Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. This is the day each year when we, as a nation, celebrate the mortal sacrifices of our service men and women who have lost their lives in defense of this great nation. The exact origin of this tradition remains a little unclear, but it certainly grew out of the Civil War and some type of official celebration began shortly thereafter. At first it was Decoration Day, when the graves of fallen soldiers were decorated to honor them. Then it seems to have grown from there. For those of you interested in such history, I have pasted below what seems to be the actual history of Memorial Day for your further reading. At this time, however, I only wish to encourage any who read these words to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we all enjoy. Remember, also, that brave American men and women are out their risking their lives at this very moment on our behalf. I will not here endeavor to engage anyone on the politics of our current conflicts overseas, except to state our countrymen have died there and continue to live in harm’s way so they, both the living and the dead, deserve all of our honor, respect and support. Today is the day to hang up your flag, to say a prayer, perhaps even make a phone call or write a letter to those who have lost loved ones … or live daily with the fear thereof. Please don’t let this day pass without some act or thought of patriotism and gratitude. To that end, I offer the following poem in honor of those who paid the ultimate price for this great nation and our personal liberties.

Song of Freedom
Still ringing are the battle cries
Of freedom from the past
Sung out by brave young men who spilled
Their blood and breathed their last
Still waving is the flag
They proudly served and held aloft
Yet, we must be ever wary
Lest our resolve grows dim and soft
Our children need to know the legacy
Of freedom which is theirs
As the gauntlet passes on to them
For they are freedom's heirs
Sons and daughters of a liberty
Which was born of trial and strife
Paid for dearly by the countless men
Who gave both limb and life
We must keep the fire burning
May we never let it die
So our children's children's children
Know the sound of freedom's cry
It's not enough to just be born here
We have to guard our liberty
And pass it on so generations
In the future will be free
By Frank Carpenter ©

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.
Information from : http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Preliminary Thoughts on the Da Vinci Code

Well, this is the long-awaited opening day for “The Da Vinci Code” movie. It promises to be quite an adventure and I’m really looking forward to seeing it. However, there has been a great deal of discussion in both secular and religious circles about many of the refuted historical issues raised in the story. I will certainly wait until after the movie to debate all of the doctrines in question. Nonetheless, I wish to remind my readers, most emphatically, that this movie based upon a work of fiction. Dan Brown’s very popular novel is not a book of history, but a book of historical fiction. That mean’s that he purposely manipulated the facts of history in order to accommodate his plot and story. So when you watch the movie please feel free to enjoy the ride, but always keep in mind that it’s just a movie. The danger is that folks who don’t possess an intimate knowledge of history and/or religion will form doctrinal opinions based upon a thought provoking, though basically false, story. Beware of that pitfall.

That being said, I will endeavor to address some of the more ambiguous discussion points next week … after each of us have had a chance to see the movie. At that time, many of us will have formed some opinions and it may be interesting to see where we all stand. In the mean time, enjoy the movie and the related conversations around the water cooler. In the end, however, my fondest hope is that you shall never look for truth in the fiction isle at your local bookstore or at the movie theater. If you should have any specific questions regarding this subject, please feel free to contact me at the email link above.

A Child's Eyes

Just now I’m sitting on an airplane, somewhere over Arizona or Utah. I was about to pen some wordy commentary about politics. Before I could begin, however, my heart and attention were captured by three small children seated nearby. We smiled and waved and made monster faces at each other and, in the process, I was reminded how amazing the simple joy of a child can be. Suddenly, all my lofty words melted away and seemed utterly unimportant. For what could be more precious or inspirational than the simple laugh of a child. Indeed, right here next to me sat the embodiment of unfettered joy, unspoiled by the prejudice and cynicism which erode the purity of our souls with the passing of time. In a very real way, I was observing the seeds or our future. And it gave me hope.

However old or important you may be, I encourage you to pause along the path of life and interact with children wherever you find them. Treat them with respect. Look into their wondering eyes. Listen to their laughter and songs and let that sweet music penetrate deep into your weary heart. Never let yourself become too busy to care about the most important people in the world, even if they seem to be the smallest ones. For, when seen through their eyes, this tired, dusty, worrisome old world still looks like a magical place filled with unlimited possibilities.

