Motivation Mondays: Observing Memorial Day

“As America celebrates Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those who have given their lives in our nation’s wars.” John M. McHugh

Motivation Mondays: Observing Memorial Day #memorialday

AMAZING GRACE (Bag Pipes)

I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism. Bob Riley
These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor – and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror. Michael N. Castle
We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. … Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no 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. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan

What is Memorial Day? In brief, it is a day dedicated to the remembrance of our service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this great nation. It is a celebration of the lives of Veterans who returned home from war carrying the memories of comrades lost in battles at home and places far flung. The unofficial version finds its origins in a commemoration held by freed African Americans in spring of 1865 and how that led to what we now celebrate. However, the official version of Memorial Day found its earliest beginnings on May 5, 1868, when Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, as head of the Union veterans, declared that the graves of fallen soldiers should be decorated, every May 30, with flowers in honor of their sacrifice. The recommendation at the time was specific to that war and, eventually, it spread to include all wars in America and all wars Americans fought around the world. Today, we celebrate it for the fallen, their families, surviving veterans, and those who were/are POW/MIA.

What about Decoration Day? Because the original directive from Gen Logan was to decorate the graves of the fallen with flowers, it was called Decoration Day. Over the years, Memorial Day gradually caught on; first in 1966, when Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day, and then, in 1971, when Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress.  In December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed a remembrance bill and President Clinton signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579. The idea behind the Moment of Remembrance came from No Greater Love founder, Carmella LaSpada, who wanted us all to stop whatever we were doing at 3pm and spend a minute of reflection and gratitude for those who died at war. Carmella saw it as a way to make us put the memorial back into this special day. I concur.

REMEMBRANCE: Requiem for Memorial Day 2009
Reflections on Memorial Day: Of War and Peace… 2010
NYT: News about Memorial Day, including commentary and archival articles
Memorial Day: Remembrance and Reflections 2011
Memorial Day: Honor, Salute & Celebrate… 2012
Gratitude: Remembering Maya Angelou 2014
Motivation Mondays: Honoring SERVICE 2015
Motivation Mondays: Memorial Day 2016
Motivation Mondays: Honoring Memorial Day 2017

“The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” Jeff Miller

Motivation Mondays: Observing Memorial Day

Taps

Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it. Pete Hegseth

How Do we Observe Memorial Day? How Could we Observe it? In the years I’ve lived in the USA, I’ve observed, in many quarters, that Memorial Day is celebrated as a long weekend off work and the start of beach and BBQ season. There are parades to attend, Veterans to greet and applaud, and special sales and bargains to find. Frankly, I suspect that some folks don’t give the actual gravity of the occasion much thought. Yet, it is key to our unity, freedom and safety. Plus, if we make the commitment to learn about Memorial Day, we would give it the reverence and gratitude it deserves. As I worked on this post, I was thinking about tips to share on how we can observe this day in a more meaningful way with our friends and family. Fortunately, I came across an article that offered six tips that would give all of us a chance to not only honor the fallen but learn more about the occasion.

How Could we Observe Memorial Day? For starters, read up on it by visiting the VA website. Stay current by checking out the NYTimes Memorial Day commentary and archival articles section. Then read these Memorial Day tips offered below and plan with your friends/family to honor some  or all of them:
Visit local cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
Visit memorial sites near you.
Fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
Fly the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
Participate in a “National Moment of Remembrance”: at 3 p.m.(your time) by pausing and thinking about the true meaning of the day, and arrange for Taps to be played.
Renew/Make a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen heroes/heroines, and to aid disabled veterans.

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for APR 2018/MAY 2018 are:

APRIL

03/04 – Women’s History Month, National Nutrition Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, American Red Cross Month, 08 International Women’s Day, World Kidney Day, 04 Academy Awards
03/11 – 11 Daylight Savings, 14 Pi Day, 15 World Consumer Rights Day, 17 St Patrick’s Day
03/18 – 19 St Joseph, 20 International Day of Happiness, 21 World poetry Day, 22 World Water day, 24 Earth Hour
03/25 – Palm Sunday, 29 Holy Thursday, 30 Good Friday, 31 Passover

MAY

05/06   –  01 May Day, 03, National Day of Prayer, 03 World Press Freedom Day, 04 Star Wars, 05 Cinco De Mayo
05/13  –  13 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY,  16 Ramadan starts, 19 Armed Forces Day,
05/20  –   20 Pentecost Day,  23 World Turtle Day, 24 National Brother Day
05/27  –   28 Memorial Day,  30 World MS Day,  31 World No Tobacco Day

Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2018?

– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.

— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab

More Below!
“There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country.” Nick Lampson

Motivation Mondays: Observing Memorial Day

Motivation Mondays: Observing Memorial Day

Bob Marley War live

On Memorial Day, I don’t want to only remember the combatants. There were also those who came out of the trenches as writers and poets, who started preaching peace, men and women who have made this world a kinder place to live. Eric Burdon
A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. George William Curtis

Since the inception of this blog, I have always made an extra effort to write a Memorial Day post not only because my Dad was a reserve in some ancient war but also, because I value PEACE. War and Peace walk in tandem; they are like two birds forced to feed off the table of good and evil wrought by man. When one sleeps, the other rises and the struggle to find world peace and balance continues. Every year, our service men and women commit to lay down their lives in defense of their fellow citizens and there is no greater sacrifice than that. Honoring the lives of those lost is significant because it forces us to remember the cost of war, to work together to ensure that we cherish the freedoms we enjoy, and because freedom comes with a high price tag for those who protect us by defending it. Let us always remember the fallen and show our gratitude by honoring their memory every year.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae via emory.edu
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Have a happy, peaceful and productive week ahead!

Any Zen Antics stories via

Positive Motivation Tip: Remember to honor all who served and lost their lives so we can live free.

Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.

Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM

Related Posts

• Motivation Mondays: VALUE YOURSELF (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: LIFE CHOICES (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Why Mother’s Day Matters (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: CLOSED DOORS (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: A Passion For BOOKS (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: VOLUNTEER – #NationalVolunteerWeek (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: PERFECT CONDITIONS (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: BEING HAPPY (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: REBIRTH (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: International Day of Happiness & Global Goals(mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: St. Patrick’s Day Traditions, Toasts & Tales (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #TimeisNow (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: HEART & HISTORY MATTER (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: BLACK PANTHER REVIEW (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Beyond Valentine’s Day (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Heart of Transitions (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Disrupt Your Paradigms (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Walk In the Light #MLKDay(mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Stumbling Blocks (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Happy New Year  (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month  (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: BREATHE (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: REST (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: World Health Day – Depression #LetsTalk (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Why Does #MLKDAY  Matter? (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: World Mental Health Day (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: RELAXATION (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Matters Of The Heart (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: PAIN #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: I Have A Dream #MLKDay (mirthandmotivation)
• Motivation Mondays: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Most Inspired Quotes(mirthandmotivation)

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos,  Memorial Day via Pixabay,  AND/OR  Memorial Day via  Wikipedia…

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet