Happy Memorial Day.....................

[ESLO]

To All My Dear Cruise Critics,

Wishing all our dear Cruise Critics, a Safe and Healthy Memorial Day!

While we display our flags, enjoy the parades, BBQ's and good company we still reflect on those past and present that protect and safeguard our country and make this freedom possible.

Till our future cruises........

Regards,
:) ESLO
(Ed & Bev)

[elmorejj]

I echo the sentiment. Being the wife of a retired AF vet, and the mother of two sons in uniform, I thank everyone who are remembering our sons and daughters.....past and present.....who defend our freedom.........jean:cool:

[the2ofus]

Sincere thanks to all in the military who put their lives on the line and who make the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy our daily lives, free from fear. May we never forget the cost of our freedom.

[ESLO]

I echo the sentiment. Being the wife of a retired AF vet, and the mother of two sons in uniform, I thank everyone who are remembering our sons and daughters.....past and present.....who defend our freedom.........jean:cool:

Dear elmorejj,

Thank you for your sons service to this country. God Speed to them!

Regards,
:) ESLO
(Ed & Bev)

[bellebaby]

In church yesterday, the orchestra played the anthem from each branch of the military. Members of the congregation who served in that branch stood in recognition as the appropriate song was played.

Thanks to everyone serving or who has served to protect our country!!

B

[elmorejj]

bellebaby, you brought tears to my eyes and shivers down my spine. When I was young in England, our church used to do that on Armistice day.Nov 11th............jean:cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

[Sayyadina]

In church yesterday, the orchestra played the anthem from each branch of the military. Members of the congregation who served in that branch stood in recognition as the appropriate song was played.


What a nice thing to do! I hope there were lots of people standing.

I'm fortunate enough to be working today. Sadly, a young man from the small town I work in was killed in Iraq last week, his funeral was today next door to the facility I work at. My manager wouldn't let us go to stand at the road as the processional went by, but I did get outside during my lunch break in time to stand as they took the casket to the cemetary. The road was lined with motorcycles as far as the eye could see, and the people walking behind the casket just kept coming and coming. I must have seen about 50 people carrying american flags, most of them bikers. And the guards here told me there were a few protestors, but I didn't see them. Its a good thing I didn't see them. :mad:

Please, throughout your cookouts and whatever you do today, take a moment and think about those out there doing their part for our country, whether you agree with it or not. And if you can, hug a veteran.

[Host Walt]

Just a thought for today:

Sixty-Two Years and Two Hard Words
by Scott Ott

She places the stems in the green plastic vase, and lightly pushes the blooms around until six colors work together. She approaches the stone, careful to avoid treading on the area directly before it. She pushes the spiked end of the vase into the rain-softened soil next to the stone. Her fingers flit across the petals, making slight adjustments, until she brings unity from diversity again. It pleases her to do so. She groans faintly as she stands straight. She steps back to take in the picture. A stone. Brightly dying flowers. Green grass.

Around her, perfect rows of identical stones radiate out, so it seems, from this one. As if they all come together at this point.

“It’s a shame the children can’t be here. Busy lives. They have grown children of their own, lives of their own.”

“I wonder what it would have been like to raise those children with you? To sit next to you at graduation, holding your hand? To see your face when your son said they had named the baby after you? To grow old with you? To trade places, leaving you to stand talking to a stone in a field of stones?”

“It’s a national holiday, you know. We’re remembering the sacrifice of all of them.”

“But I didn’t know the others. I knew you.”

“And I can’t remember the sacrifice. It’s not in the past yet. Because you’re gone, the sacrifice lives on. For me, it’s not a national holiday. It’s your day. It’s my day.”

“Sixty two years I’ve come on this day to say these hard words. It takes me all year to recover the strength to say them again.”

“Thank you.”

“And just in case I don’t make it back next year…”

“Thank you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------

[sail7seas]

Walt..........

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Talk about getting teary!!!!

[ESLO]

Just a thought for today:

Sixty-Two Years and Two Hard Words
by Scott Ott

She places the stems in the green plastic vase, and lightly pushes the blooms around until six colors work together. She approaches the stone, careful to avoid treading on the area directly before it. She pushes the spiked end of the vase into the rain-softened soil next to the stone. Her fingers flit across the petals, making slight adjustments, until she brings unity from diversity again. It pleases her to do so. She groans faintly as she stands straight. She steps back to take in the picture. A stone. Brightly dying flowers. Green grass.

