It represents so much of the good that this country has accomplished and offers. It is a symbol that the Left will not and cannot bring down for me – ever, no matter how hard they try. And try they do.

the NAACP group with Sharpton that after 9-11 WE had put all old hurts to rest he was telling the TRUTH! There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that WE were all Americans that day and for months thereafter UNTIL the Democrats decided to make it political.

I have been unable to respect ANY Democrats since that time and they have only proven themselves to be more invested in their “vision” of America then the TRUE vision of America which is a Country of people bound together by their love of the FLAG which represents US all!

I truly LOVE this Country and her FLAG more then myself

when I hear Patriotic songs. I was never in the military, and am kicking myself for not joining. Both mt grandfather and my father were doctors in the Army.

This weekend should be a way to show respect to all those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy the freedoms we take for granite.

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

©Copyright 1970, 2005 by Charles M. Province

on Memorial Day because he’s “vacationing in Chicago.” Who the Hell vacations in Chicago; it’s a place you LEAVE when you can, not a place you go.

Does anyone recall any President in living memory NOT participating in the Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington Cemetery? This guy just plumbed a new depth if this is true!

that were flying up and down both sides of many roads in McMinnville, TN last week. Took my granddaughter for her ballet lesson and couldn’t figure out why there was so much traffic. Nor why so many pickup trucks were driving around with full size flags flying from poles strapped onto the beds of them. Then we turned a corner onto the main road into downtown and there in front of us were not only flags lining the highway, but there was an enormous flag hanging high over the road from a huge crane. I didn’t know why until we got to class, but the sight was deeply moving anyway.

Turns out that the entire town had shown up to honor one of their own, an American soldier who was KIA in Afghanistan and was buried that day. The American flag is still beloved and deeply honored in small towns and rural areas all over this country. Another local boy was brought home this past Sunday in Smithville, TN, also KIA in Afghanistan. And he got the same honor there, too, with flags flying proudly along the route the hearse took from the airport, held by friends, family and strangers who showed up to honor a hero who fought for that flag.

Obama and Co. have shown us that they have no love for that flag and what she represents. Their in-your-face dishonoring of all the principles embodied in that flag are waking up many who would have preferred to sleep. His most recent decision to vacation in Chicago instead of honoring the fallen in Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day is a resounding slap in the face to every one of the heroes who laid down their lives for that flag.

It will not go unnoticed.

Awesome post, Mrs. Penguin2!

The media and most people will ignore Memorial Day, or anything to do with our country in general, but there are still enough of us who do love our country to make it worth while.

a huge one hanging from my house, small ones in all my flower pots, and I am right now looking at one standing on my desk. I don’t display them once a year, they are there all year round. I replace them when they get torn and worn out. My husband has a POW-MIA flag hanging on the door to Andyland (mancave or whatever). He spent 7 years in the Navy. He likes to say that the military made a man out of an arsehole. He has seen so much of the world, and said he was never happier than when he put his feet back on American soil. I imagine what it must be like in third world countries, he has seen it for himself.

You are so correct, this president need not sully the soil of our passed on finest and bravest. The true patriots, that still believe in American Exceptionalism, will be there honoring the fallen.

Memorial Day is an American Holiday, why ever would the O celebrate anything so discriminatory.

Beautifully written as usual.

The flag has a place of honor at our house (and in our hearts).

rather than just a link-

http://www.iwojima.com/raising/lflaga.gif

To our military members past and present, and to the great patriots of this nation-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irZmknvOB4I&feature=related

“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory Hallelujah!

Nope Penguin, the O is not wanted, needed nor invited to Arlington.

and I can’t think about the flag without remembering the story about Rick Monday saving the flag from burning.

I don’t know how to do links here, but here is the URL to a video about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro3AeMchnDM

I can’t see this story without starting to tear up a little, especially at the crowd’s spontaneous singing.

Great read and a great reminder…

Last year the flag that usually flies from my front porch was stolen at the same time my McCain-Palin signs were thrown into the street in front of my house. I will be stopping on my way home today pick up another flag.

That incident happened a day before the general election, and to be truthful, after seeing the results I didn’t feel much pride in my country. I was saddened that our fellow citizens let us down. The only way to change their vote is to change their mind. The only way to change their mind is by raising awareness, and many here at RedState are doing just that.

Thanks again Penguin!

