Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day. A day when we remember those lost serving our country. It's also become the unofficial first day of summer and a time for family gatherings.

What does Memorial Day mean to you? How will you mark the day?

Discuss.

  • (Show?)

    I'll be celebrating it with fellow dems, liberals, and progressives at the Multnomah County Democrats' barbecue and potluck:

    We're having a barbecue on Memorial Day at Gresham's Red Sunset Park.

    We'll be providing the hamburgers, hot dogs, and fixings. Everything else will be potluck. It'll be a fun-filled day with no meetings included.

    Families are welcome to attend, and one of the play structures at the park is near the covered area we have reserved for the day.

    We encourage everyone to bring their own drinks as well as something to share with the group (such as a side item like potato or macaroni salad or a dessert).

    Noon to 6 p.m. Red Sunset Park 2403 NE Red Sunset Dr. Gresham, OR, 97030

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    I'm spending this Bank Holiday Monday in the library, here in the UK. But I'll be thinking of everyone at home enjoying a barbecue and a microbrew...and I'll raise a pint in your honor at the local pub.

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    I have fond memories of the jet boat races down in Grants Pass growing up. It's been a long time since I've had a chance to see that. In terms of what it means, it is a chance to reflect on our countries history and those who have fought to preserve it as well as a welcoming of summer.

    Here in Korea it's not a holiday, but I spent a few hours trying on Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) for our wedding ceremony next month and then had dinner with my wife and in-laws(realize it's actually evening here Monday night when it's morning there). Tomorrow morning I will be packing in preparation to move to my new job out in Incheon.

  • got logic? (unverified)
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    Spend the day thinking about what we as a nation have done with the freedoms that our veterans provided for us and continue to provide for us by virtue of their presence and their sacrifice.

    Freedom isn't free, it is provided for us in large part by our veterans.

  • Jon (unverified)
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    On this Memorial Day, here is a resource center where you can help support the troops and their families. It includes links to lists and images of the fallen, sending messages and care packages to the troops, charities offering family services, facilitating donations, and providing care and comfort to the wounded.

    For more, visit: Resources to Support the Troops and Their Families.

  • (Show?)

    I just came back from the ceremonies at Willamette National cemetary. I also stopped by the portable Wall.

    Although I have visited the wall many times in D.C. (including the day my son was born and I went to the Wall to thank God I was allowed to live and not have my name there) I was struck this time by how many names are on the list after I was there. I arrived in Vietnam in the fall of '69 and the war was starting to wind down in some sense. After all it was 18 months after Tet. Yes we invaded Cambodia while I was there and I visited a firebase the day after it had been overrun by VC, but overall the fighting was less intense. Still the number of names of those who died from the point I arrived in Vietnam was overwhelming. It is also hard to realize that it was still two years before John Kerry testified before Congress and asked who would be the last to die there.

    This all makes me wonder as we hit 2,500 dead in Iraq this June, how many more names will there be added to the memorial for this current war.

    Ted Kulongoski gave a speech at the ceremony today. His voice was filled with emotion. I guess after 50 funerals it gets you down.

    Anyway, that's how I spent my Memorial Day.

  • BOHICA (unverified)
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    A little diferent day for me. I spent it helping to dedicate the new Peace Memorial Park with my Veterans For Peace Chapter 72 friends and neighbors.

    Pictures from the Memorial service and dedication

    VFP 72 started with a small service at the Memorial Coliseum WWII wall. This was a non-militaristic ceremony and testament to our fallen brothers and sistes in arms. Veterans from different eras spoke about their experiences and the need to not have any more "walls". Unfortunatley our oldest vet (WWII) was unable to attend and speak, he is not in the best of health. On a side note, he resigned from the Army in 1965 in protest of the Vietnam war, one of the first to do so. An Army combat nurse who served in VN, a Gulf war I vet and an Iraq war vet all testified on the need to stop the madness of war. Following the vets was the playing of taps on the clarinet by one of our members 16 year old son. We think it is important to play taps, after all it was originally a lullaby, but have started a tradition of having a child of a vet play it on something other than a bugle. Last year it was played on the violin by the daughter of a member.

    The chapter then walked on the "Path from war to peace" over to the Peace Memorial Park for the dedication ceremony. Upon arriving the American flag was furled, the park is a nation free zone. As they arrived they saw that over 200 people had come to join them in this event. Brad Perkins openned with a short history of how the park came to be. He was followed by Mayor Potter who was instrumental in getting the adopt a landscape process started. Ronnie Yimsut, a survivor of the "Killing Fields" spoke next, followed by Dan Shea and Louis Block, both Vietnam vets. All of their speeches were of the need to not only end war but to work for peace and reconciliation.

    <h2>Lots of other stuff went on but if you weren't there you missed a great day in the peaceful City of Portland. We even got the only write up in the Oregonian of the events of Memorial Day.</h2>
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