Small Wars Journal

Memorial Day 2008

Mon, 05/26/2008 - 6:22am

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.

By order of

JOHN A. LOGAN,

Commander-in-Chief

N.P. CHIPMAN,

Adjutant General

Official:

WM. T. COLLINS, A.A.G.

Memorial Day 2008

Bush Pays Tribute to Troops on Memorial Day - Associated Press

Bush Urges Americans to Honor Holiday's Meaning - John Kruzel, AFPS

This Memorial Day - Washington Times

Honoring life on Memorial Day - Mike Mullen, Washington Times

Fallen But Never Forgotten - Blackfive, Blackfive

Reflections by Frontier 6 - Frontier 6, CAC Blog

Promises to Keep - COB6, Blackfive

Reflections by Frontier 6 - Jack, DoD Live

Memorial Day 2008 - CJ, A Solider's Perspective

Missing - Jules Crittenden, Forward Movement

The 173rd Airborne in Vietnam - Blackfive, Blackfive

Thank You From Those Left Behind - Blackfive, Blackfive

Roundtables: Memorial Day Edition - Grim, Blackfive

Memorial Day: Remembering the Fallen - Laughing Wolf, Blackfive

Memorial Day and Dog Tags - Phillip Carter, Intel Dump

Mullen Cites Importance of Remembrance in Memorial Day Message - AFPS

To Live with Honor - Joseph Morrison, National Review

Saluting Those Who Serve - Ed Feulne, Washington Times

Memorial Day - Baltimore Sun

The Dead We Honor - New York Post

The Fallen Live On - Boston Globe

Memorial Day 2008 - Austin Bay, Washington Times

How We Can Really Honor Our Veterans - Joe Galloway, McClachy News Service

Forgotten Heroes - Ed Sherwood, Washington Times

Mystic Chords of Memory - Mackubin Thomas Owens, National Review

The Gates of Heaven - Blackfive, Blackfive

A Weekend to Remember Them - Joseph Rehyansky, Human Events

Returning Meaning to Memorial Day - Bret Schulte, US News & World Report

Burial at Arlington - Douglas Stone, Human Events

Let Us Remember Them - Colbert King, Washington Post

Protesting the Antiwar Protestors - Kevin Ferris, Wall Street Journal

The Last Doughboy - George Will, New York Post

On Memorial Day - Los Angeles Times

His Family Chose to Serve - Mac Thornberry, Washington Times

Ross McGinnis: Medal of Honor - Chuck Simmins, America's North Shore Journal

Where They've Been, What They've Done - Cannoneer No. 4, CIIDG

Memorial Day - Herschel Smith, The Captain's Journal

Memorial Day - Eagle1, EagleSpeak

Memorial Day - Maj Pain, One Marine's View

Why Didn't We Listen to Their War Stories? - Edward Lengel, Washington Post

Washington Set to be 'Thunder'-Struck - Jennifer Harper, Washington Times

Memorial Day Book Suggestion - COB6, Blackfive

Funeral Duty - William Troy, Washington Post

Remember to Remember - William Kristol, New York Times

Arlington Burial: Fanfare, Precision - Karen Goldberg Goff, Washington Times

Five Best Works of War Poetry - Wall Street Journal

Vietnam Wall: Personal, Searchable - Washington Times

Memorial Day 2008

Band of Brothers

Comments

Rob Thornton

Sun, 05/25/2008 - 12:33pm

On my laptop I keep the screen saver set to a military pictures folder.

Often a photo comes up with a soldier I've served with who has been killed in combat over the last 5 years. Some of these are Americans and some are in fact Iraqis. To a man they were serving their brothers, their country, their beliefs and by doing so trying to gain or preserve something that only they and the ones who have served knew the true value and cost of.

Its not easy for me to call up their faces, because to do so means to think about the wives, children, parents as much as the men themselves. I wonder what solace they take from their sacrifices, I wonder about the how the loss of a father, spouse or son changes the future of those left behind. I can't help but wonder what would happen to my own family, and through that gain some insight into theirs.

I would hope as a nation that for one day a year, we try and separate the sacrifice from the politics. For one day a year we could memorialize those men and women as part of the many who have died in service to the nation, their brothers and sisters, and their posterity. I'd ask that for one day a year we just be grateful, and that we think of them. It is the least we can do to honor them and those service men and women currently in harm's way.

Here is to the Higgins', Gertsons', Jacobsons', Mundells', Plums' and the many others who deserve our thoughts. War seems to take the very best of us.

Best Rob

DDilegge

Fri, 05/23/2008 - 11:34pm

My cousin and fellow Marine remembered:

NESBIT, ROGER CHARLES, PFC, USMC
E2 M 19480915 19690213 NEWBERRY, MI
PANEL 32W 027

Mark Pyruz

Fri, 05/23/2008 - 10:31pm

Remembered:

Great great uncle Alcario
Gas attack survivor
US Army
Purple Heart
WW1

Great Uncle Mike
US Army
KIA
Purple Heart
Europe WW2

Great Uncle Adolfo
USN
Purple Heart
Pacific WW2

Uncle Ishmael
US Army
Korea

Cousin Lorenzo
USMC
Tet Veteran
VietNam