On Memorial Day, I am reminded of the words of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who wrote of our nation’s honored dead: “They are dead; but they live in each Patriot’s breast, And their names are engraven on honor’s bright crest.”
On this solemn day, Americans across the country and around the world remember the courage and sacrifice of a few who protect the freedom and liberty of all. As a nation, we gather today to pay tribute to fallen heroes across all branches of the military. We are grateful not just for their service but for their important role in shaping America’s rich history. Without them, we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today.
With a heavy heart, we console military families who have sacrificed more than many of us can comprehend. Although nothing can ever replace loved ones who laid down their lives to protect the United States and its citizens, we find strength in knowing that these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines perished while fighting for the principals that make America great.
It is incumbent upon a grateful nation to live worthy of their sacrifice by supporting those who protect us in war, providing for them upon their return, caring for those they leave behind and retelling their stories. Let us not forget their sacrifice.
May God bless America and may God bless the men and women of the United States military.
The Ridgewood blog is proud to honor the men and women who have given their lives defending our country. In the midst of all the summer festivities ,barbecues, parades and the official start of summer, we want to take a moment to remember what today is truly all about.
Memorial Day, is the most solemn American holiday, and traces its back it’s roots to the Civil War era, when private citizens designated a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Today, Memorial Day is meant to honor all who gave their lives in military service in all of America’s wars.
While we celebrate the holiday and honor the past, we must also not forget to honor those who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice every day. The men and women in America’s armed forces are unmatched. Each of them has given of themselves and volunteered to fight the nation’s wars. Many of these soldiers will spend this Memorial Day far away from their friends and families in the mountains of Afghanistan or in the deserts of Iraq and Libya. Their sacrifice and courage should remind us of our commitment to support them not just today but everyday.
The freedoms we all enjoy are paid for by those we honor, both the fallen and those still fighting. Our nation is truly thankful.
> Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, “Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping” by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication “To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead” (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860’s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.
In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:
We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.
Monday, May 30 at 11 AM, American Legion Post 53 will present a ceremony to honor the memory of all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. The ceremony will be held in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square in Ridgewood’s downtown.
On Memorial Day of 1982, President Ronald Reagan offered these words in honor of Patriots interred at Arlington National Cemetery: “I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them. Yet, we must try to honor them not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.”
In honor of all who gave some and some who gave all – have a great Memorial Day but let us all remember those whom this day of remembrance honors for we are the beneficiaries of the inheritance of Liberty they ensured with their lives, we humbly ask that each of you observe Memorial Day with reverence.Share with others the reason for the day.
>A 62% Top Tax Rate? Democrats have said they only intend to restore the tax rates that existed during the Clinton years. In reality they’re proposing rates like those under President Carter.
By STEPHEN MOORE
Media reports in recent weeks say that Senate Democrats are considering a 3% surtax on income over $1 million to raise federal revenues. This would come on top of the higher income tax rates that President Obama has already proposed through the cancellation of the Bush era tax-rate reductions.
If the Democrats’ millionaire surtax were to happen—and were added to other tax increases already enacted last year and other leading tax hike ideas on the table this year—this could leave the U.S. with a combined federal and state top tax rate on earnings of 62%. That’s more than double the highest federal marginal rate of 28% when President Reagan left office in 1989. Welcome back to the 1970s.
Here’s the math behind that depressing calculation. Today’s top federal income tax rate is 35%. Almost all Democrats in Washington want to repeal the Bush tax cuts on those who make more than $250,000 and phase out certain deductions, so the effective income tax rate would rise to about 41.5%. The 3% millionaire surtax raises that rate to 44.5%.
>Less banger for your buck: The Memorial Day BBQ will cost you 29% more this year thanks to inflation
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 1:49 AM on 26th May 2011
One sausage or two? You may be lucky to get half at this weekend’s Memorial Day cookout, which is set to cost 29 per cent more than last year, thanks to inflation.
Those thinking of hosting a BBQ – even a modest one – can expect to fork out an extra $45 on food to serve a dozen guests.
The total cost comes to $199, or around 29 per cent more than last year… and that’s before soda and alcohol, according to the latest data for metro New York
>Jim Chanos Trashes Solar Energy as ‘Hot Air By Mary Pilon
Jim Chanos of Kynikos Associates (FYI — that’s Greek for “cynic”) and famed for shorting Enron took to the stage to talk about why he’s short green energy.In a presentation called “Alternative Energy: Does Solar + Wind = Hot Air?” Chanos joked he would “upset the greenies,” by arguing that while there’s a lot of enthusiasm about green energy, the companies in the sector today don’t yet solve those problems.
Wind and solar are “not capable” of real cost-effective ways of meeting energy demands, he says. “Wind and solar are not efficient.”As for job growth, he says that the boom of green jobs could be overblown, as most of the jobs generated are construction jobs, not in technology. “Put your hand on your wallet,” he says, as many of the green jobs are merely putting people back to work who were employed in housing.
>Moody’s Investors Service downgrades N.J. state government’s bond rating
The bond rating for New Jersey’s state government has been downgraded one step to Aa3, the fourth-highest level, by Moody’s Investors Service, which cited a “weakened financial position” and an economic recovery lagging behind the nation. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
>Poll: We like N.J., but don’t trust state government
New Jerseyans generally have a positive view of their state as a place to live, though the number calling it excellent or good is at the lowest level in 30 years of polling on the question. (Symons, Gannett)
House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns.
The 111-to-42 vote followed tougher measures to broadly eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio, Wisconsin, and other states. But unlike those efforts, the push in Massachusetts was led by Democrats who have traditionally stood with labor to oppose any reduction in workers’ rights.
>72% Say Taxpayers Not Getting Their Money’s Worth from Public Schools Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Voters overwhelmingly believe that taxpayers are not getting a good return on what they spend on public education, and just one-in-three voters think spending more will make a difference.
Nationally, the United States spends an average of about $9,000 per student per year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 11% of voters think the taxpayers are getting a good return on that investment. Seventy-two percent (72%) disagree and say taxpayers are not getting their money’s worth. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided.
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