...and more like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates...
Today really highlights for me the diversity of life. This morning, I attended a breakfast w/family members of fallen soldiers. Right outside the building, the Parade field is impeccably decorated for our Chaplain's retirement ceremony...a ceremony we'll miss b/c we need to attend a Memorial Ceremony for 3 soldiers from Fort Riley who lost their life this month.
An honorable 30+ year career being celebrated.
3 remarkable soldiers being mourned.
Joyous families & sad families, both sharing this very same day...less than 50 yards' distance from one another.
So surreal.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
ADDENDUM to Memorial Day 101
A very close friend called me yesterday to talk about the Memorial Day 101 post. And by close friend, I mean the kind of friend who could call me a "jerk" (or would that be "jerkette"?) and I would know that it comes from a place of love and concern. Rather than edit the original post, I thought it best to address the matter here, in a separate post.
She brought up a very compelling point, "Shouldn't we, as American civilians, feel free to enjoy Memorial Day in whatever way we choose? Including light-hearted or recreational ways? Isn't that the essence of what these brave men & women fought and died to secure?"
Yes, dear friend, you are absolutely right.
And the thought occurred to me that some who read that post might actually believe that I was suggesting that it is only proper and fitting to mope around, all solemn and respectful and spend the entire Day or weekend much like the photo below:
She brought up a very compelling point, "Shouldn't we, as American civilians, feel free to enjoy Memorial Day in whatever way we choose? Including light-hearted or recreational ways? Isn't that the essence of what these brave men & women fought and died to secure?"
Yes, dear friend, you are absolutely right.
And the thought occurred to me that some who read that post might actually believe that I was suggesting that it is only proper and fitting to mope around, all solemn and respectful and spend the entire Day or weekend much like the photo below:
Please allow me clarify, won't you?
When writing the Memorial Day 101 post, I purposely steered clear of telling people how they should spend their Memorial Day. That's not my place or even intention and there's simply no official etiquette or guidance on the matter because of the very reason my dear friend cited above. Yes, it is absolutely ok to spend the Day however you may please. Feel better? ;)
The Memorial Day 101 post was written simply as guidance on how to view/speak about the Memorial Day...since, gauging from the amount of off-the-wall comments on FB, there seems to be a general lack of knowledge/understanding on what the Day is and what the Day isn't about. My assumption is that people genuinely want to honor the Memorial Day...but doing so inappropriately can actually have the opposite effect...or at least provide fodder for a "Bless his/her heart!" comment(s).
Quite simply: the Post was about comments (ie - how we speak about Memorial Day)...but was not intended to serve as an instructional guide on how to spend the Day. Were there tips provided for special ways to observe Memorial Day? Yes, absolutely...but those are for the over-achievers among us who are interested in taking special steps to honor the day or who may be looking for ways to educate children on significant US history and traditions.
Helpful? Clear as mud? Feel free to sound off in the comments. You can even call me a jerk/jerkette and I won't be offended. Promise.
Have a super blessed day!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Memorial Day 101
People. Let's talk for a minute about Memorial Day - as observed in the USA - what it IS and what it ISN'T.
I confess that my own understanding of Memorial Day prior to last year was fuzzy, at best. I knew that it always fell on a Monday and, not unlike Labor Day, meant an extra "free" day off of work. Yahoo! Who doesn't like an extra day free from work?? An extra day means time for travel, cooking out and enjoying time with friends and family - on a boat or in a backyard. A day to be and to feel Patriotic. A day to fly Old Glory and a day to reflect on the military.
I'm embarrassed to admit: that.was.all.
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a formal military Memorial Day Ceremony for the first time. My now-husband invited me to attend the Ceremony which was held on-post at Ft. Riley. There was the customary pomp, to be sure, that comes along with any formal military event - the cavalry horses and riders, the soldiers on the hillside standing at the ready beside the cannons, the flags, the dress blues. We were seated - 2nd row - and the ceremony soon got underway. The Chaplain prayed, a distinguished guest spoke, cannons volleyed and a wreath was laid in honor of those who lost life in the line of duty. It was a very SOLEMN event...not unlike attending an actual funeral.
This year, the Day bears even more meaning to me as a newly minted Army spouse. Why? Because, in the last 3 weeks we (either my husband or my husband & me) have attended no fewer than 4 Memorials for fallen soldiers (with 4 more this coming week; combined into one ceremony!). The immeasurable consuming grief felt by the families/friends/loved ones and the loss felt by the fellow soldiers were very heavy - each and every one very raw and very real.
It is through this lens that I present to you the following:
Appropriate words to describe Memorial Day: solemn, reverent, sober, humbled, grateful and reflective
Inappropriate words to describe Memorial Day: happy, celebrating
Appropriate/best sentiments to express honor on Memorial Day:
(and these are actual posts from friends on Facebook)
"Remembering those who have given their lives for our freedoms. Freedom isn't "free." Sending much love and many prayers for the families left behind, and for Our Country. May God continue to richly bless Her."
