Memorial Day

[CAPTShaw]

Why does it rain on Memorial Day? Answer: Because the angels cry over all the fine young men and women that have come to join them. "This is my command. Love another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends." John 15 : 12-13

[Eclipse]

I spent the whole day in the garage and backyard cleaning up and putting away (including packing things for the upcoming Eval this weekend) occasionally coming back in the house to argue about stuff here on CAP Talk.

I can't think of a better way to spend a Monday.

Thank you to all who have and continue to watch the wall so my trivia is possible.

[arajca]

I spent the day doing this and that, except for attending the Memorial Service at the local cemetary. An interesting point was made by one of the speakers - all the local town and county events, activities, etc are done to promote something, except this one.

The weather was coudy and it looked like rain, but about halfway through the service, about when veterans were invited to come up to talk about their expereinces and memories. Then the clouds over the cemetary parted and the sun shone through. The rest of the area remained clouded over. I guess someone wanted to hear clearly...

[SarDragon]

I spent the afternoon with some out-of-state friends on board the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. It was well decorated in a style appropriate for the day.

[JTodd]

Our Squadron, for the last five years, participated in the local parade. We carry the Service Flags. This year we, since our National Guard is deployed, also demonstrated the Flag Folding Ceremony.

[notaNCO forever]

 I spent it marching in a parade with my squadron like I do every year even if I don't want to.

[BrandonKea]

I spent it marching in a parade with my squadron like I do every year even if I don't want to.

Uh, wow, great attitude there sparky.

[notaNCO forever]

I spent it marching in a parade with my squadron like I do every year even if I don't want to.

Uh, wow, great attitude there sparky.

I'm honored to be able to, but walking in blues for to miles in eighty degree weather in the beating sun gets unpleasant after the first few times.

[Fifinella]

^^not nearly as unpleasant as what many of the vets endured

[Smithsonia]

RAIN POURS BUT DUTY REMAINS CLEAR
reported by Lt. Ed O'Brien/edited by Capt. Scott Orr
Denver Memorial Day 1100 hrs

The rain was heavy, as CAP kept promises.

About twenty Cadets and Senior Members of the Colorado Wing
of the Civil Air Patrol stood along Omaha Drive at Ft. Logan Na-
tional Cemetery on 25 May, Memorial day. Under a drizzle that
marched towards steady and for a moment raged torrential, sour
weather scraped  this commemoration to the barest of rituals: The
National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and an AT-6
flyby.

Then the rains came. 

In a moment we could hear nothing but the words "cancelled,"
"sorry," "thank you," and "drive carefully." The assembled two
thousand soggy souls hustled for their cars, canceling political
speeches and other fare. It now seemed a day made for working in
the mud.

Beneath a few umbrellas, the Civil Air Patrol contingent weighed
the options. 1st Lt. Beth Biscardi asked that the cadets, dressed in
shirt sleeve blues, be dismissed, and upon her good advice this was
done. 

The Senior Officers discussed and concluded that for most of us
this event was a washout. However, Lt. Col. Sid Altum and Maj.
Don MacLeod volunteered to finish the graveside salutes, alone
and in appalling conditions. Which in its way, is the most appro-
priate of salutes from the Civil Air Patrol. 

We had made promises to do salutes... and promises we keep. 

Cars blocked every Avenue and Street. This was to be a one mile
walking round trip through the cemetery to each grave. The rain
never stopped, but Sid Altum and Don MacLeod did, first to area
29, marker 976 and Col. Norman Kholos, then Maj. Earl Berger at
site 53, grave 193, and finally Maj. Gen. John Curry and his wife,
Eleanor, at Q-4172. 

Altum and MacLeod saluted each stone and each man: calling
aloud their names, recounting their service; calling themselves to
"attention," "SA - LUTE,"  "at ease," ....then off they moved.

Along rivulets of washout they tiptoed, through soft footing they
maneuvered, and around quick exiting cars they paused .Altum
and MacLeod, on their duty, tramped this respectful mile. 

Families and friends of servicemen and women unknown to Al-
tum and MacLeod sat among puddles next to graves.  They
looked a little forlorn, a bit cheated by this weather; so, if the
moment felt right, they approached and simply asked, "May we
offer our salute to your loved one, sir." "May we salute this hero
ma'am?" 

