All Purls. No Swine.
A few of my favorites to celebrate the day. The Stars and Stripes Forever, performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. I have an indelible memory of their concert, many years ago now, just up the road in Washington, PA which the late Mr. Right and I attended together: https://youtu.be/a-7XWhyvIpE The Battle Hymn… Continue reading Happy 247th Birthday, United States of America!
It's Memorial Day weekend here in the USA. The approved Memorial Day for 2023 is Monday, May 29, although my mother-in-law never called the actual day anything but Decoration Day, and never commemorated it on any day other than May 30 in any given year. Unfortunately, in 1971, as part of a mad rush at… Continue reading Memorial Day, 2023
Tradition has it that, on April 23 in AD 303, a young and promising Roman soldier in the army of the Emperor Diocletian was beheaded after gruesome torture, and died professing his Christian faith to the end. Very little is known of his life, but it’s believed he was born into a devout Christian family,… Continue reading A Bloody Cross
A few of my favorites to celebrate the day. The Stars and Stripes Forever, performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. I have an indelible memory of their concert, many years ago now, just up the road in Washington, PA which Mr. Right and I attended together: https://youtu.be/a-7XWhyvIpE The Battle Hymn of the… Continue reading Happy Birthday, United States of America!
I’m proud of my country. Not in the Michelle Obama “first time” sense, but one which, for once, I’m comfortable “sharing” (as the abominable Markle might put it.) My Lord. So many flag wavers. You’d think the country had turned “American” all of a sudden. Loved it, from the Horse Guards, to the Trooping the… Continue reading A Very Un-British Feeling
Tradition has it that, on April 23 in AD 303, a young and promising Roman soldier in the army of the Emperor Diocletian was beheaded after gruesome torture, and died professing his Christian faith to the end. Very little is known of his life, but it’s believed he was born into a devout Christian family,… Continue reading A Bloody Cross
And I’m just saying, you know, if I were Osama bin Laden–he’s a very smart guy, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about him–and I nearly got him once. I nearly got him. And I could have killed him, but I would have to destroy a little town called Kandahar in Afghanistan and kill… Continue reading September 10, 2001
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isle's enchanted hall, Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, Fairy strains of music fall, Every sense in slumber dewing. In our isle's enchanted hall, Hands unseen thy couch are… Continue reading For A Dear Friend: Soldier, Rest!
Commemorating the Battle of Belleau Wood, 102 years ago this month, and Sergeant Daniel Joseph Daly, who is credited with shouting these words to his men, just before charging the Germans. It is reputed that Daly was twice offered a commission, and that he responded, on both occasions, that he would “rather be an outstanding… Continue reading “Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?”
Today is the nation’s officially designated Memorial Day. My mother-in-law never called it anything but Decoration Day, and never commemorated it on any day other than May 30 in any given year. The day has an interesting history, and yet its essence today is simple and can be distilled as follows: Let us remember, in all the… Continue reading Memorial Day, 2021