"Today we remember all of the men and women who have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom. In doing so, we must also remember the Soldier that gave his life so that those same individuals (and all of us) could triumph over death. That Soldier is our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory!!"
"Today we commemorate those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the American ideal."
"Humbled & grateful for the sacrifice so many have made for this country & our way of life. May we strive this day & all days to honor their sacrifice by being willing to make ones we are called to make."
"Every day we owe honor and respect to all those who have and do serve. Today we give special thanks to the many who have given the ultimate sacrifice of life in defense of our great country. Their courage, bravery and dedication should inspire us daily to live a life of service to honor their sacrifice."
OK/semi-appropriate sentiments on Memorial Day:
"We are thankful for those who are serving our country." *
Completely inappropriate sentiments for Memorial Day:
"Happy Memorial Day"
"happy memorial day everyone! Lets take a minute to remember the fallen today as we are bbqing and hanging out with family/friends." **
* What makes these types of sentiments less appropriate for Memorial Day remembrance? While it is always generous and wonderful to express gratitude to/for current service members, there is a special day for that: it's called Veterans Day. Memorial Day, on the other hand, is the unique day to remember the Fallen/deceased who served our Nation's interests in wars past and present, domestically and abroad.
** Yes, this was actually written on Facebook (not by a personal friend). There are two unfortunate parts to the comment: 1. The use of the word "happy" ... 2. The encouragement for us to take a few minutes from our BBQ/fun day to remember. Talk about the tail wagging the dog! Now I love BBQ just as much as the next gal but someone really should inform this person that this is a day of remembrance, not a day of BBQ (hence it is called "Memorial Day" and not "BBQ Day.").
It should also go without saying that this is not a "happy" day or occasion...just as you would not dream of saying, "Happy Holocaust Remembrance Day," you should refrain from wishing others a "Happy Memorial Day." In sum, this Day is about singular reflection on those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our Nation's interests at home and abroad, past and present. It is a day that we observe and remember, but do not "celebrate."
For helpful tips on how to best observe Memorial Day, you may click HERE or just Google the matter. Hope this helps!
PLEASE NOTE: There is a very important ADDENDUM TO THIS POST!
I confess that my own understanding of Memorial Day prior to last year was fuzzy, at best. I knew that it always fell on a Monday and, not unlike Labor Day, meant an extra "free" day off of work. Yahoo! Who doesn't like an extra day free from work?? An extra day means time for travel, cooking out and enjoying time with friends and family - on a boat or in a backyard. A day to be and to feel Patriotic. A day to fly Old Glory and a day to reflect on the military.
I'm embarrassed to admit: that.was.all.
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a formal military Memorial Day Ceremony for the first time. My now-husband invited me to attend the Ceremony which was held on-post at Ft. Riley. There was the customary pomp, to be sure, that comes along with any formal military event - the cavalry horses and riders, the soldiers on the hillside standing at the ready beside the cannons, the flags, the dress blues. We were seated - 2nd row - and the ceremony soon got underway. The Chaplain prayed, a distinguished guest spoke, cannons volleyed and a wreath was laid in honor of those who lost life in the line of duty. It was a very SOLEMN event...not unlike attending an actual funeral.
This year, the Day bears even more meaning to me as a newly minted Army spouse. Why? Because, in the last 3 weeks we (either my husband or my husband & me) have attended no fewer than 4 Memorials for fallen soldiers (with 4 more this coming week; combined into one ceremony!). The immeasurable consuming grief felt by the families/friends/loved ones and the loss felt by the fellow soldiers were very heavy - each and every one very raw and very real.
It is through this lens that I present to you the following:
Appropriate words to describe Memorial Day: solemn, reverent, sober, humbled, grateful and reflective
Inappropriate words to describe Memorial Day: happy, celebrating
Appropriate/best sentiments to express honor on Memorial Day:
(and these are actual posts from friends on Facebook)
"Remembering those who have given their lives for our freedoms. Freedom isn't "free." Sending much love and many prayers for the families left behind, and for Our Country. May God continue to richly bless Her."
"Today we remember all of the men and women who have paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom. In doing so, we must also remember the Soldier that gave his life so that those same individuals (and all of us) could triumph over death. That Soldier is our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory!!"
"Today we commemorate those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the American ideal."
"Humbled & grateful for the sacrifice so many have made for this country & our way of life. May we strive this day & all days to honor their sacrifice by being willing to make ones we are called to make."
"Every day we owe honor and respect to all those who have and do serve. Today we give special thanks to the many who have given the ultimate sacrifice of life in defense of our great country. Their courage, bravery and dedication should inspire us daily to live a life of service to honor their sacrifice."
