Memorial Day

Aloha, Friend.
It is Memorial Day-
Honoring Veterans
and Those Who Made
the Ultimate Sacrifice. . .

click on photos to enlarge them and yourself

While there are no official lyrics for Taps,
the following unofficial verses (author unknown)
are often used:

"Fading light dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.

From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night.



Day is done, gone the sun,

From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Then good night, peaceful night,

Till the light of the dawn shineth bright;

God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night."



(Above Information Courtesy of
United States Army Center for Military History)

Yes,

We proudly remember the veterans of WWII
though today, the Germans and Japanese
are our allies and business partners.
Strange.

The even more distant First World War
is now seen
as a case of outmoded statecraft
sliding into an ancient
and formerly inevitable
choice
of war.

Our understanding matures
as the latest war recedes in the rear-view mirror
but the suffering and loss
remain very real
to this day.

To stand on guard of others
is noble.

To attack another people
is not.

Yet, should we stand back
in Burma,
or Africa,
where opportunist elites
enslave their own people?

Until these questions
are blotted out by understanding
we will need those willing
to play on a team
bigger than their own
convenience or benefit.

We call these people
"Military"

Sons, daughters
fathers, parents, neighbors
we call them
when we need help the most.

As with many things in a free society
we have mixed feelings about military power
and assumptions
but NEVER about those who serve,
who pay the price
and who always have.


We honor them the most
by fighting for the values and ideals
that motivated them:
Fairness, opportunity,
and a basic humanity
towards our fellow citizens;
To tell the truth
and listen to the other guy's truth
with real respect for his humanity too.


Let's build
and BE
the world they fought
and died for.


Amen