook and paperback for you to read, enjoy, and (hopefully) review:

 DEATH ON THE YAMPA: Grab the eBook copy of your next new adventure here:   https://books2read.com/u/bxe1AP    

  The paperback is available on Amazon here:  Buy Paperback Yampa 

                        §§

Buy THE DAWGSTAR paperback 

here:  Amazon Buy Now  and buy the eBook from your favorite E-retailer, including Kindle, here:   https://books2read.com/u/3LRRG5

§§ 

   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

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A little history about a solemn remembrance

cj Sez:  Because I think this information is important, this post is a repeat from 2018  . . .

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.

Q. What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

A. People often confuse the purposes of Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served—not only those who died—have sacrificed greatly and done their duty.   

   Memorial Day is a day that was set aside to remember and honor military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

   Today they are generally treated by many people as interchangeable opportunities to thank and honor all military veterans, living or dead, who served honorably in wartime or peacetime.

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day — it used to be known as Decoration Day. (cj Sez: When I was little, we called it Poppy Day instead of Decoration Day.) Whatever the name, it's a day of remembrance for all those who have died in service of the United States of America.

   Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers, and some states still have separate Confederate observances. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Jan. 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day. (cj Sez: In this era of intolerance and cries to erase visible traces of our sad history, memorials respecting Confederate soldiers who died fighting for what they believed in may not exist much longer.)

   The date of the first Decoration Day, the 30th of May, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

   In 1915, inspired by the rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while still at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

///

   The thoughts below are from the Facebook of Janie Delchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250. It says everything. In 2018 Janie told me it had been a repost and gave me permission to use it. I repeat it again today. Please take a minute to read it all the way through.

   “Just a reminder of what we celebrate (this) weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans, however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone onto their eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for your use, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor on Memorial Day.

Here's some ground rules…:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not Disneyland.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace". God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

///

cj Sez:  I owe a humbling debt of gratitude—one I can never repay—to the heroes who died so that my family and I live in freedom today. I pray God’s blessings and comfort rain down on their families.

   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same, (Sending up prayers for your health and safety.)

cj

My short story, "Love is Immortal" is part of the Bienvenue to the Chateau Rouge anthology available now. (The ebook was still 99 cents at the time of this post…BUT the price will increase on Monday, May 25.)  The anthology is available through these fine sites: https://books2read.com/u/bpOMw9?fbclid=IwAR3R2NTI8nH5U8JhXwJynbxkbYQhlK4H-sbTFU5YRhGDB2CocTPkdf8TSEE

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A three-day weekend?

cj Sez:  Because I think this information is important and needs to be repeated often . . .

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.

Q. What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

A. Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty.

Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

It wasn't always called Memorial Day — it used to be known as Decoration Day. cj Sez: When I was little, we called it Poppy Day instead of Decoration Day. Whatever the name, it's a day of remembrance for all those who have died in service of the United States of America.

Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers, and some states still have separate Confederate observances. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Jan. 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day. (In this era of intolerance and cries to erase visible traces of our sad history, the memorials respecting Confederate soldiers who died fighting for what they believed in may not continue much longer.)

The date of the first Decoration Day, the 30th of May, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

In 1915, inspired by the rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while still at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

The thoughts below are from the Facebook of Janie Delchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250. It says everything. Janie told me it had been a repost and gave me permission to use it here. Please take a minute to read it all the way through.

“Just a reminder of what we celebrate next weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans, however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone onto their eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for your use, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor on Memorial Day.

Here's some ground rules for next weekend:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not Disneyland.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace". God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

***

cj Sez:  I owe an awesome debt--one that I can never repay--to the heroes who died so that my family and I can live in freedom. I pray God’s blessings and comfort rain down on their families.

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Remembering our heroes on Memorial Day*

cj Sez:  Because I think this information needs repeating . . .

It wasn't always Memorial Day — it used to be known as Decoration Day. Whatever the name, it's a day of remembrance for all those who have died in service of the United States of America.

Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers, and some states still have separate Confederate observances. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Jan. 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day. (In this era of intolerance and kowtowing to cries to erase visible traces of our history, the memorials respecting Confederate soldiers who died fighting for what they believed in may not continue much longer.)

The first Decoration Day, the 30th of May, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

The “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution passed in Dec. 2000 asks 

that at 3 p.m. local time, all Americans “Voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.’”

Red poppies are known as a symbol of remembrance, and it's a tradition to wear them on Memorial Day to honor those who died in war.  

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. 

(cj Sez: When I was little, we called it Poppy Day instead of Decoration Day.)

Following is a tabulation of the casualties of U.S. wars (The list is not all inclusive, and the reported numbers exclude wounded and/or missing):

©Jeff D. Johnston

Civil War: Approximately 620,000 Americans died. The Union lost almost 365,000 troops and the Confederacy about 260,000. More than half of these deaths were caused by disease.

World War I: 116,516 Americans died, more than half from disease.

World War II: 405,399 Americans died.

Korean War: 36,574 Americans died.

Vietnam Conflict: 58,220 Americans died. More than 47,000 Americans were killed in action and nearly 11,000 died of other causes.

Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 148 U.S. battle deaths and 145 non-battle deaths.

Operation Iraqi Freedom: 4,489 U.S. service members died.

Operation New Dawn: 66 U.S. service members died.

Operation Enduring Freedom: 2,318 U.S. service members have died as of May 12, 2014.

cj Sez: I am in awe of their sacrifice, and it is with deep reverence and gratitude, I humbly say thank you to the families that America’s heroes left behind. May God Bless you.

COMING ATTRACTIONS . . . Arriving July 10:  A new Crimson Romance bundle about athletes and the sports they love, Bodies in Motion, includes Choosing Carter (rafting and off-roading)     Watch for it on Amazon.

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same

cj

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*Data from multiple on-line sources.