PS My reco button is broke…

Thank you, LadyP.

Mary Beth, Scope, and spim, thank you for those additional videos!

Scope, when I was at Arlington this past December for laying of the wreaths, I was fortunate to attend an Army Band Christmas concert that the Army was filming so it could broadcast it to all of the bases around the world. I was blown away. It didn’t have the full chorus, but those they had were absolutely phenomenal. I sat in awe as I watched and listened. The video you posted of the Army Chorus affected me almost the same way.

tcgeol, I share your sentiment. It is diaries such as this that cause me to really appreciate RedState.

but at work I cannot access youtube.

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I’ll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a Germans gun

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone

You posted the second video before my question about the 2:51 mark posted. That question related to the first video.

I’ll not be addin’ to the tears tonight. BRW did enough, thanks to you as well!

We can thank you for the uptick in kleenex’s stock price.

I don’t think the snub is at all a coincidence. He has just been paid in kind at West Point, not to mention his lap dogs are yapping at him about his Katrina and the potential felonious job offer. I tend to think it is mostly the latter 2 that scared him out of DC this weekend. I really do not believe he gives our traditions and sacred holidays even a second thought.

I’ve been through with the PResident since the Honduran debacle–and his failed presidency is no more than a dark, dark cloud over our great and beautiful country. We’ll prevail. We have to.

---

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

In the fourth generation yuppie neighborhoods, fuhgheddaboudit!

Sigh

‘Nuff said.

Display it proudly, with honor to those who served, are serving, will serve. Display it with pride for the country that has been the model of liberty for the world. Display it with hope, for Obama won’t be president forever, apologizing for our, and the flag’s, very existence.

I so far have avoided posting this song because I am an unabashed sap when it comes to listening to it, which tells me that I am not objective. But since this site is a rather safe haven for conservative passion (God love you all – thank you), I hope you will indulge me in this offering. I was blessed to be living in a city that had a great country music station that played this song over and over again after 9/11. I sang it as loud as I could on my way to work every morning. I later got the dedicated CD. I tend to rotate music CDs, but this is one that I will have until the day I die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNqUORIFV4I&feature=related

This is another of my favorites that I played over and over again after 9/11 and to this day never tire of hearing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNrdmjcNTc

God love all of you have served, are serving, and who wanted to serve but were unable to for one reason or another. I thank you for your patriotism and love of this country and its founding values.

And thank you, LadyP.

n/t

My favorite part of the Memorial Day program at Arlington is the Parade of the Flags and the music that’s played along with it. Often, I can’t get that music out of my head. (And I’m glad I can’t.)

I heard the song American Anthem for the first time maybe 4 or 5 years ago on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. It was sung just before the start of the official program, so the title of the song wasn’t listed on the program.. From the first 1/4 of the first verse, I knew I was listening to something amazing and will always be thankful to the sailor who sang it. I can still see her now in her know singing the song and representing it’s spirit. I remembered the words, and when I got home found out the name of the song and the background on the Internet, and that it was written in 1986. It helped me realize that all the good books and all the good music haven’t been written yet, and it wasn’t all done centuries ago, but God still inspires us today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRv7PXU-l2E

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3913761
Song starts about 2:10, with the author singing in on the last verse.

VB

Simply stated, bravo. Well done, p2.

I recollect many of such services as a child and how I detested waking up so early for Mass. Then, upon smelling the early morning, and walking past each Cross and each Star of David, holding my mother’s hand, I tried to memorize the names to clear my mind-better than coffee for a 7 year old-for I knew the gravitas _even then_ of what happened-some semblance of the history and sacrifice. Perhaps Obama feels now as I did, as if a child overwhelmed. And while he doesn’t yet understand the gravitas of stepping within the Hollowed grounds of Arlington cemetery, I’d just as easily assume he’d not-no harm no foul. No disgrace. No understanding.

I shall henceforth scurry out and get our flag flying. We have a new one this year, replacing the old battered one we flew for so long.

My neighbors have a flag on a tall pole in their yard. I can look out my window right now and see it fluttering in the breeze. She looks beautiful this afternoon, her red, white, and blue against the clear blue of an Indiana sky…

This also reminds me of something I have picked up from reading/watching stuff about 19th century battles. From what I’ve gathered, I’ve assumed that the colors were the most important part. You *did not* let the colors fall, no matter what.