MEMORIAL DAY - 2010

By Debbie Bulloch



Today we celebrate Memorial Day. As the United States' death toll passes 1,000 in Afghanistan, Memorial Day takes on an especially poignant meaning this year.

First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), Memorial Day was eventually expanded after World War I to honor dead Americans from all wars.

In the U.S. many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries.

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars take donations for poppies in the days leading up to Memorial Day; the poppy's significance to Memorial Day is the result of the John McCrae poem "In Flanders Fields." (See below.)

The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. The concert is broadcast on PBS and NPR. Music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

We should all take a moment to think about the countless brave men and women from the U.S. military that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may all live in freedom. Of course, we must all also remember the brave men and women from our allies who have fought and died shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers. Here is a list of the allied countries that have lost soldiers in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Country Total (In alphabetical order):

Australia 11
Belgium 1
Canada 146
Czech 3
Denmark 31
Estonia 7
Finland 1
France 42
Germany 42
Hungary 2
Italy 24
Jordan 1
Latvia 3
Lithuania 1
NATO 3
Netherlands 24
Norway 5
Poland 16
Portugal 2
Romania 13
South Korea 1
Spain 28
Sweden 4
Turkey 2
UK 289
USA 1087

Total: 1790

For a complete listing of casualties, including country of origina and name, please go here: Casualties – Operation Enduring Freedom

"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most notable poems written during World War I. Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote it on May 3, 1915, after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. Lt. Helmer had just turned 22 on the day before his death. “In Flanders Fields” has been called "the most popular poem" produced during WW I.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

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.



And finally, here is a song about that Marine "in the sky." Enjoy!

CAMOUFLAGE by Stan Ridgway