Memorial Day weekend is finally upon us. The unofficial start to summer is always filled with BBQs, gatherings of family and friends, adult beverages, and outdoor fun. While all of that is fine, “Decoration Day” as my grandmother always called it, should be about so much more than frollicking in the sun.
It has to be, if our republic has any hope of forever resembling the great nation our Founding Fathers outlined.
We find ourselves living in a time when wacko liberal presidential candidates are more concerned about illegal immigrants and removing Thomas Jefferson’s name from public spaces, than they are about respecting our Constitution, and taking care of the brave men and women who were willing to give the last full measure of devotion to protect all of us.
Every time I see a commercial for Wounded Warriors or a news segment noting Kid Rock has spearheaded another accessible home purchase for a disabled veteran on television, I seethe with anger. These wonderful groups should not need to exist.
No American veteran should have to worry about getting scrounging the money together to be outfitted for an electric wheelchair, physical therapy equipment, being able to get inside of their own bathroom…or homelessness.
They paid a debt in blood, emotional turmoil, and time away from their worried loved ones for all of us. Their bill has been paid in full. For far too many years, veterans suffered needlessly waiting for an appointment at a VA hospital – sometimes the open slot didn’t come in time.
![veterans shooting firearms](https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/veterans-shooting-firearms.jpg)
Only now, under President Trump’s outspoken guidance, is the medical and mental health care for the bravest among us, beginning to improve. It is only public servants (and that’s what they are, folks, not ‘our leaders’ as television news pundits like to dub them) who do not love and respect the United States of America, who would say the budget simply does not have enough money to repay the debt we owe to the men and women in uniform both past and present.
Perhaps if we the people were not feeding, housing, providing medical care, clothing, and a providing an public education to hundreds of thousands to one million illegal immigrants and well-coached so-called asylum seekers on an annual basis, the coffers would be a lot fuller.
![american flag](https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/american-flag.jpg)
Memorial Day should not be a day for partisan politics, but flat out patriotism offered by each and every single American. But, liberals see patriotism as a dirty word – national pride as a dog whistle for racism,” and President Donald J. Trump as a fascist, when they themselves are the ones attempting to squash the free speech rights our heroic military has sworn to protect.
The Democrat Party has strayed so far from its roots that one of their most beloved Oval Office holders, John F. Kennedy, would no longer be welcomed into their political tent.
![people observing the memorial Day parade](https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/people-observing-the-Memorial-Day-parade.jpg)
This is what Memorial Day observation still looks like in small towns and rural counties across America. Unfortunately not a year goes by that I do not correct someone for talking either during the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem – while the ages vary, they were all liberals there to watch their kids roll through the parade. Yes, I can state that with absolute certainty, it’s a very small town where everyone knowns everyone.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, harkens back to a time in America when the concept of personal responsibility was embraced by folks on both sides of the political aisle. The Democratic Party has devolved from the lofty and worthy goals outlined by President Kennedy into a party focused on giving all the “free stuff” they can to court votes.
The distinct differences and burgeoning divide between liberals and non-liberals will be at its most glaringly evident plateau this long holiday weekend.
![little boy waving the American flag](https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/little-boy-waving-the-American-flag.jpg)
In my hometown, children spend days decorating their bicycles and wagons in patriotic colors, mothers or grandmothers sew red, white, and blue costumes for their children to wear to the parade and while they sit upon shoulders of loved ones to hear the speeches – and wave
the flags they are given by the village in one hand while eating the complimentary ice cream sandwich in the other.
The simple and beautiful American of it all, combined with the playing of the National Anthem always makes my heart swell with pride and my eyes water.
![little girl dressed up for Memorial day](https://simplefamilypreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/little-girl-dressed-up-for-Memorial-Day.jpg)
This Memorial Day, when biting into a ballpark frank straight off the grill, I have no doubt that you, my fellow patriotic prepper, will be observing this 3-day weekend with the proper measure of reverence and respect.
Use this opportunity to plant the seeds for that same level of American pride and desire to honor those who served in the young people in your life. They are the future of this country – and it’s our job to ensure the America we grew up with is there for them to protect and preserve.
Flags are not flying in my liberal city, unless we fly it no kidding very, very, few flags fly over this weekend, or labor day, or veterans day, it’s just sickening. Now I drove through a small town 8 miles away from my city, and they had over 100 flags going through the whole town front street, it was a Beautiful sight to behold. In the little area we have our second home, flags flying up and down the waterfront, just a Beautiful sight for us to see today. I thank my family members and friends for their sacrifice God Bless America…
I started my service in 1975; post-Vietnam but still a lot of liberal hate for service members. I was very glad to see a major attitude change with Desert Storm. I fear we are going back to the 60’s/70’s again with the general attitude of the “major spokespeople”. They seem to forget who actually pays the freight in the world. Lots of people gave their “last full measure” so they could complain about the temperature of their latte or french fries.
