ahhh...
what a lovely 3 day weekend...
there are not many weekends i enjoy more than memorial day...
sure, my b-day celebration has always just passed by Memorial Day... (more on that later:)
but the coolest thing...
is that summer is beginning.
and you can feel the energy everywhere...
and of course there is the 3 day weekend...
4 days for some military husbands, if we're lucky (not this year though)...
and speaking of those military folks...
Memorial Day weekend...
is a time to remember...
and to thank our service men and women...
and to remember those...
who have given their lives...
because of a belief in an ideal...
and in support of a free country....
for you and me....
so before i share some pics of my Memorial Day fun
(check back tomorrow)..
(check back tomorrow)..
i thought I'd share just a bit of what went down...
in DC this weekend...
...
of course there were MANY remembrance ceremonies...
i think that each memorial/monument had its own event...
but there were a couple that stood out to me...
...
originally named for "Operation Rolling Thunder"
which was "the first of four district phases of
the air wars in Vietnam and was the first sustained bombing
of the United States bombing campaign against North Vietnam."
(original history/explanation provided by the ever knowledgeable Laughlin...)
the gist of the event is this...
over 250,000 thundering motorcycles invade the capitol...
the goal...
to make sure that no one forgets about our POW's and MIA's.
these are the guys that have not come home...
dead or alive...
they are still out there...
and they and their families are paying the ultimate sacrifice...
here's the description...
Rolling Thunder Run began in 1987 as a demonstration to bring awareness to the plight of prisoners of war (POW) and to those missing in action (MIA). Rolling Thunder originated when four Vietnam Veterans, exercising the First Amendment "Right to Petition and Assemble", organized the first group of 2500 motorcycles to ride through the streets of Washington, DC. This first Rolling Thunder run was made in an attempt to petition the government to take responsibility for the soldiers that were abandoned after the Vietnam War ended.
Today over 250, 000 motorcycles ride during the Rolling Thunder Memorial Day weekend observance, held each year in our nation’s capital. Rolling Thunder has evolved to be not only a demonstration for the POW/MIA issue but also a demonstration of patriotism and respect for soldiers and veterans from all wars.
it was moving to see the motorcycles ALL OVER the city...
lined up in front of hotels and restaurants EVERYWHERE...
it was a great visual reminder for the real reason for the weekend...
...
the other "event" that i wanted to share...
at 10am on Monday she called me from the train...
on her way back from Arlington Cemetery...
she had gone to pay her respects to the thousands that are laid to rest there....
awe man..
why hadn't i thought of that?..
what an opportunity...
while i happen to live right here...
well...
next year for sure...
of course i've visited Arlington Cemetery before..
and i'm sure i'll visit again before next year...
but for Memorial Day...
they do something extra special...
it's called "Flags In"
here's the description...
“Flags In” has been conducted annually since the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) was designated as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948. Flags are placed one foot in front and centered before each headstone in the cemetery. Flags will also be placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns by the Tomb Sentinels and at the cemetery’s Columbarium.
While no volunteers are needed to assist the Old Guard with this sacred duty, visitors are welcome to come and pay their respects during this event and are encouraged to arrive at the cemetery after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27. It will take approximately three hours to place the more than 250,000 flags.
i looked up some pictures of what it looks like...
but next year...
i plan to be there to see it in person...
...
thanks for reading this somewhat long post...
i just felt that before i shared the pics of all of my "fun"...
i would share a couple of events that commemorate the people...
that made all of the fun possible...
in the first place...
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