Memorial Day - First Day of Summer (unofficially)

The last Monday in May, formerly known as Decoration Day, originated after the Civil War to commemorate the more than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who died.   By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

 

On Memorial Day the US flag is raised briskly and then solemnly lowered to half mast, where it remains until noon, after which it is then raised to full mast for the remainder of the day. 

 

The half-mast position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.  'Liberty and justice for all'  is a favourite expression, much bandied about here.

 

It is all a little confusing for people like me, especially when I see Obama laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, which is all very reminiscent of the Queen and the Cenotaph and Remembrance Day, however their equivalent of our Remembrance Day in November is called Veterans Day.   Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.

I spent most of the day watching it all on television while I finished off this little afghan.

I'm donating it to the Senior Centre for a raffle prize.   Little old ladies here like them this size to put over their laps.  Perhaps - since I now fall into that category - I should make one for myself.

We have had thunderstorms today,

and I was playing 'hunt the cat'.   Then during a break in them she appeared - from goodness knows where - and padded across the living room.   Although I had left a closet door open, and put a duvet down on the floor for her, she decided she preferred to cower behind a chair.

It was unbelievable how hard it was raining, 'coming down like stair rods' is an understatement.

and the road was like a river in full flood.