Mazurland Blog: Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. Normally considered by the vast majority of Americans as

1. Day off from Work and School

2. Good day to make a purchase of a car, a set of tires, or a big ticket item at Lowe's

3. What you Yankees do that we in the South call a "Cook-out" or an extra day Camping or at the Beach.

After the "Late Unpleasantness" (what Yankees call "The Civil War") Southern Ladies set a day for the "Decoration of the graves of the Glorious Dead", which was soon shortened to "Decoration Day". There still is a "Confederate Decoration Day" which is seperate from Today's celebration.

Memorial Day is supposed to be a day to hoist your American Flag, then lower it to Half-Mast, In honor of our nations' fallen warriors---from the Revolution to Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of you might remember someone from your neighborhood who died in Vietnam. Bernie Hitro, whose brother James was in SJCI Class of 74, was the only Riverside boy we lost in the Nam. I've "rubbed" his name on the Wall, and yes it did bring me to tears.

While enjoying whatever you do today, remember that the average age of American KIA's is 19-22. Think back to your own time in those years, and imagine all you have done since NOT HAPPENING because you served your country, whether it was right or wrong in engaging in war. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten,

Of course, this is one of my "Busy Times" as a member of the MCL, so I can't forget. Don't you forget either.