Quote Of The Day - Memorial Day Edition

May 28th, 2012

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." 

-- Jose Narosky

A Poem For Memorial Day

May 27th, 2012

Shiloh: A Requiem
by Herman Melville

Skimming lightly, wheeling still, 
 The swallows fly low 
Over the field in clouded days, 
 The forest-field of Shiloh-- 
Over the field where April rain 
 Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain 
Through the pause of night 
That followed the Sunday fight 
 Around the church of Shiloh-- 
The church so lone, the log-built one, 
That echoed to many a parting groan 
 And natural prayer 
Of dying foemen mingled there-- 
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve-- 
 Fame or country least their care: 
(What like a bullet can undeceive!) 
 But now they lie low, 
While over them the swallows skim, 
 And all is hushed at Shiloh.

In Memorium

May 30th, 2011

It is with great humility that would should mark this day. Through centuries of conflict, we have risen again and again to the task of guaranteeing freedom as a commonality rather than as the privilege of a very few. 

The fight is never finished. There are always winters in our nation's journey. But, there have also always been warriors from our humblest ranks who have fought not to avenge or to impose but to protect and to preserve. For them, I urge all Americans to take a moment of silence and give thanks. That these men and women are memorialized appropriately is our solemn duty.

I can think of no greater words than these upon which we might reflect.

"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" 

-- excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address