Happy Memorial Day (to Me) : )

Happy Memorial Day, 2013, to everyone, and it's also my 56th birthday today. I've always enjoyed having a holiday weekend for most of my birthdays, but I can't remember too many times it has actually fallen on this day. There have been several Indy 500 races on my birthday and I graduated from college on my 22nd birthday. Hard to believe that was 34 years ago today!

Pictured above, is my reproduction 13-star flag, dating to the mid 1930s. It was probably bought first for either Connecticut's Tercentennial in 1935 or Guilford's in 1939. I hang it outside once or twice a year to prevent it from fading, although it's age-yellowed a bit.

I apologize to all of my readers for my absence lately. I'll be back to posting more regularly soon!

Memorial Day: Thank You

The growing "bouquet" of Veterans' Poppies on my bike.  

The retired uniformed veteran that sits outside my grocery store during May has told me that I don't need to donate each time I see him, but I do. When I think of the sacrifices that my father, and grandfather, and countless older generations in my family made, and when I see the sacrifices that people in the Service are making today, it's the least I can do. I wish it could be more. I hope we can find some answer besides war someday, and I hope that this country will rededicate itself to taking the best care of its returning veterans we possibly can, always and forever.

• Why has the poppy become the symbol of American Veterans? There's a great story behind it and this website has the details. It's fascinating and moving! Link here.

BTW:
One of my favorite pieces of "popular" music, "Heroes" by David Bowie, seems fitting today. This is a live performance in 1985 for the world-wide "Live-Aid" concert.