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.
Confederate soldiers. German soldiers. American sailors. The vast majority are the same.
The military is a society within a society. With regard to your conduct in the military, in the U.S. it’s the Uniform Code Of Military Justice. You’re also subject to civilian law.
There are those few who are not good, but that exists everywhere.
RWL,
You don’t have to like what I had to say… And I don’t really care… It is what it is…. All wars are just and unjust in a nutshell…. Those with wisdom, maturity and civility truly understand that fact….
I understood very well what you are trying to say…. Don’t pick and choose which veterans are better… They all served the same purpose front line defense in most cases… They truly are just following orders….
If church makes you feel good, spread the good news not more misery…. Isn’t that what church is all about in the first place besides……
AY said: “Don’t pick and choose which veterans are better… They all served the same purpose front line defense in most cases… They truly are just following orders”
What are you talking about? Noone is ‘picking and choosing which veterans are better’. Those were just examples (another example is some American and non-American muslims are not too happy with us honoring our soldiers who died fighting the ‘Conflict in Iraq & Afghanistan’). You spend too much time trying to read into what you think people are saying instead of taking things at face value. If you look at all of my postings, my language is upfront and direct. Nothing to look into and nothing to hide.
Matt J said “With regard to your conduct in the military, in the U.S. it’s the Uniform Code Of Military Justice. You’re also subject to civilian law.
There are those few who are not good, but that exists everywhere.”
I was referring to the record number of women who have been raped while serving our country, and received no justice from the US Military Courts or US Civilian courts. See following articles on this:
http://www.stopmilitaryrape.org/
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/421/index.html
@Otteray Scribe,
Thank you for the fine thread and the opportunity it provides for persons of many outlooks to voice their opinions about memory, the dead, and what use the living make of these. For my poor part, I have both prose and poetry to contribute, let others judge the worth of these offerings as they may.
@Dredd,
As a Vietnam Veteran Against The Endless War, I appreciate your attempts to deal with the ugly side of an important subject, what the psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton has called “The Hero versus the Socialized Warrior.”
If I understand you correctly, Dredd, you object (and properly so) to the celebration and “honoring” of the socialized warrior as an enemy-slaying “hero” who serves as an abstract symbol lending himself or herself to “the corruptions of patriotic chauvinism” and “the obedience of the corpse.” This Memorial Day, I will think of the names Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman, respectively, in this regard.
Personally, I think that more people should question, analyze, and debunk mythological dramatized narratives that glorify dying in war as “strength” while denigrating living in peace as “weakness.” Memorial Day seems a perfectly appropriate time to do that.
AY,
I forgot to add: There are many African-Americans, like myself, who are not happy to see the Confederate Flag flyig, honoring Confederate soldiers, Hitler’s Soldiers (i.e. how they treated Africans in Germany), etc. Many of us find that very offensive.
AY,
No. No. No. You totally misunderstood me.
Here is what I meant when I said: “I agree with most of what Dredd said”:
My wife and I met a woman and her daughter during the meet & greet time in church. We had a salute to veterans day at the church, and her daughter stood up. While they were singing ‘God Bless America’, honoring the Vets, the mother reached over to my wife, and whispered: “The church should be doing more to help Vets than just singing songs. My daughter hasn’t been the same, since she came back from Afghanistan.” (my wife told me, when we were in our vehicle, about this conversation).
After service, I was wondering why my wife was suggesting to the woman about having her daughter seen by a counselor. To which the mother responded: “they (government) don’t give a hoot about you when you go in, come out, or if you make it out. It’s just so unfair.”
To Dredd’s point of us being a warmonger state, I agree. I agree that we treat our vets poorly (while they are in service and after they come out). I agree that we the people are responsible for allowing our government to treat our vets this way. I agree that we all profit from being a warmonger state (whether it is killing innocent women and children in Africa & Afghanistan to obtain minerals, such as diamonds, gold, coal, etc. or selling weapons to every country on earth, and then be surprised when those same countries use those weapons against our soldiers).
As I stated to Dredd earlier, there is a time and place for educating the public about America’s History on War and Death. However, today, on OS’ Memorial Blog, is not the right time and place.
What part of that did you find offensive?
RWL,
Yes, in as much as you don’t have to agree with the reason or purposed that they served… Unqualifying yes…
Since you’ve been around awhile you are aware I have a son whom is deceased. I realize you stated this in order to provoke… That you cannot do. How’s the weather up there by the way?
