A lot of people seem to think that Memorial Day is "thank a veteran" Day. I guess that could work, but only if you were at a cemetery. The roots of Memorial Day go deep, all the way back to the American War of Southern Independence*, where "Decoration Day" was reserved to take flowers to the graves of the Fallen. Late May was chosen because flowers would be in bloom in every corner of the Republic.
Nowadays it's the long weekend that starts the summer season. Trips to the lake, grilling out, and cold beer push the original meaning aside. Few take flowers to the graves anymore, which is a damn shame. The Fallen deserve a day of remembrance.
This weekend, we are called to reflect on these fallen. Art at its best is there to help lead the way. Classical music used to offer many selections for solemn days like this before it was degraded like all modern art. Fortunately, Classical music has found a niche where it yet thrives, with talented composers writing new music for the cinema. Perhaps the greatest of these in our age is John Williams. He wrote this for the film Saving Private Ryan, where it played during the final credits. This is a tour of those graves. Sadly, many Americans have not been to any of these places.
Nowadays it's the long weekend that starts the summer season. Trips to the lake, grilling out, and cold beer push the original meaning aside. Few take flowers to the graves anymore, which is a damn shame. The Fallen deserve a day of remembrance.
This weekend, we are called to reflect on these fallen. Art at its best is there to help lead the way. Classical music used to offer many selections for solemn days like this before it was degraded like all modern art. Fortunately, Classical music has found a niche where it yet thrives, with talented composers writing new music for the cinema. Perhaps the greatest of these in our age is John Williams. He wrote this for the film Saving Private Ryan, where it played during the final credits. This is a tour of those graves. Sadly, many Americans have not been to any of these places.
The Fallen remain forever 20 years old. Remember them tomorrow as you fire up your grill. I don't think they - or the boys from Gettysburg or Fredericksburg or Cold Harbor or Pearl Harbor or Normandy or a thousand other hallowed grounds - would begrudge you your family enjoyment. But remember them.
That's what Memorial Day is about.
* It is vulgarly called the "Civil War". It wasn't. The South didn't want to take over the North, it wanted to leave it.
The War of Northern Aggression.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
And as to our thoughts for those who gave up their lives for us, May God grant them eternal life and eternal peace.
Thanks BP.
ReplyDeleteThat video is VERY appropriate, thank you!
ReplyDeleteDamn, every time I watch that video there seems to be a lot of dust or something in the air...
ReplyDeleteWhenever some leftist moron jabbers about American "Imperialism" I refer them to this video to see photos of tens of thousands of "American Imperialist occupation troops" all over the world. Wonder if it ever broke through the hardened shell of hate, spite, self-loathing, and lies that encases their hearts?
I'm so grateful for the freedoms we have! The feds can tell me what kind of car I can buy with from their perspective relevant gas mileage and safety features, deny me which type of health care I would like for myself, all levels of government confiscating a good portion of my income, what kind of gun I can have for self defense if at all, along with the thousands of petty rules and regulations we live under.
ReplyDeleteIs this what they really died for? My dad was an air force mechanic during the Korean War and was in the National Guard. The Anti-Federalist and the South were right.