MONDAY, MAY 29, 2016
Celebrate Memorial Day, Everybody!
A well-known war hero friend of ours thinks it’s still disingenuous and intellectually dishonest for people to claim that they are “for” the troops but “against” the war. Damn it, the troops ARE the war, too. It can’t be compartmentalized, and anybody who says it can is either lying, sadly misinformed, or just plain stupid. Hurley the Historian says, “We’re still in it, one way or the other and we have to finish it, one way or the other.” We just can’t leave and dishonestly claim success like we did in Vietnam. Our national meaning is at stake and people just don’t realize what it does to us when all the tin horn dictators and long-time tyrants see us pull our punches and fly away. That shows us as so weak, and invites attack against us and our people way more than some realize.
Our Quote for Today Committee is reminded of the opening line from Thomas Paine’s “The Crisis” which was printed in December, 1776: “THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of
Whistleblower Pollster Ron Rasmussen says most says 44% of American Adults rate Memorial Day – celebrated today – as one of the country’s most important holidays. That’s up from 39% two years ago and down only slightly from a high of 46% in 2007 when the Iraq war was at its height. Just 4% now think Memorial Day is one of the least important holidays, while 50% rate it as somewhere in between.
And while everyone is enjoying the MILFS on the first official day of the 2016 beach and pool season, at Sunday’s meeting of the Conservative Agenda, Charles Foster Kane said it was time to stop and reflect on our reason to take a day off from all that malarkey Obama Supporters in the Press have been oozing forth ever since Obama began standing by watching America’s battles through heavy lenses. Our Beloved Whistleblower Publisher asked Political Insiders if they remembered Obama’s disgraceful reference to “American Arrogance,” and showed slides of some of our “European Arrogances.” We’ll show them to you in alphabetical order.
And Bluegrass Bureau Chief Ken CamBoo wonders if any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which “Taps” was played. Here’s something every American should know: We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, “Taps.” It’s the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes, like the rendition we heard at Sunday Night’s National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about the humble beginnings of America’s most famous bugle call performed today by the Taps Buglers at Arlington National Cemetery.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and, suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy had enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral, but the request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth’s uniform.
This wish was granted, and the haunting melody, we now know as “Taps” used at military funerals was born.
NOTE: The guys at Snopes.com say this story is completely false. HOW FREAKING UNPATRIOTIC IS THAT?
Remember To Thank Every Veteran You Meet Today
It’s the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us Freedom of Religion.
It’s the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us Freedom of the Press.
It’s the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It’s the VETERAN, not the community organizer, who has given us Freedom to Assemble.
It’s the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It’s the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you’re reading it in English, try thanking a VETERAN.
Now let’s put aside the day’s clutter, take a moment to watch this fine tribute to our military.
More Memorial Day Cartoons
Whistleblower Patriotic Video of the Day
★ U.S. Armed Forces – We Must Fight – President Reagan (HD) 2014 ★
(Sent in Whistleblower War Hero Ollie Hackworth, one of the survivors of that “Three Against a Thousand Massacre, a tale of valor told many times in The Blower.”
Note: We guarantee iPhone subscribers who don’t go home and see links and pictures on their computers are not going to appreciate all of this good stuff today.
