Submitted by Charlton Stanley (Otteray Scribe), Guest Blogger
Photo by Charlton Stanley (his father)
Friday I was reading another blog, and was stunned and appalled to read this opening line in a post (emphasis mine):
“For most of us, Memorial Day is a joyous occasion. We may think of idyllic, lazy summer days of childhood, whole months away from school. Our greatest concern might well be the inevitable traffic jams created when large groups of people head for the same destination at the same time.”
Many, including the person who wrote the statement above, mistake Veteran’s Day for Memorial Day. The day does not celebrate the veteran. It is a day of remembrance for those who never had a chance to become a veteran. Veteran’s Day is November 11, formerly called Armistice Day.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The exact origin of the custom of decorating the graves of those who gave all in service to the country is shrouded by the mists of time and folklore. Memorial Day became official when General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued his General Order No. 11 on 5 May 1868. The first official Memorial Day observance was 30 May 1868. On that day, flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Every year until 1971, Memorial Day was observed on May 30. In 1971, the National Holiday Act of 1971 was passed, making Memorial Day part of a three-day weekend. When Memorial Day became just another long weekend with a day off from work, it began to lose its meaning as a day of remembrance and reflection. The VFW’s official proclamation in 2002 stated in part,
“Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”
In 1999, Senator Dan Inouye introduced a bill to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30 instead of “the last Monday in May”. The same year, Representative Gibbons introduced a bill in the house saying the same thing. Both bills were referred to Committee. Every year until his death, Senator Inouye re-introduced the bill. If anyone had the credentials to speak for veterans everywhere, it was Senator Inouye; one of the few members of Congress awarded the Medal of Honor. I hope that one day, Memorial Day will return to the original May 30. Every year that passes, a bit more of the real meaning of the day is lost.
We owe it to the dead to honor their memory. It does not matter the war, the cause, or the politics. For every one of those marble slabs in the Gardens of Stone, some parent or loved one got that terrible, awful knock on the door. When I was young, it seemed as if every other house had a gold star in the front window. Those memories are still fresh, even after all those decades. A series has been running on the Daily Kos blog called IGTNT (I Got The News Today). The series honors and remembers those Americans who lost their lives in combat or military operations in the war zone. Their names and pictures are there. Read them and weep for the loved ones left only with memories.
From the Skene Manuscripts
Shortly after the bloody battle at Flodden Field in 1513, one of the members of Clan Skene composed Flowers of the Forest as a lament for the Scots who perished in that terrible battle. It was probably composed originally for the harp, however; it was quickly adapted for the bagpipes. It was lost for about a century, until it was found in the Skene Manuscripts as “Flowres of the Forrest.” The original pipe tune did not have lyrics. In 1756, Jean Elliot wrote lyrics for the tune. Piping Flowers of the Forest has become traditional in the UK for military memorial services. The custom has spread to the US, and is often requested. Flowers of the Forest was piped for my son at his service in the National Cemetery. Because of the somber meaning of the lyrics and tune, pipers will not play or practice Flowers of the Forest in public. Public airing of the ancient tune is reserved for remembrance of the dead.
Flowers of the Forest refers to the soldiers. “The flowers of the forest are all wede away,” means they are all withered away, dead. Centuries later, the flowers theme would be reprised when Roy Williamson composed Flower of Scotland, which has become the National Anthem. This is Ronnie Browne singing Jean Elliot’s lyrics on the actual battlefield at Flodden, now peaceful meadowland.
Flowers of the Forest
By Jean Elliot, (1727 – 1805)
I’ve heard them liltin’, at the ewe milkin,’
Lasses a-liltin’ before dawn of day.
Now there’s a moanin’, on ilka green loanin’.
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.
As boughts in the mornin’, nae blithe lads are scornin’,
Lasses are lonely and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin’, nae gabbin’, but sighin’ and sobbin’,
Ilk ane lifts her leglin, and hies her away.
