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Archiver > WINCHCOMB > 2002-05 > 1022418375


From: Colleen Pustola <>
Subject: [WINCHCOMB] SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE
Date: Sun, 26 May 2002 07:06:15 -0600


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) Good Morning Friends! ( \
.-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \* )
\\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . .=|=.
\| |// ...and we even have decaf, |~'~|
| |/ tea, and hot chocolate! | |
\ / _|___|_
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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 COUSINS ~~

On behalf of the entire family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome
to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are
very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of
our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list,
please send in your list-surname lines so we can all see how we're
related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or
queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything
to do with our list-surname ancestors that might help someone, please
feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated.

You're welcome to share this Coffee with your genealogy friends and
relatives. If they are not members of our online family and would like
to begin receiving the Coffee, they are now able to. Simply have them
send a blank email to <>.


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...

>From the other side of the picture, he put his shadowed hand up,
mirroring hers, and let her know everything was okay.

~FINIS~

A piece of fiction... or is it?

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!


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_.-~~-.
(@\'--'/. Colleen
('``.__.'`)
`..____.'

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