“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.”
Maya Angelou
On Monday we honor those who have sacrificed for our country, and our privilege to live in the United States free of bondage. I invite you to share your posts here.
I think I scared you all away with my long Transportation post. I’m sometimes a TMI kind of gal. My friend Cee, would rather post pictures with little writing. Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays are for everyone. It’s a photo challenge and a writing challenge.
So the long and short of it is, if you write it, I will come.
Featured Bloggers for WQW #18: Transportation
IT’S EASY TO PLAY ALONG WITH #WQW
This weekly writing challenge runs from Wednesday through Tuesday at noon. The only rule is to use a quote. LOL! If you want to participate, create a pingback to link your post. Not sure how to do that? See how to create pingbacks here. Be sure to link to the most recent post, not my page. I don’t see links to my page.
For More Ideas about Memorial Day, WOTY Report, and Writer’s Choice
For More Ideas About Memorial Day, Writer’s Choice or WOTY (Word of the Year) Updates
- YOUR BLOG POST LINK GOES HERE
- LOVING LIFE
- NEW2WRITING
- WIND KISSES
Definition of Memorial Day
“Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.”
Wikipedia
“This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Veterans Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.”
Tamra Bolton
My Choice Quotes for Memorial Day
We don’t have to study history to know that freedom is fragile. We turn on the television and watch what is happening to defenseless civilians – the elderly, handicapped, women, and children in Ukraine.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
—John F. Kennedy
Arlington National Cemetery
“Arlington National Cemetery is a United States military cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., in whose 639 acres the dead of the nation’s conflicts have been buried, beginning with the Civil War, as well as reinterred dead from earlier wars.” Wikipedia
History of the Property
“George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and adopted grandson of George Washington, acquired the land that now is Arlington National Cemetery in 1802, and began construction of Arlington House, which was ultimately named after the village of Arlington, Gloucestershire, England, where his family was originally from. The estate passed to Custis’s daughter, Mary Anna, who had married United States Army officer Robert E. Lee.” Wikipedia
Changing of the Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been perpetually guarded since July 2, 1937, by the U.S. Army. The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”) began guarding the Tomb on April 6, 1948. There is a meticulous routine that the guard follows when watching over the graves.[101] The Tomb Guard:
- Marches 21 steps southward down the black mat behind the Tomb
- Turns left, facing east for 21 seconds
- Turns left, facing north for 21 seconds
- Takes 21 steps down the mat
- Repeats the routine until the soldier is relieved of duty at the changing of the guard
After each turn, the Guard executes a sharp “shoulder-arms” movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the Guard stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.
Twenty-one was chosen because it symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed – the 21-gun salute.
Each turn the guard makes precise movements and followed by a loud click of the heels as the soldier snaps them together. The guard is changed every half-hour during daylight in the summer, and every hour during daylight in the winter and every two hours at night (when the cemetery is closed to the public), regardless of weather conditions.” Wikipedia
What are you doing to honor those who have fallen for our freedom?
Coming Up on Always Write
- Story Chat Summary for Charli’ Mills “As Far As a Former Prisoner Can Go” coming Tuesday, May 31. Last chance to comment. Look for Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Retelling of the story probably Friday.
- June Story Chat “The Backpack” by Aimer Boyz coming Tuesday, June 7.
- PPAC – Downtown Prescott Public Art treasures on Friday. There’s still time to post on this week’s PPAC post until Thursday at noon.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
34 responses to “WQW #19: Remember and Honor Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives for Freedom”
[…] #19 (Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays) – “Remember and Honor Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives for Freedom.” The only rule is to have at least one quote in your post about the topic. Remember a song […]
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[…] #19 (Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays) – “Remember and Honor Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives for Freedom.” The only rule is to have at least one quote in your post about the topic. Remember a song […]
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[…] Originally written in response to WQW:19 – Remember and Honor Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives for Freedom. […]
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[…] My original plan was to bring you back to Prescott for some more beautiful artwork. But even well-curated plans change. I have been caught up in gratitude for those who worked to make our lives better even to the point of sacrificing their lives. This week I continue with the Memorial Day theme of Writer’s Quotes Wednesday. […]
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YOu never scare me away with your info…. I remember the first time I heard the story of the tomb of the unknown soldier and how much it requires of the guard…wow.