I fear it will come to a bad head. The 2020 disappointment will be worse than 2016. I see January 2025 as the serious political time frame to watch out for; back to politics as usual.
Now is not the time to forget why we do what we do; don’t settle for okay.
“Now is not the time to forget why we do what we do; don’t settle for okay.”
Amen!
JP & Grammyprepper,
Amen barely covers it.
We have come too far to let those B*st*rds win without a fight.
I know things are really changing when I find myself often agreeing with Lindsey Graham, a guy who used to eat waffles every day for several meals. (Pun & Metaphor intended fir the humorless)
My birthday us on the traditional Memorial day. When I was a young girl, I went every year first thing jn the morning to the historic cemetery nearby reading the tombstones of the men who died as far back as the revolutionary war. I think those visits gave me a profound respect for all military who served at home as well as abroad. My SIL’s father served in WW2 as a fighter pilot. His flight jacket always hung in a glass case , a jacket with 50 patches showing how many missions he flew. How I wish he was still alive to tell his stories.
Thank you to every retired military who preserved my precious freedom with your service. I salute you.
Great writing, Tara. I agree 100%!
ShirlGirl,
It’s the same for my dad and all of my uncles, who served because back then, it’s just what you did.
None of my elders back in the 50’s and 60’s even wanted to talk about their role, and I only found out about my dad by accident when I started my junior year in High School. As an elective language I choose German, and one night I was practicing and he told me he knew ” a little German”. As it turned out, all he knew was ”Rauchen Verboten” (Smoking Forbidden), e.g., “No Smoking”. When I pressed him on the subject it turns out he was disqualified from flight school due to a heart condition, and worked as a medic in a POW hospital in England, where this banner was posted on one of the walls. Getting other information was like pulling teeth.
Words alone cannot express the gratitude I have and that we all should have; but, I too salute all of those present, past, and future who let us live without worry in our everyday lives.
I have personally known and worked with veterans who were not treated respectfully upon their return. It is ‘starting’ to get better, but there’s a long road to hoe. DH and I both have family who have served (I have mentioned my dear FIL, Korean Army Vet who recently passed). We were lucky to get them back alive. We have the utmost respect for our armed forces, and we DO take time to honor them during these ‘holidays’. As I mentioned in another post, I am grateful for all who are currently serving, those who have served, and pray for the families of those who paid the highest honor. I owe them all for my privilege to live and love in the Land of Freedom.
To All,
Thanks for the post, Tara. It was a good one.
I am a veteran of two wars (Vietnam and Desert Storm). In Vietnam, a Marine that I worked with was killed in a rocket attack and I had to go to Graves Registration to formally ID his body. He was a good guy and a good Marine. I would have been in his place but for the flip of a coin. Cpl. Luis Alonzo, USMC. RIP. Semper Fi.
One of my father’s uncles was a Marine captain, a dive-bomber pilot, shot down and KIA at Guadalcanal (body not recovered). Capt. Louis Norman, USMC. RIP. Semper Fi.
Great post, Tara. It isn’t about hot dogs and barbecue but it should be for the reverential reflections on the sacrifices made by our KIA veterans. I’m a veteran and it is my intention to walk over to our cemetery and visit the graves of the men who died in battle from our little town. Every war of our Republic’s history is represented here. Civil War, WWI and WWII KIAs lay in rest. My little autistic son is nonverbal but has always walked quietly into this cemetery with me and allowed me to fix the flags and clean up a little. How much sinks in, I’ll never know but he knows it’s important to me. He helps me fold flags and pick up trash.
Tara & All,
While I do not seethe with anger, I do understand and shake my head, wondering how it has come down to charity instead of benefits they were promised.
True, and the resistance is still trying to curtail that, since those moneys could be used in places to buy more votes, that are unlikely to come from the veterans.
I kind of disagree, since many are neither leaders nor public servants, except what they can serve from the public into their own pockets.
Personally I’m rather lucky, with my house rep and one senator being pretty active on the ”right” side.
When we admire or even worship entitoes other than the left, they see it as an affront to their power, and we of course cannot have that. I suspect that 2020 will perhaps fix things and make them even more krazy.
You mean the guy who CUT taxes?
While I agree, I need to point out that Kennedy’s famous line was plagiarized from the Lebanese American poet, Khalil Gibran (1883–1931)
He stated: ”Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite; if the second, then you are an oasis in the desert.”
To be fair, it was most likely a speech writer; but, it was stolen.
Actually the DW & I will be working with our county EMA to help manage traffic for the parade and parking for the memorial at a local cemetery. It’s sad that we have to be at the cemetery to keep most of the traffic away from the grandstand, since too many people just don’t want to walk that extra 200 feet to sit on their butts and listen.
Here’s hoping everyone had a safe holiday.