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5/25/2015

Memorial Day - To Honor Our Fallen Heroes

Good Morning, and if you are in the USA, Happy Memorial Day. This is the day when we honor those fallen in the service of our beloved country:
 
a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May. Also called (esp. formerly) Decoration Day.
 

That's the definition Google gives 'Memorial Day'.  When I was a child, it was called Decoration Day and was the 30th of May. That was the day Dad would take my Grandma to the family church cemetery, to clean the graves of our family dead. These days were long before perpetual care. I can remember playing along the tombstones, reading epitaphs and being told "Don't walk on the graves, but between them". For some reason, you were not to speak very loudly and of course, no running. Didn't really understand why, as there was nobody to hear me or be disturbed by my running. At the time, I didn't understand that this was a way to 'Show Respect'. We always left flowers and would place tiny American flags on those of our kin who died in the line of duty. Of course the other community families would be doing the same. Doubt much of that is done now-a-days, since this church has a company taking care of the grounds. I expect the local community residents remember with flowers & perhaps a flag. When we visit my hometown, as we recently did for a family reunion, I always walk out in the cemetery and pay my respects: first to my parents, and to many of my ancestors' graves. My grandparents sleep behind the back wall of the church, so they are easy to find. Have to take a walk to find some of the other kin, because I don't remember exactly where they lay. It's a very interesting place, as such places go, because there are some graves that go back into the mid-1700's. Not really that old, perhaps, but it is for our little Southern town. It's intriguing to see how many relatives from both sides of my parents are buried here. Great-Greats on Mom's side are here as well, although it was more my Dad's people who lived in this community. Some of the inscriptions are interesting to read, and some of the tiny infant stones break your heart..to see so many losses in one family- lots were in sequential years.The church that stands there guarding these ancestors is about the 3rd or 4th that has stood on the site.
 
OK..on to the simple card that I hope will say Thank You for all of you who have Veterans who died so that we could enjoy those freedoms that we still have today. Hope you will accept it on behalf of their dedicated sacrifice.

Edit: Just received the link to this very emotional video, which expresses all the thoughts everyone in any country should be thinking. All our countries have sacrificed to one war or another. Warning: it will bring some tears, but we ALL need to think about these things:

 
Hope the link will open for you. At the beginning, the author explains how the video came about. Listen to the words of his song as you see the photos.
 
 
- White c/s was swiped with DI Barn Door and Fired Brick, then embossed with a stars EF, die cut with a stitched hillside die (think was Lawn Fawn)
 
- Memento Bahama Blue swiped over another white c/s, then used DI Faded Jeans. Hillside die, then a starburst EF. Both these pieces were adhered to a white card front with dimensionals.
 
- Sentiment computer generated and die cut with an MFT xstitch rectangle. (the white part of the sentiment had to be sort of grayed...of course the white lettering would not show up, but at least it kept to the idea of Red, White & Blue).
 
- Cardbase is from a 4th of July Paper Studio 12x12 purchased some years ago.
 
That's it. Hope it conveys my Thanks to those who so deserve it.  Thanks for coming to visit, and have a grand day.
 
Don't forget it's the start of Rudolph Day - which will be open until the end of May. 
 

32 comments:

  1. A fitting tribute Mary, a brilliant card and a sensitive story, hugs Kate x

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  2. A wonderful Memorial Day card Mary and love your family story. It is very important to remember those who have served their country and especially those that have paid with their lives. Out equivalent day - Remembrance Day is in November. x

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  3. Love your tribute card Mary. It is very important to always remember those who gave their lives for the country. We celebrate ours in November. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxxx

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  4. Hi Mary,
    what a superb creation for such a memorable day.
    This is perfect to celebrate those brave men and women who fought so that we could have the freedom we sometimes take for granted.
    Love and big hugs from my house to yours.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  5. A lovely tribute! Love this beautiful card! Great way to use the good old red, white, and blue! LOVE the design!
    Lynn

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  6. A lovely tribute Mary. I do love the embossing folders you've used. Carol x

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  7. This is so beautiful, Mary!! A perfect card to celebrate the day!! I love the texture and the design!! It's fabulous!! Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!!

