I tried to think of something pithy to say about Memorial Day and after about the tenth draft, I decided to let the troops speak for themselves. These are letters to my charity Books For Soldiers.

Check them after the flip

On this Memorial Day, I remember two uncles: a great uncle I hardly knew, and another uncle I thought I knew well. Both were American soldiers in France during the XX Century, a little over 25 years apart.

Just Returned from Afghanistan my EOD Son feels duty Bound to go back to Iraq! How am I supposed to feel this Memorial Day?

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane & My Left Wing


click to enlarge

Never Forget, Never
Memorial Day, 2007

Memorial Day 2007
As of today, 5-27-07, there have been 3,730 coalition deaths -- 3,454 Americans in Iraq and 575 coalition deaths -- 386 Americans in Afganistan!

Tomorrow is a day that most Americans will stop and remember those who have died serving our country. Even if it is in between hot dogs, beers or while firing up the grill, most will (hopefully) think of tomorrow as more than the “unofficial start of the summer” or another long weekend.

Crossposted at Daily Kos

(Cross-posted from Daily Kos)

Sadly, I missed the DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Daily Kos meetup at the National Zoo yesterday (h/t Carnacki for setting it all up). Yesterday I had to do something for my grandmother who, as those who have read the diaries regarding my grandmother know, is in poor health. This isn't a diary about her health, though. It's about doing something for her that would lift her spirits. It meant making the trek to Arlington National Cemetery to place flowers at my Grandfather's grave. He's buried in Section 60. Some of you might recognize how and why Section 60 is relevant. Well, I didn't. So follow me over the fold and I'll tell you about my visit and the unexpected and heartbreaking things I saw.

(Note: I have blurred my Grandfather's last name in deference to my family's anonymity)

The pickings are getting slim from across the pond. The Brits and Frogs are involved in their own domestic issues.

But Martin Rowson of The Guardian was able to capture Blair's Farewell Tour in Baghdad. Just a few hours after a mortar bomb had fallen in the protected green zone near the British embassy and in a weekend when eight American soldiers were killed and 43 Iraqi civilians were found murdered.

Yep ... that's Rumsfeld on drums, Wolfowitz on base and our very own Prez-nit all the way to the right on guitar ... Wow!

A weekend for saluting their service
MARY C. CURTIS

Memorial Day weekend starts with all the wrong questions.

How much will it cost to fill up the tank for that family getaway?

How tough will it be to crowd into the Hollywood holiday blockbuster?

What a number of us were doing today, for the Memorial Weekend!

‘Arlington Cemetery of the South’ in Statesville

05:39 PM EDT on Friday, May 25, 2007

By MARK BOONE / WCNC