We have A Day to remember those who died in service to this country and to us. We have enjoyed freedoms for longer than most countries because of such men and woman. Everyday should be A Day where we stop for a minute and think on them, and their families who serve too. Being old enough to remember, I think The Day has lost some of its' reverence over the years since Congress made it part of a three day National Holiday. In our history it seems that Congress for the most part tends to forget our military when they are not needed, (In this world I cannot think of time we do not need them). We should have all read the reports of pay rates, army wives going on food stamps, their for life Health Care costs being raised. How sad it is that a man or woman serving this country for over 20 years gets less in retirement than a congressmen who served 6. Of course Congress makes sure they get their yearly pay raise, and the best medical coverage for life, and an ungodly retirement package. This poem was written over 100 years ago, for a different army, in a different nation, but says it best.
written in 1892 by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
The History of Memorial Day:
http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
