Below is a copy of yesterday's Sunday Morning Coffee, a weekly newsletter I do. You'll find references to it scattered through this message. This is a special one for Memorial Day, so I thought I'd share it with all my city/county lists. If anyone objects, please direct it to me at <ladyaudris@earthlink.net>, and use your delete key. Colleen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi everyone, :) Monday, May 27th, is Memorial Day (also called Decoration Day) here in the United States. It is a patriotic holiday, a day to honor those in military service who died (some very young) in far away places fighting to protect our future. Originally, Memorial Day honored military personnel who died in the Civil War. It now also honors those who died in all wars in which the United States participated. This edition of the Sunday Morning Coffee is dedicated to our military that fought for our freedom and sacrificed their lives protecting our precious democracy. I also dedicate this Coffee to those veterans who are still with us and remembering the horrific experiences they encountered fighting for us. Memorial Day ~ a time set aside to remember our servicemen and women who give their lives for our country... PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THIS PARAGRAPH: I should warn you that I've written a short story for the day that I hope will tug at your heart. I also hope you enjoy it. Truthfully, I debated whether or not to use it in today's Coffee and had six people read it to make sure I wasn't being "too bad." It's fitting for today's Coffee and intentionally, not too graphic; but if your spirit is low already, please don't read it. I cried when I created this story, but as the wife of a serviceman, it hits especially close to me. MEMORIAL DAY PROCLAMATION EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SANTA FE, N.M. Again the day approaches which a beautiful custom devotes to honoring the memory of the departed heroes of the Republic, who have given up their lives that the country might live, and by their deaths have shed such lustre upon the glorious history of our nation. While on that day we should mourn for the dead, we must also remember the living who are serving their country by land and sea, and also the survivors of a past generation who still tarry among us, and endeavor to make life more easy for them in their declining years, that they may long live to enjoy the blessings of that country they helped to save. Now, Therefore, I, Miguel A. Otero, Governor of the Territory of New Mexico, do recommend that upon Saturday, the Thirtieth day of May, A.D. 1903, the people of the territory refrain from all unnecessary labor, and all public amusements, and join with the Grand Army of the Republic, and other patriotic societies in due and proper observance of Memorial Day, recalling the memory of the heroic dead and recounting their valiant deeds. Let us on that day by song and speech and sweet flowers give expression of our reverence and gratitude to those who gave their lives to perpetuate the Republic; to acts of respect and care for those soldiers and sailors who have survived in the wars in which they were engaged and in honor of those who are now serving their country as soldiers and sailors. .-----. Done at the Executive Office, / Seal \ this the 19th day of May, A.D. 1903. \ of NM / Witness my hand and the great seal of the '-----' Territory of New Mexico. [signed] Miguel A. Otero By the Governor: J.W. Raynolds. Secretary of New Mexico. Today's topics include: 1. Memorial Day proclamation 2. Welcome to new subscribers 3. Did you know... 4. His Love, Forever TO OUR NEWEST SUBSCRIBERS ~~ I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those of you who joined us this past week. We are very glad to have you and hope you'll stay and remain a part of us. This is not a discussion group, but a read-only service. If you would like to make any comments regarding this Coffee or any others, you are welcome to send them to me at <ladyaudris@earthlink.net>. Please share this Coffee with your genealogy friends and relatives and invite them to join us, as well. To subscribe to this newsletter all they need to do is send a blank email to <SundayCoffee-subscribe@topica.com>. DID YOU KNOW...? ... that since the end of World War I, Memorial Day has also been Poppy Day? Paper poppies are sold by members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) made by disabled veterans. This bright red wildflower became a symbol after the horrific WWI battle in Flanders Field in Belgium. The field, littered with the bodies of young soldiers, was also filled with poppies. ... that Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves? With the passage of time, Memorial Day was extended to honor all those who died in service to the nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present. ... that the first celebration of Decoration Day was in 1866 in Waterloo, New York? The national Memorial Day holiday was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the order of General John Alexander Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of the American Civil War dead. ... that the southern states also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead? ~ Mississippi, the last Monday in April; Alabama, the fourth Monday in April; Georgia, April 26th; North and South Carolina, May 10th; Virginia, the last Monday in May; Louisiana and Tennessee, June 3rd; and Texas, January 19th. ... that Pennsylvania law mandates that all counties provide veterans' graves each year with a flag, most of which are distributed before Memorial Day? HIS LOVE, FOREVER A war zone Any place Any time ~ It is said that the true patriot is a good citizen as well as, on occasion of need, a willing and valiant soldier.~ He'd joined the army just six months ago and now, here he was embroiled in a war far from his home, and preparing to engage in battle. His life wasn't supposed to be like this; he was supposed to have been home seeing his second child born, living a quiet and comfortable life. BOOM... BANG! An explosive concussion landed so close he thought he'd been hit! His head hurt, his ears were ringing and his uniform was muddier now than it was just seconds ago. He looked around and saw three of his friends lying lifeless on the ground, other comrades nearby were writhing in pain. BOOM... BANG! He *had* to get across this field before he was killed! He never heard the one that hit him, never felt the pain of his wounds, never felt himself fall. ~ He stood up and looked around. The men that had been around him were tossed in so many directions. The field was one of carnage ~ there was no other way to explain it. Blood... men's blood... claimed the field in ever-growing patches. He seemed to be okay though, and wasn't nearly as exhausted as he'd felt a few seconds ago. Maybe there was something to being unconscious. But he *still* had to get across that field! BOOM!...PHEWWW! Shots were all around him, men falling and screaming. He ran... hard, with a determination born of someone who'd had enough. His friends were there... waiting for him it seemed... waiting on the road. What? How can this be? He'd just seen them die! ~ It's said that when a person isn't ready to cross to the next realm, that their spirit will refuse to leave.... There she was... his beautiful wife! He loved her so much. But, she was sobbing, as though in great pain! Why? She should be happy to see him! What's she reading? It looks like a letter, "....your husband fought valiantly but was cutdown by enemy fire as he was trying to save another during the battle at...." NO! He WASN'T dead! He was HERE! Look at me! I'm here! I'm too young! NOOOO! ~ She looked at his picture, touching it with her hands as the tears rolled down her face. She couldn't believe sixteen years had gone by already. She could still sense him and smell him; she missed him so.... On the other side, he put his hand up, mirroring hers, letting her know everything was okay. ~FINIS~ For many, Memorial Day carries no special meaning except perhaps an extra day off from work, a beach barbecue, the start of the summer travel season, or for merchants, the opportunity to hold their annual Memorial Day Weekend sale. In reality, the holiday is observed in honor of our nation's armed service personnel who were killed in wartime. It is meant to be a solemn day of mourning, remembrance, and thanks to those war heroes who have suffered and perished so that we can live and stay secure ~ a day for us to pay tribute to the gallant souls who laid down their lives in the service of our great nation.. Whether you accept war or not isn't the issue here ~ whether or not you had an ancestor die in battle is; and paying tribute to that ancestor is, too. So, on this day, when you think it's only for a three-day weekend, please remember our military who have died and paid the ultimate price. "A man isn't gone until he's forgotten." Let's not forget ours. Family ... it's what we're all about. I so enjoyed spending this time with you today. Thank you for sharing it with me. I wish each of you a week filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love and inner peace. Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Please, stay safe! ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.'