To attention came the Lt. Colonel. To salute came the Major. To
offer thanks to this family. To honor the dead.

In this manner, these officers continued for 90 minutes.

It should be noted that when Lt. Col. Altum and Maj. MacLeod
departed these wet and glistening grounds, there was not another
uniform in sight. 

The Civil Air Patrol was the last organization in the field this
day. Even though the rain poured, the duty of the Patrol re-
mained clear and the mission was accomplished. 

[BrandonKea]

^^not nearly as unpleasant as what many of the vets endured

Beat me to it...

[Smithsonia]

BrandonKea;
I don't believe we were comparing ourselves to the sacrifice of Vets. There were 100 plus other uniformed personnel at this ceremony. If you think we did poorly because we remained and did our duty, then say so. If you are being snarky because you are that way... then that's another matter.

[BrandonKea]

BrandonKea;
I don't believe we were comparing ourselves to the sacrifice of Vets. There were 100 plus other uniformed personnel at this ceremony. If you think we did poorly because we remained and did our duty, then say so. If you are being snarky because you are that way... then that's another matter.

I'm not being snarky, I just think it's pretty crappy to come on here and complain about honoring our troops on Memorial Day. I don't believe you and I are speaking about the same situation, either. My comment was aimed at NCOForever. His comment was something better left unsaid. As for staying and performing your duty in the pouring rain, THAT is something great, and something I'm sure the widows of the fallen won't soon forget. THAT is what Memorial Day should be about, not complaining because "it was hot and we HAD to march a lot."

/rant

[Capt Rivera]

I have used the words duty, honor, and privilege many times in my life and I hope to use them many more... I have not enjoyed every duty that I've had the honor and privileged to fulfill....

I don't mind the cadet or any member saying that while they served they did not enjoy every minute of it. Or saying that in order to fulfill duty or obligation "X" they had to do "Y" which was not their favorite thing to do.

If you speak to the vets we honor... They will say that things were hard, but it was a honor to serve... etc... It does not matter that their issue was harder... the cadet served in the capacity he could, and it was understandably not the most physically enjoyable experience he could have had on his day off.

I salute all who served this weekend in whatever capacity you chose and I appreciate whatever sacrifice of time, comfort, etc, you made while honoring those who have earned that regard. Thank you.

The cadet made a statement and then clarified it... lets enjoy some definitions below and get back on topic... Personal issues should remain in PM so that this topic does not need to be locked...

Duty (from "due," that which is owing, O. Fr. deu, did, past participle of devoir; Lat. debere, debitum; cf. "debt") is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something. The moral commitment is the sort that results in action, and it is not a matter of passive feeling or mere recognition. When someone recognizes a duty, that person commits himself/herself to the cause involved without considering the self-interested courses of actions that may have been relevant previously. This is not to suggest that living a life of duty precludes one from the best sort of life, but duty does involve some sacrifice of immediate self-interest.

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty

An obligation is a requirement to take some course of action, whether legal or moral. There are also obligations in other normative contexts, such as obligations of etiquette, social obligations, and possibly in terms of politics, where obligations are requirements which must be fulfilled. These are generally legal obligations, which can incur a penalty for unfulfilment, although certain people are obliged to carry out certain actions for other reasons as well, whether as a tradition or for social reasons. Obligations vary from person to person: for example, a person holding a political office will generally have far more obligations than an average adult citizen, who themselves will have more obligations than a child. Obligations are generally granted in return for an increase in an individual's rights or power.

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obligation

requirement:  something required: a: something wanted or needed b: something essential to the existence or occurrence of something else

Selfless Service is a commonly used term to denote a service which is performed without any expectation of result or award for the person performing it. It is also sometimes used to denote a service performed with no apparent 'earthly' result, but which may accrue results in a spiritual or heavenly realm after death, although in the pure sense of the term that would not qualify as a strictly 'selfless' action.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfless_service

service 1.    an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service. 13.    Often, services. the performance of any duties or work for another; helpful or professional activity: medical services.  13. be of service, to be helpful or useful

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/service