Memorial Day Honor for Our Hero

Monday, May 28th marks the national observance of Memorial Day.  Most families celebrate this weekend as the beginning of summer ... a long family-oriented weekend ... an extra day of rest.

But Memorial Day originated to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving our great country.  Numerous websites give vast information of this holiday.  I strongly suggest just searching/googling, etc "Memorial Day" and see how much information you can find -- and read about what Memorial Day truly means to our country.

Our family is somewhat like other families ... getting prepared for Memorial Day weekend.  But this year it's taking on a much different tone for us ...

'Joe gets  a home-pass to actually come home for this Memorial Day weekend!

So we are preparing ... Grandad & I ... to have our house filled again with everyone ...

for the first time since ...

well, for *the* very first time ever!

'Joe was overseas when his son Tag was born on February 9th. 

"The" phone call came in on February 20th of the explosion.

'Joe landed state-side on February 26th.

The Fisher House has been "home" to the 'Joe's ever since.

But for this weekend ...

Albeit a long yet short weekend ...

Everyone will be home ...

Together.

As you go about your Memorial Day weekend, please pray for our military who have given their ultimate sacrifice in serving our great country.

And their families who are left behind to move forward day by day without their loved ones.

And those who are recovering, rehabilitating, and adjusting to a new way of life after suffering life-altering injuries.

We as a country have so much to be thankful for this Memorial Day weekend.  I pray that we reach out to those who put everything on the line to serve in our military.  I pray that their families know how much they are supported and cared for.  Not only hearing "I'm praying for you" ... but actually hearing "I'm here to help you, what can I do?"

A simple "Thank You" just doesn't seem enough ...

The Honor of Memorial Day

Honoring our fallen heroes this Memorial Day & weekend.  Please say a prayer for the families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  Saying "thank you" just doesn't seem enough ...

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings to-day.
The road is rhythmic with the feet
Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red
On tombs where weary soldiers lie;
Flags wave above the honored dead
And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
They kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel
They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn
Their strength, who lie beneath this sod,
Who went through fire and death to earn
At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed
They march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid,
The Prince of Peace...Who brought a sword.
- Joyce Kilmer -

Hither we come to scatter flowers
This thirtieth day of May,
Upon our fallen heroes' graves
On this Memorial Day;
We cherish now no bitter thoughts
In this fair land of ours,
But on all fallen heroes' graves
We come to scatter flowers.

The rank and file in North and South
Believed their cause was just;
We find upon each battle flag
Inscribed, "In God We Trust;"
And in this sunny land of ours,
Now sleeping side by side,
The Union Blue and Southern Gray
Lie buried where they died.

Since we have come to scatter flowers
This consecrated day,
We cannot cherish bitter thoughts
Toward those who wore the "Gray;"
Believing that their cause was right,
Freely their blood they shed;
Then, let us strew-alike-the graves
Of all our sacred dead.

And those who for the Union fought,
In scattering flowers to-day
On heroes' graves, would never dream
Of passing by the gray;
And heroes of the "Southern Cause,"
In paying homage true,
Will not forget the graves of those
Who wore the Union Blue.

Thrice welcome, then, this sacred day.
That binds our hearts anew;
Our country undivided stands,
For all-now love the Blue;
On resurrection day,
Linked arm in arm, we'll find the boys
Who wore the Blue and Gray.
- William Henry Clay Dodson -

Please visit http://www.usmemorialday.org for more information on Memorial Day.  History, poetry, images, links ... for our heroes we will forever be grateful and will forever endeavor to educate our upcoming generations on the sacrifices that have been made for our great country.