Memorial Day began life as Decoration day. Women of the south would honor those dead soldiers with red poppies on the respective graves. Today, it is again observed for the memory of those who have served and died while in service to the United States of America and the citizens therein. As a citizen and Marine, the single most important thing I can do in terms relative to those folks who now serve is support them. Anything less would simply be unacceptable regardless of how I personally felt about this or any war where they carry my flag. From sea to shinning sea our support is a fundamental necessity when it comes to troop moral.
At present, many families suffer financial hardship while their moms and dads fight on foreign landscapes; their children not knowing whether or not they will ever see either again but they to show their greatest support and for this I can honestly say they are very brave.
I have often felt Moina Michael said it best when she replied to a poem written in 1915 by John McCrae and title, In Flanders Fields.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. tten in 1915 by
Her reply was as follows:
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
May all the soldiers, sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guard personnel who served and died for our cause rest in peace knowing we remain faithful to our quest for individual freedoms which were paid for by their flesh and blood. I salute you all...
Semper Fi...... OOH-RAH
