. . . except for freedom.
We remember you.
And we thank you.
_________________________
SSgt Austin Knox took this photograph of U.S. Airmen with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing attending a Memorial Day service in Southwest Asia on May 27, 2013.
It is in the Public Domain
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
—Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
We’ve had a busy Memorial Day. The kids went swimming with my husband and I cleaned Sunny’s room—her carpet is beige, in case I forget again— and had mango sorbet with my friend Grace, and when the kids came back and were bored, we did crafts together.
We colored wooden beads with markers and I told a few stories about the people I especially remember on this day—though not only today: their great-grandparents and great-uncles, and our cousins and the few (thank heavens) friends I’ve lost over the years, through age, accident, disease or war.
We strung the the beads onto pipecleaners and made bracelets and anklets and collars for stuffed animals.
It was a good day.
This is the project the kids wanted to do, but though we do mantain a pretty awesome craft closet, we weren’t equipped for it and I am no carpenter:
Someday!
Earful of Cider 