AMAZON

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day 2009



WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE 
words and music by Pete Seeger


Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?


In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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. 


Eric Boogle's The Green Fields of France (No Man's Land):


Below is a story emailed to me by Anne, a UCC colleague:

Cemetery Escort Duty


I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's.  Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655.  Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.  Full dress was hot in the August sun.   Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.
 
I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new.  It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.  An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I could tell.
 
I couldn't help myself.  The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste:  'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!'  But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
 
Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.
 
I broke post attention.  My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch.  I must have made a real military sight:  middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.
 
I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk.  She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.
 
'Ma'am,may I assist you in any way?'
 
She took long enough to answer.
 
'Yes, son.  Can you carry these flowers?  I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'
 
'My pleasure, ma'am.'  Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.
 
She looked again.  'Marine, where were you stationed?'
 
' Vietnam, ma'am.  Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'
 
She looked at me closer.  'Wounded in action, I see.  I'll be as quick as I can.'
 
I lied a little bigger:  'No hurry, ma'am.'
 
She smiled and winked at me.  'Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done.  Might be the last time I can do this.  My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few I'd like to see one more time.'
 
'Yes, ma 'am.  At your service.'
 
She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone.  She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone.  She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, : France 1918.
 
She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone.  I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek.  She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X.Davidson, 1943.
 
She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, 1944.
 
She paused for a second.  'Two more, son, and we'll be done'
 
I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am.  Take your time.'
 
She looked confused. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son?  I seem to have lost my way.'
 
I pointed with my chin.  'That way, ma'am.'
 
'Oh!' she chuckled quietly.  'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.' 
 
She headed down the walk I'd pointed at.  She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted.  She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman,  1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman,  1970.  She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.
 
'OK, son, I'm finished.  Get me back to my car and you can go home.'
 
Yes, ma'am.  If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?' 
 
She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons.  All killed in action.'
 
She stopped.  Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know.  She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.
'Get to the 'Out' gate quick.  I have something I've got to do.'
 
Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him.  He broke the rules to get us there down the service road.  We beat her. She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.
 
'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost.  Follow my lead.'  I humped it across the drive to the other post.
 
When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best voice:  'TehenHut!  Present Haaaarms!'
 
I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud. 

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.
 
I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
 
Instead of The End, just think of Taps.


I shall close this Memorial Day post with what has become a bit of a Memorial Day tradition at Nick's Bytes: the video of Canadian Terry Kelly's song, A Pitance of Time:


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12 comments:

  1. An excellent tribute. They all have my eternal gratitude for their sacrifice. To the families left behind, a simple thank you seems so hollow, but I offer it nonetheless.

    And thank you Sir for your service.

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  2. When will we ever learn?

    Perfect tribute, Nick. Thank you for your service.

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  3. Travis: You are most welcome. May you have a blessed Memorial Day.

    Lynilu: I certainly hope we learn some day...soon! You are most welcome. May you have a blessed Memorial Day.

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  4. Thank you for posting your annual tribute Nick!

    God bless you:)

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  5. rhapsody: You are very welcome. May you have a blessed Memorial Day.

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  6. Thank you for your service Nick. The song was wonderful. Have a blessed day Sir.

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  7. A wonderful tribute Nick.

    Thankyou. x

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  8. Well done you. i especially liked the story/account... well moving.

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  9. Your story brought tears to my eyes, Nick. What a lovely thing for you and Kevin to do for that poor lady.

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  10. I always struggle with this day and my thoughts about protecting people from the death and destruction of war while honoring the soldiers, separating the horrors of war from the people of war.

    Your words helped me to put some of my thoughts into focus. Thanks.

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  11. nick--i so love that story about that woman! thank you!

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  12. Dear Nick ~~ I just found some time to read your really great Memorial Day post. It is all excellent but I
    particularly liked the last story.
    What a lot of kin that elderly lady lost. Bless the Guys for saluting her. Hope you are keeping well.
    Regards, Merle.

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