At e’en in the gloamin’, nae swankies are roamin’,
‘Mang stacks wi’ the lasses at bogle to play.
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin’ her dearie,
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.
In har’st at the shearin’ nae youths now are jeerin’
Bandsters are runkled, and lyart, or grey.
At fair or at preachin’, nae wooin’, nae fleecin’,
The flowers of the forest are a’ wede away.
Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border,
the English for ance by guile wan the day.
The flowers of the forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay.
We’ll hae nae mair liltin’, at the ewe milkin’,
Women and bairns are dowie and wae.
Sighin’ and moanin’ on ilka green loanin’,
The flowers of the forest are all wede away.
Vietnam had its iconic poems, tunes and laments as well. One of the more famous poems was by a helicopter pilot; Major Michael Davis O’Donnell. This was written on New Year’s Day, 1970 at Dak To. Major O’Donnell was killed three months later when his helicopter was shot down with twelve souls aboard. His helicopter was hit by ground fire while rescuing troops who had come under heavy fire.
By Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
If you are able, save them a place inside you,
And save one backward glance when you are leaving,
for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them,
though you may, or may not have always.
Take what they have left, and what they have
taught you with their dying, and keep it as your own.
And in that time that when men decide, and feel safe,
to call the war insane, take one moment,
to embrace these gentle heroes you left behind.
There are many poems, essays and songs appropriate for Memorial Day, and for Memorial Day weekend. Some have special meaning for me. Joe Kilna MacKenzie wrote Sgt. MacKenzie in memory of his grandfather, Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders. Joe lost his own battle with cancer in 2009.
About his grandfather, Joe wrote:
“To the best of my knowledge, and taken from reports of the returning soldiers, one of his close friends fell, badly wounded. Charles stood his ground and fought until he was overcome and died from bayonet wounds. On that day, my great grandmother and my grandmother were sitting at the fire when the picture fell from the wall. My great grandmother looked, and said to my grandmother “Oh, my bonnie Charlie’s dead”. Sure enough, a few days passed, and the local policeman brought the news – that Sgt. Charles Stuart MacKenzie had been killed in action. This same picture now hangs above my fireplace. A few years back my wife Christine died of cancer, and in my grief, I looked at his picture to ask what gave him the strength to go on. It was then, in my mind, that I saw him lying on the field and wondered what his final thoughts were. The words and music just appeared into my head. I believe the men and woman like yourself who are prepared to stand their ground for their family – for their friends – and for their country; deserve to be remembered, respected and honoured. “Sgt. MacKenzie”, is my very small tribute to them.”
Sgt. MacKenzie was featured in the soundtrack of the movie, We Were Soldiers. The cover photo in the video is Sergeant MacKenzie.
Eric Bogle wrote several songs about the futility and waste of war, two of the most famous being Green Fields of France, and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. Lesser known is My Youngest Son Came Home Today. Eric says Mary Black, as a woman and mother, sings it far better than he ever could. Here is Mary Black with My Youngest Son Came Home Today.
Memorial Day is for remembering and honoring those who died in the service of their country. Please share your own special remembrances, poems or songs.
Ode the last to the war trolls (from the realm of reality):
Matt Johnson 1, May 26, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Dredd 1, May 26, 2013 at 3:02 pm
So is the ideology that life is created by death, freedom is created by slavery to violence, and that war is peace.
—————————————————–
Sounds like a civil war.
=====================================
To one who worships a hammer, everything is a nail.
Dredd 1, May 26, 2013 at 3:02 pm
So is the ideology that life is created by death, freedom is created by slavery to violence, and that war is peace.
—————————————————–
Sounds like a civil war.
Ode #2 to the war trolls (from the realm of reality):
Swarthmore mom,
Thank you. Your comment reminded me of Longfellow’s poem. My Grandmother and my wife’s Grandmother both called it Decoration Day. I remember as a kid the churches and local civic groups would all turn out with volunteers to tidy up the local cemeteries and put flowers on the graves.