OK/semi-appropriate sentiments on Memorial Day:
"We are thankful for those who are serving our country." *
Completely inappropriate sentiments for Memorial Day:
"Happy Memorial Day"
"happy memorial day everyone! Lets take a minute to remember the fallen today as we are bbqing and hanging out with family/friends." **
* What makes these types of sentiments less appropriate for Memorial Day remembrance? While it is always generous and wonderful to express gratitude to/for current service members, there is a special day for that: it's called Veterans Day. Memorial Day, on the other hand, is the unique day to remember the Fallen/deceased who served our Nation's interests in wars past and present, domestically and abroad.
** Yes, this was actually written on Facebook (not by a personal friend). There are two unfortunate parts to the comment: 1. The use of the word "happy" ... 2. The encouragement for us to take a few minutes from our BBQ/fun day to remember. Talk about the tail wagging the dog! Now I love BBQ just as much as the next gal but someone really should inform this person that this is a day of remembrance, not a day of BBQ (hence it is called "Memorial Day" and not "BBQ Day.").
It should also go without saying that this is not a "happy" day or occasion...just as you would not dream of saying, "Happy Holocaust Remembrance Day," you should refrain from wishing others a "Happy Memorial Day." In sum, this Day is about singular reflection on those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our Nation's interests at home and abroad, past and present. It is a day that we observe and remember, but do not "celebrate."
For helpful tips on how to best observe Memorial Day, you may click HERE or just Google the matter. Hope this helps!
PLEASE NOTE: There is a very important ADDENDUM TO THIS POST!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Memorial Day 2012
We remember our Fallen today.
"All gave some; some gave all."
 | |||||||||
| EOD Memorial - honors the Fallen from Army, Marine Corps, Navy & Air Force EOD units. |
 |
| Fort Riley Cemetery decorated for Memorial Day |
Friday, May 25, 2012
The rundown
It's been a very busy couple of days!...and I'm learning that there's likely not ever going to be a "typical" day here....
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday (today!):
TGIF everyone! I hope that everyone has a safe and reverent Memorial Day weekend. We Remember.
Tuesday:
- Took husband to the airport at 6am - yawn!
- Attended a 4 HOUR meeting (yowza!) for OCSC Board meeting (I am the 2012-2013 Publicity Chairperson)
- Laundry day!
Wednesday:
- Slept in until 7:30am - so nice!
- Gathered up boxes & packing paper from boxes that have been unpacked
- Turned those boxes & packing paper over the the Recycling Facility on Fort Riley
- Oil change/minor repair on the husband's truck (the service took 3 hours!)
- Dinner and softball (she played; I cheered & watch kiddos) with a friend
- Spent the night at a sweet friend's house
Thursday:
- On post by 8:30am
- Spin class from 9am - 10am
- TRX (suspension) class from 10am - 11am
- Shower & lunch on-post with a friend
- OCSC meeting from 1pm - 2:30 pm
- Home by 3pm!
Friday (today!):
- Unpacked books for the purpose of determining which/how many I could donate
- I have no fewer than 9 errands to run today (renew lease on townhome, pick up formal dress, grocery shopping, etc). I'm guessing that with the traffic and holiday shoppers that these errands will take the entire afternoon!
- But first, lunch...
TGIF everyone! I hope that everyone has a safe and reverent Memorial Day weekend. We Remember.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Today in Arlington National Cemetary
In about half an hour, we'll say our final and formal farewell to a soldier in our Unit who died in Afghanistan earlier this month.
We pray for his family, friends, and all who knew & loved him. We pray for our soldiers who are still in Afghanistan...still struggling to process this jarring and unexpected loss. We pray for their comfort so that they may focus on the very sobering mission in the face of a very determined adversary.
 |
| Our soldiers saying their goodbyes to SSG H in Afghanistan. |
We pray for his family, friends, and all who knew & loved him. We pray for our soldiers who are still in Afghanistan...still struggling to process this jarring and unexpected loss. We pray for their comfort so that they may focus on the very sobering mission in the face of a very determined adversary.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Today:)
Did you stop by just to see what was going on here today???
Perhaps you convinced yourself that I was up to some fabulous adventure on this Tuesday.
NOPE.
I was in a marathon-of-a-meeting (4 hours, no lie!) this morning and then have been tidying up our home, watering the yard (getting crispy already!) and paying bills. I just had a Skype date with a good friend and gave her a "tour" of our house. Now I'm doing laundry...& more cleaning...Skype-date-tour with Mom & Dad on Thursday!
Hope everyone had a delightful, wonderful Tuesday:)
xo,
a
Perhaps you convinced yourself that I was up to some fabulous adventure on this Tuesday.
NOPE.
I was in a marathon-of-a-meeting (4 hours, no lie!) this morning and then have been tidying up our home, watering the yard (getting crispy already!) and paying bills. I just had a Skype date with a good friend and gave her a "tour" of our house. Now I'm doing laundry...& more cleaning...Skype-date-tour with Mom & Dad on Thursday!
Hope everyone had a delightful, wonderful Tuesday:)
xo,
a
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