Thoughts on Memorial Day

I'm a bit late to this, but a post yesterday over at Qu'que Chose and the news last evening that my son's company over the weekend lost another child to the shithole that is Afghanistan got me thinking.

We're losing something in this country when every holiday becomes merely an excuse for a long weekend partying.

I'm guilty of it myself, so this is directed inward.

I think this covers what Memorial Day should be:

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.