Darren Smith 1, May 26, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Dredd:
“I put my neck on the line by calling BS on such drivel.”
~+~
You’re a true hero. Very brave.
================================
I refer you and your bravery to General Smedley.
Truth is scary.
Dredd:
“I put my neck on the line by calling BS on such drivel.”
~+~
You’re a true hero. Very brave.
Ode to the war trolls from reality:
My mother referred to Memorial Day as Decoration Day. We would spend the morning visiting different graveyards while carrying huge canisters filled with peonies, lilacs, and irises. Later that day we would have a huge family bbq and picnic. My children have lived away from family and their graves for their entire lives so they don’t think of it the same way I do. Thank you, OS for reminding us.
Mike,
Thanks for the astute observations. Some folks cannot–or will not–learn to separate the warrior from the war. But dead is dead, whatever the cause. Lincoln was right when he said, “But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”
I know a survivor of the Battle of Britain. He flew a Hurricane against the might of the Luftwaffe. He lost many friends. Antiwar? Refuse to serve? They died fighting for their very survival, and the survival of England.
My wife’s uncle was a Marine who was in the first wave to attack the beach at Iwo Jima. He was shot twice in the leg by a Nambu machine gun, but kept going until he lost so much blood he passed out. He died recently.
How do we honor such men? To paraphrase General Patton, ‘We should be thankful that such men lived.’
Matt Johnson 1, May 26, 2013 at 3:01 pm
This short video shows what anecdotal material can do to ideology that is owned by the public.
—————————
The Bruce Willis character was dead.
=================================
So is the ideology that life is created by death, freedom is created by slavery to violence, and that war is peace.
This short video shows what anecdotal material can do to ideology that is owned by the public.
—————————
The Bruce Willis character was dead.
Darren Smith 1, May 26, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Dredd insulted Nameless Vet by declaring:
“You did not give me squat by killing millions of people around the globe.”
~+~
What a dishonourable, arrogant, and spoiled thing to say. Until you have actually put your neck on the line to defend your fellow countrymen or members of your community spare us your insolence and contempt for the freedom and serenity for those vets who have have granted you the luxury of being indignant.
=============================
Nameless Vet insulted the Constitution by usurping it by saying he “served so you have the freedom to express those feelings” …
Bull.
Those freedoms were around long before he could BS, and are natural, not given by dressing up in clothes that make you feel superior to those you kill.
I put my neck on the line by calling BS on such drivel.
You can take the freedom that Saint Smith and Wesson lies about creating and put it where the rest of the mental slaves are.
Get real.
A bunch of myth junkies running around killing people never gave and never will give anyone anything other than stupid grief.
Grief that they are so out of their minds.
Thank You, Otteray Scribe for your article and that beautiful picture.
I have seen these geometrical cemeteries here and abroad. Too many of them. Memorial Day is a serious holiday to me. I do not understand, “Have a Happy Memorial Day.” I also do not care for “the unknowns” as a shorthand description of “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
Maybe I am too old? Maybe all the symbol of sacrifices are too much for me? Maybe it is because there were soldiers in my life.
nick spinelli 1, May 26, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Dredd, Grief and raw emotions are what make us human. People can see and understand that in others, because it is what binds us as emotional beings. And w/ that common bond, we offer respect to others griefing. Have you been tested for Aspergers?
===============================
I aced the test.
Us?
Say hello to us for me.
How is the killing thingy going for us?
Dredd insulted Nameless Vet by declaring:
“You did not give me squat by killing millions of people around the globe.”
~+~
What a dishonourable, arrogant, and spoiled thing to say. Until you have actually put your neck on the line to defend your fellow countrymen or members of your community spare us your insolence and contempt for the freedom and serenity for those vets who have have granted you the luxury of being indignant.
rafflaw 1, May 26, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Dredd,
you did not answer my question.
=============================
You did not ask a question that can be answered.
At least not without glittering generalities.