Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MEMORIAL DAY 2014 -- A Day Packed with Meaning (Up#4/VIDEOS)

Posted:  22 May 14
Update #1:  23 May 14 (Presidential Proclamation added)
Update #2:  23 May 14 (Video of National Honor Guard added)
Update #3:  25 May 14 (Video "Path of the Warrior" added)
Update #4:  25 May 14 (Video of Presidential Address)



MEMORIAL DAY
Monday, 26 May 14
A Day Packed with Meaning


Inscribed on the Tomb of the Unknowns, in the nation's capitol,
are the immortal words: 

"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD."

1.  Purposes of this Bulletin:
  • To enhance public understanding of and appreciation for this national holiday
  • To publicize the proper custom for handling the US flag during this occasion (half-staff sunrise till noon)
  • To present the annual PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
  • To provide helpful links to commemorative events, locally and nationally -- and other relevancies.

2.  General References:
  1. Origins of Memorial Day, Snopes.com (an interesting discussion)
  2. Tomb of the Unknowns, 3rd US Army Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard"
  3. Tomb of the Unknowns, Wikipedia discussion
  4. The Citizen's Flag Alliance
  5. Memorial Day Flag Etiquette
  6. Memorial Day 2014, Google search
  7. Memorial Day, Wikipedia discussion
  8. Why is the national ensign half-staffed only till noon on this day?

3.  Events and Resources -- National and Local: 
  1. National Memorials Online, Google search
  2. Vietnam Virtual Memorial Walls (Messages often reach otherwise unreachable families)
  3. National Memorial Day 2014 Events, Google search
  4. California Memorial Day 2014 Events Google search
  5. San Francisco Bay Area Memorial Day 2014 Events, Google search
  6. Contra Costa County Memorial Day 2014 Events, Google search
  7. Pittsburg, CA Memorial Day 2014 Events, Google search ​
  8. Pittsburg, CA MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY 5/26/14/ MON/10:00 am

4.  Presidential Proclamation -- Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2014

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Constant in the American narrative is the story of men and women who loved our country so deeply they were willing to give their all to keep it safe and free. When a revolution needed to be won and our Union needed to be preserved, brave patriots stepped forward. When our harbor was bombed and our country was attacked on a clear September morning, courageous warriors raised their hands and said, "send me." On the last Monday of each May, our Nation comes together to honor the selfless heroes who have defended the land we love and in so doing gave their last full measure of devotion.
Today, we pause to remember our fallen troops, to mourn their loss, and to pray for their loved ones. Though our hearts ache, we find a measure of solace in knowing their legacy lives on in the families our heroes left behind -- the proud parents who instilled in their sons and daughters the values that led them to serve; the remarkable spouses who gave our Nation the person they cherished most in the world; and the beautiful children who will grow up with the knowledge that their mother or father embodied the true meaning of patriotism. To those we lost, we owe a profound debt that can never be fully repaid. But we can honor the fallen by caring for their loved ones and keeping faith with our veterans and their fellow brothers and sisters in arms.
The security that lets us live in peace, the prosperity that allows us to pursue our dreams, the freedom that we cherish -- these were earned by the blood and the sacrifices of patriots who went before. This Memorial Day, as we near the end of more than a decade of war, let us never forget their service and always be worthy of the sacrifices made in our name. And today and every day, let us pray for and hold close the families of the fallen.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
I request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
BARACK OBAMA
5.  Flag Custom


​​Courtesy of the American Legion
To view an online version , click here.

Flag at half-staff

In accordance with Flag Code section 7(m) the United States flag is to be displayed at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014.



David Nelson


All Original Content © 2014, The MENTOR Enterprises / ELMS, All Rights Reserved -- BUT, I hereby waive those rights, to this extent: You may freely copy and pass this along, if you think it will do some good -- as long as it's free of charge, unchanged, and you include this statement.
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