Memorial Day

[Rita]

This was in our paper today:

A Soldier's Prayer
by an Unknown Confederate Soldier

I asked God for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey;
I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things;


I asked for riches That I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise;
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God;


I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,
I was given life that I might enjoy all things;

I got nothing that I asked for?but everything I had
hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were
answered,
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

.

 

[organicmama]

My dad was in the Army, he went to North Georgia. My older brother went to N.GA only for a year. Both my uncles were Army, one is a retired Colonel, the other is Lieutenant General R. Steven Whitcomb, Commanding General Third Army U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC). I have 1 cousin overseas right now in Korea, one who was in the Army for about 4 years and 1 female cousin (Uncle Steve's daughter) who was in for a couple of years and married to an officer now. Mr. OM's niece's husband is stationed in Augusta, GA. Both my uncles on my mother's side were in the Navy during WWII.

I do not know about my family beyond that in regards to military. It just seemed like it was a part of the Cousins' family for so long that I don't remember not being a part of it in some fashion.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those serving today, all those who have served and those who lost their lives in service.

 

[scooterbug44]

My grandma celebrated Memorial Day by reading the Gettysburg address to family members. It's a great speech, and very appropriate on a day we remember those who have died for our country.

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
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. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 19, 1863

 

[scooterbug44]

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:


"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out."