Memorial Day to "Remember"

I am a pacifist who believes in the preciousness of life through non-violence.  Memorial Day is bittersweet for me as I can't help but remember and honor all those who lost their lives in fighting for our country. And to those who continue to serve.

Today at your BBQ or party, take a moment, a pause to give thanks to our lost soldiers and those who continue to serve.

Remembering my cousin Charlie Mcglauflin who was buried last week at The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, NJ. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran as well as a Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer. 

As another reminder of how precious life is, here are some veterans of our armed services who are part of the inspiring I Wish For Project, by photographer Nousha Salimi :

Anna / US war veteran

"I wish I owned a Harley, so I could participate in more memorial runs with Rolling Thunder and Patriot Guard Riders."

Oct.2013      Bronx,NY

Myles / US War Veteran

"I wish a happy and healthy life for my family and a new camera so I can take good pictures so I can write another cookbook."

Oct.21.2013     Bronx,NY.

Sidney / War Veteran

"I wish to live my life the best I can in the eyes show me the money."

Oct.2013    Bronx,NY

I also celebrate the work of The Josephine Herrick Project this is from their website:

Josephine Herrick Project Honors our Veterans

"As we celebrate veterans as heroic young people who risked their lives for their country, today of all days, we must also commit to helping the more than 2.9 million disabled veterans from wars over the last seven decades. Josephine Herrick Project has had the honor of serving veterans with free photography programs for over 70 years. Join us and commit today to helping veterans in need"  Executive Director Maureen McNeil

Photograph by Mai Jun Li, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and participant in JHP photography programs "My dog tag is important to me. It was there with me with witnessing things good and bad. Taking photos of my ID is making me feel grateful. When I try to remember the past, my dog tag has been on me for years. It means a lot to me. I hold on to it like it's saving my life."

and what I wish for:

"I wish we truly lived by the people,of the people and for the people,and that the glass is always 1/2 full".

Cathy / Musician / New Yorker

www.nycsubwaygirl.com

March.27.2013 / Manhattan,NY

Memorial Day rituals + community

Memorial Day is about remembering, it's about those who lost their lives in conflict and wars in the name of our freedom.  And yes it's about parades and gatherings, recitals, and picnics.

Who cares about the weather, and how wet and cold it is this year.  Because we get a chance to have our gatherings.  We get a chance to live among the living. We get to sing our Blues live and real.

My mantra is enjoy the BBQ with humble pie front and center.

This Memorial Day I remember and I celebrate for all those departed and those who are lost.  For those who dedicated for a purpose that they might never understand yet live with the consequences. Physically and emotionally.

Memorial Day. I'll be upstate at a lovely rural community gathering with a visit by the VFW, listening to the Governor's Proclamation and bowing my head in silence. Later I'll celebrate with friends.

Hope you have a wonderful day. Remembering.

Here's a pic of me and the Blues guys performing on Saturday, having been moved inside due to inclement weather. Taken by Fran Heaney:

Kurt, Richard, Kevin, me and Pete

with thanks to Joe Heller

Memorial Day parties are fun, but remember .. Remember

My brother sent me an email mindful of the irony of Memorial day, it showed cartoons of BBQ's and a picture of the only person standing at a parade was an old man in a wheelchair.  This Memorial Day our Military is still fighting the 'war on terror,' we're still at war in Afghanistan, and presently still involved in many conflicts throughout the globe.  It's fleet week here in NYC and I'm seeing so many young men and women who have enlisted to serve our country enjoying a fun time in NYC.  Whether I agree or disagree with war, we're in it and they represent our country.  So I am all for honoring them and memorial day for all those lost in conflicts. This year I'll be in a small upstate community standing on a town green on memorial day saluting the fallen, honoring the men and women of our national guard, and all the other branches of military.    

Many lives are lost every day to give us the world we believe we want to live in.  

Politics aside, this is a day to remember those fallen. 

This Memorial day go out and find where people are gathering to remember.  Maybe it's a local VFW remembrance, or a visit to a cemetery, especially with your children, they need to know.  

Be a part of honoring our fallen men and women who have lost their lives for our Country.

MEMORIAL DAY not just a party...

Memorial Day cartoons by Joe Heller  (used by permission, thanks Joe)

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day weekend is what we call the unofficial start of summer, here in NYC it does feel like summer.  It's beautiful.  I'll be happily singing at my cousins wedding in Brooklyn and then heading upstate for the rest of the holiday.  

All the warm and happy festivities aside, Memorial Day was created as a way to honor those who have fought for our Country.

On Monday we'll wake up early and join other community members to gather on the town green to honor Memorial Day with VFW guards, placement of a wreath and a reading of a proclamation usually from the President or Governor Cuomo.  America is in our 10th year of war in Afghanistan and still present in Iraq.  The least we can do is to take a moment of silence and give thanks to those fallen soldiers of today and the past.

This Memorial Day I hope like me, you go out and find where people are gathering to remember.  Maybe it's a local VFW remembrance, or a visit to a cemetery, especially with your children, they need to know.

here's a link to Governor Cuomo's Memorial Day message

I regularly like to share the work of Sam Davidson's Cool People Care site.  Today he writes about the travel weekend and how to get where you're going more efficiently it's worth a look.

Memorial Day cartoon by Joe Heller (used by permission, thanks Joe)

Memorial Day parties are fun, but remember .. Remember

My brother sent me an email today mindful of the irony of Memorial day, with cartoons of BBQ's and a picture of the only person standing at a parade was an old man in a wheelchair.  This Memorial Day our Military is still fighting 2 wars and also attempting to stop a huge oil catastrophe in the Gulf Of Mexico using our Coast Guard and National Guard.  

Many lives are lost every day to give us the world we believe we want to live in.  

Politics aside, this is a day to remember those fallen. 

This Memorial day go out and find where people are gathering to remember.  Maybe it's a local VFW remembrance, or a visit to a cemetery, especially with your children, they need to know.  

Be a part of honoring our fallen men and women who have lost their lives for our Country.

MEMORIAL DAY not just a party...

Memorial Day cartoons by Joe Heller (used by permission, thanks Joe)