Here's how I got the idea for Remembering Memorial Day
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MONDAY, MAY 26, 2003 - Today is a holiday--Memorial Day--and after loafing around the house this morning I went out for a little while in the afternoon to read. Stopping at Panera Bread at 2:30pm I ordered my usual--cinnamon roll & large iced tea--and settled down to read the paper.
Noticing the time, I sought out the manager and asked him for a favor. I asked, "Do you know what today is?" He answered, "Monday." I smiled thinking 'Oh, the youth of today' and asked "What holiday is it?" "Memorial Day" he replied. Then I mentioned, "Today at 3pm you might want to observe a moment of silence that the President asked us to do." "Why?" he asked. 'Oh, the youth of today' I thought--then added "It is to remember those who have died in service to their country." "Oh, yeah" he said, "that's a good idea."
At 3pm I stood at my table--the restaurant had more workers than
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
It's simple - all you do is download a page of instructions and lists of names. They can be copied and distributed by email, on paper, included in church bulletins, civic club programs, or at work.
You can also download three short essays that I wrote: War is Hell, One Color, In Great Deeds and Take Them.
customers--and the manager turned off the music and announced over the microphone "In observance of Memorial Day we will have a minute of silence." I smiled. Then I frowned as the workers kept working, the manager took an order, and all of the patrons continued their conversations. So much for remembering . . .
We can't change how the whole country remembers
Memorial Day . . . but we can change how those we know
remember. Will you do it?
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Charlie Stuart
Finally, you can download a reprint of a column by famous WWII war correspondent Ernie Pyle, The Death of Captain Waskow. A fitting memorial to all the "Captain Waskow's" who died for us.