This weekend is Memorial Day, the traditional BBQ kickoff to summer. But on these shores, it's the day to remember the fallen from past - and current - wars. The day was originally called Decoration Day, the date was at the very beginning of summer so that wild flowers would be available everywhere for families to decorate the graves of their fallen loved ones.
Many had no graves to decorate, as their loved one had an anonymous foreign grave for their final rest. Today the Texas Air National Guard (and others) bring the fallen home on "Angel Flights". This weekend, remember them. Both the quick and the dead.
In the Eyes of a Ranger, the unsuspecting Stranger, had better know the truth of wrong from night Cause the rule of law and order starts at the Texas border, with the lone Star of the Ranger shining bright.
For the Eyes of a Ranger are upon you; Any wrong you do, he's gonna see. When you're in Texas look behind you; for that's where the Ranger's gonna be.
In the Heart of a Ranger he'll never know the danger; from desperate men with nothing left to lose, the Ranger keeps on coming; so there ain't no sense in running, cause he's bound and sure to make you pay your dues.
For the Eyes of a Ranger are upon you; Any wrong you do, he's gonna see. When you're in Texas look behind you; for that's where the Ranger's gonna be.
When a Ranger's on your Trail, he won't know how to fail, and you can't buy him off at any price; so if you decide to ramble, and with your life you'd gamble, know where you are before you roll the dice.
For the Eyes of a Ranger are upon you; Any wrong you do, he's gonna see. When you're in Texas look behind you; for that's where the Ranger's gonna be.
If you see him coming' round the outskirts of town, never take that Ranger for a ride. For the Eyes of a Ranger are upon you; Any wrong you do, he's gonna see. When you're in Texas look behind you; for that's where the Ranger's gonna be.
Yes, that's sung by Chuck himself.
But this is the song that I associate the most with him. R.I.P.
Charlie Kirk gets laid to rest today. He was a man of faith who always reached out to the greater crowd. I like to think that he would think that this song speaks to how he lived his life.
Dwight (my go-to guy for obituaries) has one worth your time: the last WWII recipient of the Victoria Cross takes off on his final flight.
For those on this side of the Pond who are unfamiliar with the VC, it is the UK equivalent of the US Medal Of Honor: awarded for bravery above and beyond the call of duty under fire. It (as the HoH) is very often awarded posthumously. Flight Lt. Cruickshank survived the war to the ripe old age of 105, the oldest WWII VC recipient.
As with many who served - and very, very many of those awarded these decorations - he kept an enormous humility. I love this quote from Dwight's post:
…he told The Daily Telegraph, “The citation said ‘showed great courage’ and all that nonsense, but a lot of people would have done that in those circumstances.”
Translation: No, I wasn't a hero in the war. But I served in a Company of heroes.
Ave atque vale, Flight Lieutenant. May your Final Review be in Glory.
The Register (as reigning Nerd-Central) has a really interesting post up about Lehrer's life and music including the NSA, Jello shots, and not one but two Royal Family mentions. Pretty cool.
I may come as no surprise to long time readers, but I led a pretty intellectually precocious adolescence. Part of that was listening to the very funny and sarcastic music of Tom Lehrer. It looks like I wasn't the only one.
If you've never listened to him then you're in for a treat. His two most famous songs are probably "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park" and "Pollution" but this one is particularly fitting for those of us in (or near to) the Florida Space Coast.
My flight to Detroit just touched down. The flight attendants came on the PA asking everyone to remain seated when we reach the gate, so some soldiers returning back to Afghanistan.
Everyone clapped. Everyone.
Then the Captain came on. He said we were taking a fallen soldier home. You could have heard a pin drop.
God Speed, whoever you are. I can't imagine any thanks can possibly fill the void your family feels.
We're at the gate, and the plane is clapping for the soldiers again. Out the window, you can see the cars lined up on the tarmac for our fallen hero. Everyone' crowded around the windows.
It feels like you're in church - that you're in the presence of something holy.
That weekend Dad was much on my mind that weekend, but this wasn't an old man coming home to lie with his brothers, it was someone in the flush of youth. Someone who didn't get the chance to bury his father; on the contrary, someone whose father met him on the tarmac on his last flight.
Maybe Donald Trump is doing something to end the endless wars we've been in these two decades or more. At least we've brought the fallen home.