I meant to say Confederate Soldiers not Sons of the Confederacy.
AY said: ‘I have respect for every veteran.’
Really? You have respect for the Sons of the Confederacy? Hitler’s crew?
How about having respect for those parents who have to bury their children, regardless of how they died (but even this is questionable as some parents are or were training their children to sacrifice themselves in the name of ‘their religion’, culture, and/or disingenuous governing entity)?
OS,
I have the upmost respect for you, especially maintaining your sanity after having to bury a child. I don’t know how I would keep going strong if it was my only child (my wife and I have only one). May God continue to bless you.
Dredd,
There is a time and place for everything. Although I understand and agree with most of what you said, right now is not the time for educating the public.
Thanks, OS for the thoughts, and thanks to those who gave all. If taking your mind to that thought, “just before”, is a just salute, then I will so endeavor throughout tomorrow. Just imagine if there is a connection possible.
No BK I meant LK…. But thank you for the input….
See it worked Darren
AY, I believe you meant BK. Thanks for appreciating civility. I didn’t mean it to sound like I was going off on David. It became apparent that his information was 2nd or 3rd hand via various news reports. I wanted to give him the chance to see the actual reports first hand so he could decide for himself. He should be given credit for looking at some of those reports and following up with good questions and better analysis. We aren’t in agreement, however, he helped me to see how some who support the self-defense theory reach that conclusion and maybe he has a bit of skepticism about it now. It depends on how much time he wants to spend going through the hundreds of reports.
When things get personal with one person insulting another and more back and forth we sow seeds that become wars.
Darren,
Hate to tell you flag burning is not against the law as was decided in Texas v Johnson…. Fag burning a different story…. While I appreciate the effort Charlton put into this…. Dredd is perfectly within his right to post what he wants so long as it conforms within the blog rules…. Just like your displeasure with Dredd posting the same….. The right to free speech has it counterpart… The right to ignore and not respond….
I have Respect for every veteran…. Including Bradley Manning……. some may disagree with me on that and that’s fine….. People take Personal disagreements that are not meant as personal….
People have lost the ability to be civil…. Even last night when LK went off on David….. She didn’t really make it personal…. She expressed her views while maintaining civility….. I’m very impressed…. Whereas I would have stated it very different and made it very personal…..
Lets agree to disagree… Ok….
Happy Memorial Day is a “oxymoron”! I hate war and it’s profiteers and the likes of Henry Kissinger who said “soldiers are dumb, stupid animals to be use as pawns in foreign policy”. My heart breaks for all in the military that give their precious lives thinking they are fighting for our freedom.
So much for trying to have a civil tribute to those who served our country in the armed forces. There is always someone wanting to insult the memory and selfishly proclaim their superiority.
Most people however have respect and are appreciative.
https://www.google.com/search?q=nero+obama&client=firefox-a&hs=9ij&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=M3uiUdKxCIqLywHr6IDIBA&ved=0CDwQsAQ&biw=1013&bih=625
Matt Johnson 1, May 26, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Dredd,
Your videos have substance. Arlington National Cemetery doesn’t even know where the bodies are buried.
Your federal government’s competence (incompetence) at work.
===================================
The epigovernment does not give a sh*t about these soldiers they use up and throw away.
Like a child discarded by a very bad so-called parent, the victims (as General Smedley pointed out) then seek solace from the population around them once the government has moves on to other wars and quickly forgets them.
The populace, like the soldiers, is also trying to protect themselves from the plunder barons (who used up the soldires and then cast them aside).
So the populace has no energy to use to attend to the psychosis giving grief to the used up soldiers.
Suicide is the number one injury cause of death for both soldiers and civilians at the moment.
Not a job for rocket scientists to figure out is it?
Since I am retired, if I were a psychologist of a useful sort I would do pro bono work for the soldier and for civilian victims of the propaganda myths forced upon American society.
But take note warmongering trolls, I will not add to your myths, come to me and expect pain –if you are in love with your myths.
Stay away and I will not speak any truth to you, if it pains you.
Go in peace.
