Memorial Day, 2020...

Question

Remember the fallen.

Answer 1

Always!

Answer 2

With respect and thanks. 

Answer 3

We do Remembrance Sunday in November.

And it isn’t a holiday.That’s why we do it on a Sunday!

Comments

Well, on Nov 11, we observe Veterans' Day. It used to be called Armistice Day, marking the end of WW1, but there have been other wars since then, and so it became a day to honor all military veterans.

Memorial Day had its origin after the American Civil War, and began as Decoration Day, when the graves of the Civil War dead were decorated every May 30. Later on, again because there were more wars, it became Memorial Day, honoring the dead of all American wars. More recently (about 1970), the day was changed to the last Monday in May, rather than a fixed date.

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Tink, that is interesting, poignant too -- my father called it Decoration Day all his life, and I never realized there was such a special reason for that. Both my parents were from families who had soldiers in the Civil War (opposite sides).

I called the county where my family is buried, to see how they felt about a non-resident coming over to the cemetery...they asked me to wait until June 22. They have had an outbreak from residents who work in a seafood processing plant across the Columbia River in Oregon and I am guessing they need that time, trying to do the tracking/tracing to get that under control. 

The outbreak brought the county from 4 cases up to 9. Doesn't sound like much, but these rural counties have a chance to really contain the infection, and I support them.

Answer 4

I was making my tea early that morning, and the classical music station started to play "Nearer My God To Thee."

A lovely version, it went on and on...turns out John Philip Sousa has done a special arrangement. 

After a few moments of that stunning performance I realized what day it was, and just sat down and cried for a bit...yes I remember.

Comments

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This is a delightful find, isn't it Tink...what a treasure, played by the JPS band itself. Yes, I recognize that as the arrangement the classical station was playing...it's so moving...brought a few tears all over again.

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I cried when I saw this rendition in this early Titanic film.

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Tink, I saw TITANIC when it came out in 1953, and it is one old movie I have never seen a second time -- something to look forward to! And in this clip, I recognized Clifton Webb, who like Phyllis Thaxter I think of mostly as a very fine character actor, playing in those very fine drama and SF weekly programs like ONE STEP BEYOND. 

Then I watched the 1997 version at the casino (because it is round) on beautiful Santa Catalina in the Channel Islands off the coast of California, where I spent that Christmas in a cheap old hotel! I do remember that even after all those years, I still thought Leonardo DiCaprio and that company were not nearly as good as the 1953 folks.

It's a lovely old clip, I did not realize just how much fine stuff you can really find on YouTube!