Around her, perfect rows of identical stones radiate out, so it seems, from this one. As if they all come together at this point.

“It’s a shame the children can’t be here. Busy lives. They have grown children of their own, lives of their own.”

“I wonder what it would have been like to raise those children with you? To sit next to you at graduation, holding your hand? To see your face when your son said they had named the baby after you? To grow old with you? To trade places, leaving you to stand talking to a stone in a field of stones?”

“It’s a national holiday, you know. We’re remembering the sacrifice of all of them.”

“But I didn’t know the others. I knew you.”

“And I can’t remember the sacrifice. It’s not in the past yet. Because you’re gone, the sacrifice lives on. For me, it’s not a national holiday. It’s your day. It’s my day.”

“Sixty two years I’ve come on this day to say these hard words. It takes me all year to recover the strength to say them again.”

“Thank you.”

“And just in case I don’t make it back next year…”

“Thank you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi All,

Thank you for all your thoughtful responses. As a son of a WW2 vet who takes Memorial Day seriously, it is very important not to forget the meaning of this day. Yes, we do celebrate those who come home with a local parade and family fest, but the day never starts without remembering the initial meaning.

As a Cunard CC'er also, I was surprised by one response on the thread below. Initially shocked, but soon glad it was turned around. I was sadden but now happy with the returns.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54

Enjoy the rest of the day.....

Regards,
:) ESLO
(Ed & Bev)

[MumsTheWord*]

Thank you for this post.

I am the daughter of a Retired Army Colonel, a hero, a man of character, a man of bravery, and the man that my husband and I chose to name our son after. A man that we hope our son will grow up to characterize all of the marvelous things we love about his grandfather. He made tremendous sacrifices for our country, for our freedom, and he will say very humbly that he was just doing his job.

Freedom certainly isn't free...
There is a high price that is paid by the soldier and the soldier's family...


Thank you for thinking to honor these folks on this board and for reminding me once again of the precious heritage passed on to me and my family through the bravery of those that have gone before us.

ESLO-I also noticed that you live on the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano Bridge...My father's final assignment prior to his retirement was Ft. Wadsworth, on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Bridge. We have watched many fireworks displays over the Statue of Liberty from the stonewall of the Fort. It was also a pleasure to sail under that beautiful bridge on our recent Noordam voyage. Again, many thanks for your post!

[Pete&Cat]

Happy Memorial Day friends, Pete, I'm a 23 year Marine Corps vet, and Cat a 23 year Navy nurse vet.

I wish you all fair winds and following seas :)

[ESLO]

Thank you for thinking to honor these folks on this board and for reminding me once again of the precious heritage passed on to me and my family through the bravery of those that have gone before us.

ESLO-I also noticed that you live on the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano Bridge...My father's final assignment prior to his retirement was Ft. Wadsworth, on the Staten Island side of the Verrazano Bridge. We have watched many fireworks displays over the Statue of Liberty from the stonewall of the Fort. It was also a pleasure to sail under that beautiful bridge on our recent Noordam voyage. Again, many thanks for your post!


Dear MumsTheWord,
It is a pleasure on such a great day like this to honor those special people in our lives.
Yes, we are by the VZ Bridge known as the Gateway to the Narrows. We live several blocks away and visit Fort Hamilton Army Base very often as my father is a member of the community club in the garrison and enjoy lunches and dinners quite often. We also know of Wadsworth across the bay. The stonewall is very historical and way above the original fort below. Nice location to see cruiseships in and out of the harbor.

Yes, everyone loves to go under the bridge on cruiseships with thought of the mast possibly hitting it especially on the QE2 and Freedom of the Seas. The QM2 just clears the bridge by about 12-15 feet. All living by it especially loves it at night with those pearl like lights shining on it. It's a special landmark all have take to who lives by it. Also a great sight from the Bluff in Fort Hamilton.

Thank you.......

Regards,
:) ESLO
(Ed & Bev)