Glorifying War In The United States
I was recently just reading a bit of history from the perspective of different countries particularly World War II. And I noticed a difference in the way it is taught in other countries from the United States. Now it is said that history must be learn so as to never repeat past mistakes. In other countries especially defeated WWII Axis nations, WWII is taught in such a way that even though one faction came out victorious, all parties involved were defeated. Regardless of the side, a good chunk of humanity was killed because of it. In the end that’s really what matters and everyone loses because of it. It’s not taught that way in the United States. Of course it is implied that of course people being killed is part of war. But here there is so much more emphasis on our victories and what it meant for our standing as a nation. We are taught more the winners and losers, who got a higher score of justice. To paraphrase, what we get out of being taught history in America…
American Revolution: We kicked that oppresive Britain’s ass. We won independance.
War of 1812: We kicked Britain’s ass again.
Civil War: Union kicked Confereration’s ass
World War I: We kicked Germany’s ass
World War II: We kicked evil Nazi Germany’s ass again. We run half the world now. Soviet Union is evil!
Vietnam War: We’ll only go into this a little. We lost but not really.
Korean War: Let’s forget about this one.
Cold War: Soviet Union collapses. We run the world now.
The lesson we got is more “Don’t *bleep* with the United States” than “War is terrible for EVERYONE involved, regardless who wins”. So much for learning the true lessons of war. And it’s not just in history. We glorify and exercise our military might to a substantial and offensive degree. More on the level that “we have the power to kill all of you” than “we are well equipped to defend our nation.” Most video games and movies based on modern military warfare is glorifying warfare and mostly US dominance in it too. Now don’t get me wrong I respect our military to a great degree. But we are one of the only modern nations that looks at war this way and one of the reasons I believe so many people in the US is so pro-war. I feel this is definitely how I have been taught history when I was in school. And if history does indeed repeat itself, such a mentality contributes to the fall of great nations eventually. Most nations who learned this the hard way teach history explicitly expressing the horror of war. And these are nations were great yet still had war come right at their doorstep, in their land and even some suffered defeat. I honestly fear the United States is following that pattern yet that is what it may take to teach the United States this.
(Just a Citizen).
Dredd,
So honestly what is your purpose on this thread? You use a$$holes like the smug Mr. Chomsky and songs by the Fugs to show your political purity? Is your intent to disrupt the thread, or to defecate on the feelings of people who have lost their loved ones to war? This is more than just an expression of your opinion. This is you going out of your way to antagonize people. And please don’t even try to respond to me that this is being done solely out of your political beliefs because this is something beyond. There is an element of sadism in your attacks that I not only find distasteful, but also undermines the political positions you adopt. I don’t give a damn what you are for, if you lack compassion and empathy for people with whom you disagree on perhaps one issue.
With Larry Rafferty alone your writing here has been disgraceful since no doubt you’ve read both of these blogs:
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/04/01/mk-269/
http://jonathanturley.org/2012/04/29/farewell-to-captain-lawrence-e-rafferty-american-hero/
As JT wrote in the bottom link:
“Our Larry recounts in the article below that “My loss was never knowing him. In a sense, it was like he never existed. Now there is a permanent marker to remember what he did and what he gave up.”
You even commented on this thread:
“My father died recently.
It brings out the ubi sunt in us doesn’t it?
There is a lot of anti-religion talk on this blog from time to time, so ubi sunt is probable the more noncontroversial subject available in that context.”
Dredd where is your compassion and your empathy, at least you knew your father? Larry didn’t know his father. In the famous words of Joseph Welsh to another ideologue “Have you at last no decency?”
Now Dredd I’ve agreed with you on much and I’ve even defended your blatant use of this blog for publicity for your own. You in turn have been quite nice to me and certainly very complimentary. I am the type of person though that is motivated by empathy and compassion for my fellow human beings, including those who join the military because they believe in this country and those who take part in what I see as illegal wars. The loss of human life and the tragedy that follows it, is something that makes me sad and in truth this country should take time to remember those who gave their lives in its service, despite the fact that you and I know most war is a racket. You’re an intelligent man and by deliberately missing the point of Chuck’s blog and those who have commented on this thread, I think you have crossed the line in a very personal way that doesn’t become you. You should be ashamed of your behavior on this thread because it seems driven by an animus beyond the subject and has a sadistic cast to it.
Dredd,
Your videos have substance. Arlington National Cemetery doesn’t even know where the bodies are buried.
Your federal government’s competence (incompetence) at work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery_mismanagement_controversy