A Child’s Eyes
May I never grow too wise
To see things through a child’s eye
May I always seek the truth
With the innocence of youth
May I learn to love each man
As freely as a child can
May I daily kneel and pray
And with a child’s heart … obey
By Frank Carpenter ©

Mothers Day

Let us not forget that Mothers Day is this Sunday, May 14th. This is a weekend to honor all of our mothers and their contributions to our lives and families. I have been blessed with a wonderful mother, and all the more blessed by being married to an outstanding mother as well. Come to think of it, I even lucked out in the mother-in-law category. I guess I could be said to have won the triple crown of maternal good fortune. In honor of these women who have been so instrumental in my own life and happiness, I offer the follow poem. Feel free to copy my words down if you’d like to use them to express your own feelings to one of the mothers in your life. All that I ask is that you leave my name at the bottom. That being said, some of you have perhaps not had a positive mothering experience- that certainly happens. If you fall into this category, I would still encourage you to offer something positive to your mother or step mother because they went to a great deal of trouble on your behalf and probably love you more than you know. If you can’t even bring yourself to do that, then transfer your best wishes and appreciation to another mother in your life, such as friend or an aunt, and honor their example or treatment of their own children. And what if your mother has passed away? Then I suggest that you honor her memory by sharing her story or love with your own children, nieces, nephews or someone else in your life. We can all do something for this holiday. If you’re one of those cynics who think that all holidays were invented to sell greeting cards and flowers, then don’t prove your point by being a cheapskate and short changing someone you love who’d rather have a card than join your personal protest. Make your own card, cook a big breakfast or do something else creative. The fact is that we should be appreciating mothers every day so don’t waste your opportunity to do so this weekend. In closing, I offer my biggest thanks and mushiest “I love you” to my own wife and the other mothers in my life. May your weekend be a blessed one.

Thank You
I thank you for a thousand little things
Which really aren't so small
And for the countless, thankless jobs
Which upon your shoulders fall
I thank you for the time you take
And for your energy
For the way you balance everything
And how you love the kids and me
I thank you for your gentle touch
And for your helping hand
For always being there for us
And how you seem to understand
There are times to work and cook and clean
And times to simply stop and play
Our kids know they have the funnest mom
Which you prove again each day
Somehow you find a way to do it all
Perhaps far more than you ought to
But we really do appreciate
All those extra things you do
All the things that show how very much
You love the kids and me
And I thank God most every day
For you, and our family
By Frank Carpenter ©

A Final Blessing

To my regular readers, a heartfelt apology for not having posted anything the last week or so. I’ve been a little distracted by family business, but the best kind of business of all. This past weekend our son was married in Missoula, Montana, where he is just graduating from the university. It’s difficult to write from where I am, being somewhere out on the open road between Montana and California, but for any who are interested I offer the poem which I read during the ceremony on Saturday. Usually, I edit out names and genders in my personal writings before posting them in order to broaden their appeal for my audience. However, today I offer this most personal poem just as I recited it during the beautiful outdoor wedding that meant so much to our family.

I’m sure that my family matters are of little interest to many readers. However, weddings play an important part in the life and legacy of any family and serve as valuable milestones for us. These are the times when we gather to celebrate together and renew our kinship with friends and relatives who often live far away. These moments also remind us of some of the most cherished truths in life: the value of relationships, of love and fidelity, and the spiritual aspects of our marriages. We participate as witnesses before God to mankind’s most fundamental institution and have the opportunity to rethink our own vows and what they mean to a lifelong relationship.

So today I close with a wish for all the best to Chris and Lacey as they start their new life together and a big thank you to our new in-laws, the Jacksons, for their wonderful daughter and how much she means to our family. For all the rest of us, let this be a reminder of our own vows and commitments. And wherever you find yourself on the road of life and relationships, always remember that it’s never too late to begin your own happily ever after.

A Final Blessing
All those endless months of planning
And preparing now have passed
And the moment you’ve been waiting for
Is finally here at last
The culmination of your hopes and dreams
The answer to your prayers and plans
Now, here we stand with all your friends
And family near at hand
Just one more kiss and he’ll pronounce
That you are man and wife
Then you’ll turn to walk together
Down the aisle of your life
But before you take that final walk
I feel that you should know
Just how proud we are of each of you
And how we love you so
Our blessing is upon you
Our fondest hopes, our fervent prayers
Wherever life may lead you
Our best wishes follow there
May God grant you love and patience
And a faith which casts off fears
May His Word and wisdom guide you
Through the swiftly flying years
May joy and happiness be yours
May your home a beacon be
Which shines the light of God’s love
And may He bless your family
Dearest Chris and Lacey
Beloved daughter, honored son
Today you leave together
Not as two, but finally one
May you never lose the wonder
Of that most profound mystery
Cherish one another always
And may God grant you unity
May His hand of blessing ever be
Upon the two of you
May every happiness be yours
To last a whole life through
By Frank Carpenter ©