Best Memorial Day...EVER!!!

When I was growing up  in small-town South Dakota (yes, there are towns other than small), my mother would take me to the cemetery each year to place flowers on the graves of our family members and remember them.  I always enjoyed finding the ones with the little flags on them that were placed by the local American Legion.  We have had a lot of family serve our country.  Then, early on Memorial Day, we would travel to the two cemeteries in town for the small ceremonies conducted by the American Legion.  Of course, as a small boy, my favorite part was the 21-Gun-Salute...and I would help the men from the Legion pick up the bullets so they could use them again.

Over the years, I haven't made it to as many Memorial Day ceremonies as I would have liked to...or just flat out should have!  I went to one a couple of years ago with my kids and then yesterday, I went to the ceremony at the Hampton National Cemetery where my wife and the boys and I had helped place flags on the markers this past Friday.

Major General Longo from Ft. Monroe was the keynote speaker.  Instead of remembering only those who were gone and represented by the many marble stones that were in the field before us, he asked us to remember especially those who went off to war and did not die, yet still came home less than what they were when they left.  He share two stories with us, the most significant was the one he told about his father.

Lieutenant Colonel Longo had been a Chemical Officer in Vietnam.  He went away for one year, 1967-68.  When he returned, he was a very different man.  General Longo shared how his father would wake up every night for 34 years screaming that "she has a bomb, she has a bomb!"  He would not wake up until his wife would hit him hard enough to rouse him from his nightmare.  As General Longo stated, "this happened every night for 34 years until death mercifully freed him from his nightmare".  I can only imagine how difficult it was for his wife as well.  So now, Memorial Day has a new meaning for me.  We must not forget the unseen wounds that return from war or the families and friends of those service men and women who also often have to deal with the tragedies of war.

Colonel Reyes, at the Fort Monroe ceremony an hour later, was not the keynote speaker, but said words that meant so much more to me that I can't even remember the main idea of the keynote speaker's speech.  COL Reyes spoke about how the Memorial Day holiday has lost its meaning.  Years ago there were parades with military units, Veteran's organizations, and bands...lots of bands.  Now, most parades are gone...too "expensive" to organize and put on.  I can't imagine how expensive it could be to have people line up along a road and walk, but maybe I don't know all the details.  Plus, that would be inconvenient during a "long weekend".  As we sat at Continental Park, I remarked to my wife how it was unfortunate that the small crowd that was in attendance would be dwarfed by the crowd that will be there at the weekly concert by the TRADOC Band on Thursdays.  The crowd should have been just as large.

Now, Memorial Day is the "unofficial beginning of Summer".  It is when swimming pools open or the mall has a big sale.  It is a day when so many of the people of this great Nation forget what this day is really for.  I would like to applaud all my Facebook friends who DID remember what this day is about and posted appropriately.  If you are one of those who has forgotten...please take some time and educate yourself...and your children. 

We have allowed the schools to stop teaching our children patriotic songs because God is mentioned in them...so patriotism begins to die.  I used to make a "Poppy Poster" in grade school.  Anyone seen one of those lately?  Take advantage of this holiday to teach your children about the good things this Nation of ours offers.  Cut through the politics, the high gas prices, and the problems that we have.  America is a great country and a wonderful place to live.  We must, however, never forget or allow the lessons learned in the  past and paid for with blood to go to waste.

God Bless you all as we get back to work today...and God Bless America...the Land of the Free...BECAUSE of the Brave!!!

Congress Must Be Bored

On the news this morning I heard a story that was talking about the uproar in the Native American community is in over the use of "Geronimo" as a code word in the killing of Osama bin Laden.  Now, Congress is going to have hearings about it.

Really?!  Is that really necessary?  OK, the Native American populace didn't like it...noted.  Now, Congress, move on with your work of taking care of this country.  No need to pander to some oversensitive individuals who didn't like a name you used.  If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Geronimo a great warrior?  Shouldn't they be flattered that we used his name?  I hope they don't find out that as a young boy I used to holler, "Geronimooooo!!" when I jumped off something.  They may file a lawsuit against me.

I think this is one of those times when we need to just ignore such a petty thing and move on.  Congress, get to work dealing with real issues...not a group of people just wanting to blow off steam.

Expectations of My Housewife...

Now that my wife has decided to leave the workforce and become a housewife, I decided that perhaps she could use some guidelines as to what was expected of her.  I did a little research and found these guides to a good housewife.  I believe they fit nicely:

- Have dinner ready.  Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return.  This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs.  Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

- Prepare yourself.  Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking.  He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

- Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him.  His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

- Clear away the clutter.  Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

- Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

- Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.  Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.  After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

- Prepare the children.  Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes.  They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.  Minimise all noise.  At the theme of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum.  Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

- Be happy to see him.

- Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

- Listen to him.  You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time.  Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

- Make the evening his.  Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you.  Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

- Your goal:  Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

- Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

- Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night.  Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

- Make him comfortable.  Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom.  Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

- Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes.  Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

- Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity.  Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.  You have no right to question him.

-  A good wife always knows her place.

Now that I have everyones (at least the womens') blood boiling, this was found by my mother a few years ago in some old papers.  It was an article in Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May 1955.  Though my wife is very much of the mindset of this era as far as duties of a husband and wife, she does not agree with these...nor do I.  They are a bit extreme, but still fun to read.  Hard to believe this was the norm 60 years ago.

I know and understand the importance of my wife and her importance in my life.  As I told her when we discussed her being a housewife..."I bring home the money and the stuff, but she is the one who turns it all into a home".