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. A very apt post.

    Loving the card.

    Hope you have a good day. Sue

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  9. What a lovely story Mary - so nice of you to share your treasured memories of you growing up and the care you and your family took of the graves.
    A fabulous and fitting card. Love it.
    Have a lovely week.
    Hugs Sharon. x

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  10. Very nice card to honor our heroes.

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  11. A beautiful memorial card,love the embossing-I love to read the headstones too but very sad when you read the infant ones and maybe more than one in the family-also the young age of some of the soldiers.
    Thank you for the lovely e-mail
    Carol x

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  12. A beautiful card and a wonderful way to remember those we all owe so much to... Hugs, Anne x

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  13. A lovely tribute, both with your card, and your words xxx

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  14. Lovely card for Memorial Day and a very moving video and song.

    Kath x

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  15. A lovely card and Thankyou for telling the story of your family graves. We were always told not to walk on the graves even if hey were set level in the grass. Hugs Mrs A.

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  16. Wonderful memorial card Mary, love your family story you shared with us. thank you.
    Hugs Pam x

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  17. What a nice tribute to our fallen armed service members. We did the same thing visiting the graves when I was a girl. Cleaned up the grass and leaves and left flowers or flags. It is a tradition that people no longer do.

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  18. A super tribute card Mary. I love the embossing folders and the way you used the patriotic colours and great design.The video and song are very moving as well.
    Jean x

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  19. Looks great, Mary...a wonderful tribute!

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  20. Wow, Mary, this is an awesome card! Love the embossed red and blue and how the diecut edges make me think of a waving flag! I love your memories of visiting the cemetery. Memories of Memorial Day always include visits to cemeteries, taps and May 30th.

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  21. Sniff. That video is awesome. Thanks for sharing it.

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  22. Fabulous Memorial Day card and tribute.

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  23. This is such a beautiful tribute to America. Loving the red, white and blue - very patriotic!

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  24. Lovely tribute Mary. My dad was in the Polish army which then merged with the British army so he is one of our servants who faced the hardships of the war.. so yes a wonderful tribute...xxx
    {aNNie My Personal Blog}

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  25. What a fabulous card Mary - love the bright bold colours and the curved lines.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  26. Your story is much like many southern people's story Momma Mary. The south has always instilled respect into it's children, more so back in the day than now, I know it was instilled into me! The link was very moving and one that I could relate too with my son. I've always told people, the son that was sent to war wasn't the same son I got back. War changes a person, how can it not?! You can do what they have to do, see what they have to see and not be effected by it!!! There is just no way. You can't kill a person at 19 years old and not be effected by it, even if it was either you or the enemy. I think we are more aware today of PTSD than in the past, but we still have a long way to go. Our military men and women, no matter what country they serve in, need help and the military just doesn't give it to them. It's a deep hole and one that is very hard to get out of. This song gives light to this disease, I pray that more soldiers get the help they need without it having a negative impact on their lives. Thanks for sharing this Momma Mary, it did indeed have the tears rolling! Your card is just beautiful, simple but not, and to the point! I love it with all my heart and soul!!! Hugs, Brenda

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  27. Wonderful Mary, a very fitting tribute.
    hugs Jacee
    Simply Paper Card Design

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  28. A beautiful card and a wonderful blog post to go along with it - enjoyed reading it! Have a great day Mary!

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  29. Wonderful card- love the tribute you wrote up. I have done a little family history, and know how cool it is to find a cemetery with lots of ancestors- so neat- the history in the families had to be so fun to know! God Bess those who have served the country so we may be free!

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  30. Loved to read your story, Mary and I hope that you had a lovely Memorial Day!!!! Your card is beautiful!!!
    Hugz

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  31. You are so amazing Mary....wonderful story and wonderful card, just perfect for Memorial Day.

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  32. Those embossing folders are so cool. And what a fabulous way to use the hillside die. I never would have thought of that. Wonderful card and an even more amazing sentiment.

    I also really like your story about visiting the cemetery to pay your respects on Memorial Day. Back in the 1800's people actually used to picnic in cemeteries.

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