Here’s my link:https://troyerslovinglife.blogspot.com/2022/05/wqwtheme-memorial-day.html
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Great post, Kirstin. Very inspirational.
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Fantastic collection. I love the tomb of the unknown soldier. One of the most moving places to visit in DC.
Dale and I will be volunteering at our National Cemetery. Always a day to remember, and we know too many.
(The Prescott National Cemetary will most likely have an event if you are home).
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That’s so cool. Our friends here in Prescott, will volunteer again at Lake Tajoe. They have some incredible bear stories. Maybe you can meet them soon
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Always love meeting people.
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They love it and have a lot of great stories. 🙂
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Thank you so much for this post, Marsha!
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Thank you for taking the time to read it, Amy. It’s a reminder that freedom isn’t free.
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It’s always good to make the distinction between celebrating and commemorating – nicely done, Marsha. These days are for remembering those who have served or are still serving.
In Australia, we have ANZAC Day on 25 April, which honours the day in World War One when soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the shore at Gallipoli. These days it has become a day of honouring all of our Defence Forces, past and present. On 11 November, we have Remembrance Day which commemorates the signing of the Armistice to end World War One, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. But like many of your readers, we think it’s important to remember them every day.
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Australians do a great job of remembering, I think. Everywhere we went, we visited the Memorial statues or walls and it was obviously very important to you and everyone I met there. That impressed me so much. The visit to the WWI Memorial in Melbourne was one of our highlight events with all the red poppies, and the sun dial, I think it was, that showed the exact hour and minute of the signing of the Armistice. Your consistant honor and respect reminded me of how we need to remember and be thankful for our freedom.
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Yes, that is the Shrine of Remembrance. It’s a lovely building.
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It is. 🙂
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Remember and honor? Every single day forever!!
janet
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Exactly, my friend. Now, we need to work on our own country to protect our freedom from senseless tragedies. It takes more than going to war. We have an internal enemy we can’t fight openly on a battlefield to keep civilians safe on subways, trains, schools, shopping centers and so on.
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A loving and beautiful tribute to those who have fallen in sacrifice to our country, Marsha. I had the honor of taking the bus to Arlington Cemetary during a day tour of D.C in 2006 while visiting Baltimore. I saw everything you posted, including the tomb of the unknown soldier. I missed the changing of the guard at that time, but I also saw the eternal flame at the Kennedy gravesites. Very moving experience to tour through Arlington. I saw quite a bit in one day but missed seeing the Lincoln Memorial–maybe next time.
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I did see the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War, World War II, and I think Viet Nam wall. We packed a lot into a short time.
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Wow this is a wonderful post Marsha. It’s one to reference and your pictures are so awesome. I am truly honored you used my poem. I forgot I had written that and it was really nice to see it in print.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and Memorial Day Marcia! Feeling blessed! 💖🙏😘
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Glad you like it, Cindy. Enjoy the feeling of being blessed and protected and being alive.
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I really did enjoy it all Marsha. Yes, every moment is a gift, a blessing, and so are you! 💖
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Yes, indeed it is. Like Donna from Wind Kisses said, “Hard to get them (the children of Uvalde, TX) out of our mind. Which is why we cherish and love what we have every day.”
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Absolutely true and wonderful words to remember! 💖
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This post is fantastic – great resource for years to come and also inspiring for 2022!
And then you included Cindy’s awesome poem! Nice….
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Thanks, Yvette. I didn’t write much of it, but I learned a bit about the changing of the guard ceremony I saw in 2008.
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☀️😊
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For Memorial Day I usually decorate our outside flower planters with small flags and pinwheels, but after that it’ll be a quiet respectful weekend around here.
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We are quiet, too. We might watch something on television, and a blog post.
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Great post, Marsha. I had no idea what memorial day was for or how it differed from Veterans Day. We don’t celebrate memorial day in the UK (that I know of) we celebrate Remembrance Day in November. KL ❤
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When I was in Australia, I learned that is what they do also. That is one reason I made the topic fairly open.
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Great post for Memorial Day weekend. 😀
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Thanks, Cee.
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