This weekend I don't think that the fallen would begrudge you your time with family and friends. But remember them.
The passing of George Foreman got me thinking about how boxing has changed from back in the day (1960s/1970s). Back then we used to watch Friday Night Fights pretty regularly - that tailed off in the 1980s as we all lost interest. It just didn't seem as exciting as it had.
There is a great podcast episode on Dan Carlin's Hardcore History about this: Boxing with Ghosts (free download and highly recommended if you ever watch Friday Night Fights). In it Dan interviews longtime sportswriter for Ring magazine Mike Silver about how boxing is really just a shadow of its former self (and why).
But in this episode Dan tells a George Foreman story that illustrates why boxing was so great in those days. The story is from when Foreman was going for his comeback world championship in a bout against a much younger Michael Moorer. Foreman lost each of the first 9 rounds (unanimously). Entering the 10th round it was like a football game with a minute left when he was down 99 to nothing. A friend of Dan's left and went to the bathroom because the "fight was over". Then two quick punches finished Moorer off in a KO and Foreman was champ again.
There is a lot to admire in Foreman's life, but we remember just what a superb fighter he was. Rest in peace.
Doubtless Dwight will cover this in full presently. But he was an actor that I enjoyed pretty much throughout his entire career (who can forget him in The Sandlot?) - but one role stands out in my mind: his guest appearance (as himself) on The Big Bang Theory.
And this scene was hilarious (from that same episode) but I had never heard the full story:
82 years ago was the battle of Midway. The torpedo bombers sacrificed themselves almost to a man but that opened the way for the dive bombers to rip the heart out of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
106 years ago the Marines went on the assault at Belleau Woods in the Great War. It was one of the costliest days in Marine Corps history, and took heroes like First Sergent Dan Daly to rally the men: Come on you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?
Memorial Day is the traditional start of summer. Beach, swimming pools,
and backyard barbecue is the agenda for most. But that's not what the
day is about. I posted this twelve years ago and it still captures the
spirit of this weekend. Christian Golczynski is around twenty five years old now.
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Memorial Day isn't about barbecuesfor
Christian Golczynski. He was eight years old when LTC Ric Thompson
handed him the flag that had draped his father's coffin. That was five
years ago.
This
weekend will be the fifth Memorial Day where he won't be thinking about
barbecues. Next month will be the fifth Father's Day with an empty
chair at the dinner table.
That is what Memorial Day is about.
I've
posted this song a number of times over the last year or two, as it
captures in music the sound of a heart breaking. The song alternates
between memories of the loved and lost, and the stumbling emptiness as
the singer tries - and fails - to make sense of the loss. It's not your
typical sentimental Country music song, it's pure, 100 proof grief.
For some, that is what Memorial Day is about.
There
is no official music video for this song; Messina is no longer the
chart topping singer that she was in the 1990s. But people have taken
this music and found photographs that amplify the music and make it
personal. The second picture is one that I found particularly moving -
nearly as much as the one of young Master Golczynski shown here.
I came by today to see you Though I had to let you know If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time, I'd have held you and never let go Oh it's kept me awake night wonderin' Lie in the dark, just asking "why?" I've always been told you won't be called home until it's your time
I guess Heaven was needing a hero Somebody just like you Brave enough to stand up for what you believe and follow it though When I try to make it make sense in my mind The only conclusion I come to Is that Heaven was needing a hero like you
I remember the last time I saw you Oh you held your head up proud I laughed inside when I saw how you were, standing out in the crowd You're such a part of who I am Now that part will just be void No matter how much I need you now Heaven needed you more
'Cause Heaven was needing a hero Somebody just like you Brave enough to stand up for what you believe and follow it though When I try to make it make sense in my mind The only conclusion I come to Is that Heaven was needing a hero like you
Yes, Heaven was needing a hero...that's you.
Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby is justly famous:
Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,
I
have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the
Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons
who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and
fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you
from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from
tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the
Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage
the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory
of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have
laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Christian
Golczynski also laid a sacrifice on that same altar of our freedom, a
sacrifice costly beyond our reckoning. I hope that the fullness of time
will ease his anguish as well. I fear that it will not.
That
is what Memorial Day is about. Not a barbecue in sight, just pure, 100
proof grief. This weekend as you go about your normal business of
life, remember SSgt Marcus Golczynski. And Christian. And what that
sacrifice means. May this Republic be worthy of them.
