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Sunday, May 29, 2016

HAS MEMORIAL DAY BEEN MISPLACED?


We enjoy stirring videos of Memorial Day with graves draped in colorful American flags

as lovely music plays in the background.

We watch and listen to stirring Memorial Day parades, 

flags snapping in the breeze and bands playing stirringly as they march in unison.

People in our country's neighborhoods will be having the biggest and best barbecues, 

but the forgotten spirits of those slain upon a thousand distant foreign fields 

might take us to the cemeteries on Memorial Day.

Would they tell us that we could eat all the barbecue we want on the Fourth of July 

if we just murmured a small thanks over their graves today?

No one sets out to be a hero, and certainly no one wants to die a bloody, violent death.

But thousands upon thousands found themselves in terrible situations where they needed a hero, 

so that is what they became.

They died so that we would have a chance to live as best we could.

 We couldn’t enjoy sun-drenched summer days like today without their sacrifice.


Living in the world today is a challenge unlike one that has ever been seen in the past. 

But as thousands rose to the occasion when all seemed dark, we, too, can rise to tackle the obstacles facing us.

Yes, today is a day where we mourn the loss of precious lives and innocence.  

But today is also a day where we celebrate the victory of the human spirit over darkness ...

and this gives us hope.

13 comments:

  1. Hi Roland - thoughtful post ... reminding us all of things we need to remember ... and now it seems there are even more dangers lurking ... so we cannot be apathetic or selfish ... we need to remember and to do.

    Thank you - we must have hope, but we need to work towards that hope ... Hilary

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    1. So many dangers and so little apparent wisdom in our leaders these days. :-(

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks, Inger. Each of us is a soldier, facing battles few if any know about, right?

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  3. You're right that it brings us hope. I can only hope that it doesn't do the opposite for the soldiers serving today.

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    1. To serve today in a world of greys is a hard thing to do.

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  4. Replies
    1. Thanks, Liz. May today have been healing and fun for you and yours. :-)

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  5. We do need hope ... and the wisdom to see what we can in our small way do to recognize those heroes who gave their lives for us and those who are giving their lives as we speak. DOING something, even if it's keeping peace in our own hearts, reaching out to others in whatever kind way we can. I consider you one of these kind and giving people, my friend. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughtful comment on my post today. Take care!

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  6. p.s. If I'd written as many wonderful books as you have, and with such wonderful covers, my website would be colorful ... which it's not. :) :)

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    1. Your website is colored in love which is the best color of them all. :-)

      Keeping the peace in our own hearts is the hardest battle we will ever have to fight, right.

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