“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”
Tag Archives: Memorial Day
May 2022 Literary Calendar
Events in the month of May for writers and readers
- May 1 – Loyalty Day
- May 1 – Save the Rhino Day
- May 2 – Brothers and Sisters Day
- May 3 – Garden Meditation Day
- May 3 – Lumpy Rug Day
- May 4 – National Candied Orange Peel Day
- May 6 – Space Day
- May 7 – National Babysitters Day
- May 7 – National Train Day
- May 8 – Mother’s Day (U.S.)
- May 9 – Lost Sock Memorial Day
- May 11 – Twilight Zone Day
- May 13 – Blame Someone Else Day
- May 13 – Frog Jumping Day
- May 13 – Leprechaun Day
- May 14 – National Windmill Day
- May 15 – National Chocolate Chip Day
- May 16 – Love a Tree Day
- May 16 – National Sea Monkey Day
- May 23 – Lucky Penny Day
- May 24 – International Tiara Day
- May 25 – National Towel Day (UK)
- May 27 – Don’t Fry Friday
- May 27 – Memorial Day (U.S.)
Filed under News
Memorial Day 2021
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Filed under News
Memorial Day 2014
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
Image courtesy Janet’s Cakes.
Filed under News
Memorial Day 2013
“Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down,
You can stand me up at the gates of hell,
But I won’t back down.
Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around,
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down,
Gonna stand my ground and I won’t back down.
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out,
Hey I will stand my ground,
And I won’t back down.
Well I know what’s right, I got just one life,
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around,
But I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down.
Hey baby there ain’t no easy way out,
Hey I will stand my ground,
And I won’t back down.
No, I won’t back down.”
– Tom Petty, “I Won’t Back Down.”
Filed under News
Quote of the Day
“I think it’s interesting because I think it is very difficult to talk about the war dead and the fallen without invoking valor, without invoking the words “heroes.” Why do I feel so [uncomfortable] about the word “hero?” I feel comfortable – uncomfortable – about the word because it seems to me that it is so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war. Um, and, I don’t want to obviously desecrate or disrespect memory of anyone that’s fallen, and obviously there are individual circumstances in which there is genuine, tremendous heroism: hail of gunfire, rescuing fellow soldiers and things like that. But it seems to me that we marshal this word in a way that is problematic. But maybe I’m wrong about that.”
– MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, on May 27, after speaking with a former Marine whose job it was to notify families of the death of soldiers.
Hayes eventually apologized for making such a crass statement the day before Memorial Day. And not a moment too soon! I don’t care how anyone feels. The word “hero” applies to a lot of people: firefighters, teachers, paramedics, police officers – and certainly our military personnel. The term definitely doesn’t apply to sports and entertainment celebrities, which I’m sure will piss off the NFL and fans of “The Hunger Games.” But, as always, I don’t care who I piss off with my opinions.
Filed under News
A Memorial Day “First:” Lori Ann Piestewa
In honor of Memorial Day, I wanted to highlight this editorial by fellow writer and blogger K.B. Schaller, author of Gray Rainbow Journey and Journey by the Sackcloth Moon. While we often think of the war dead as casualties of conflicts from long ago, this piece discusses Lori Ann Piestewa, a member of the Navajo Nation who was the first female troop casualty in the Iraq War. Despite the oppression and degradation suffered by Indigenous Americans, they have been loyal to the United States and served in all branches of the armed forces with a higher percentage – given their small population – in comparison to other ethnic groups. They’re certainly braver than the sorry-ass draft dodgers who got our nation into the Iraq War in the first place. For better or worse, this is the country we have and it’s still a work in progress. We should all realize that freedom truly isn’t that free.
Filed under News
Memorial Day
Thank you to all who served in the United States armed forces and everywhere else. Freedom is never free.
Filed under News
Pictures of the Day
In the midst of this Memorial Day weekend, I want to acknowledge all the military troops in the U.S. and its allies who have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq during the past decade. At long last, those conflicts are winding down, and most military personnel are coming safely to their families. Sadly, thousands of others are returning home in wheel chairs and body bags. So, while our elected officials and media talking heads wrap themselves in the American flag and cry freedom and patriotism; while bleeding heart liberals worry more about what’s happening in Africa and India; and while the youth of our nation lounges around on their fat, lazy asses typing on cell phones and watching “American Idol,” here’s to the real heroes and heroines who’ve done the dirty work. Please take a look at the video clip at the end. It’s especially touching.
Filed under News
Chief Writing Wolf 