Memorial Day
October 25, 2009
- My 8th and 9th graders have to write a 350 "essay" on this topic. One of my classes asked, "Ms. Hooker, are you going to write this essay?" So, here's mine. WHAT MEMORIAL DAY MEANS TO ME . . .I’m the product of Mormon immigrants. My parents settled within ten minutes of the homes in which they were raised. Growing up, my Memorial Days were spent in the backseat ...
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May 27, 2009
- Memorial Day started out kind of slow. I snuck into the office to write. My daughter vegged out on cartoons. Until my husband suddenly appeared with the kite.We hadn't been kite flying in ages. Suddenly, the house was a blur of action. Kite flying. It was contagious. We couldn't get out the door fast enough, despite clouds that threatened rain (and a Ben Franklin kind of kite flying experience ...
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May 26, 2009
- Fellow Helium writer M.J. Joachim featured my article on the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans' Day on her blog recently. To check it out, go to http://mjjoachimmeetsheliummembers.blogspot.com/ Her blog, which provides advice and tips to writers, can be found at http://mjjoachim.blogspot.com/ . Check it out.
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May 25, 2009
- My father served in World War II. He was called to active duty again for the Korean War. During that war, he was wounded when a mine exploded. Shrapnel was embedded over the entire backside of his body. Much of it could not be removed. The experience changed him. He was truly wise from the experience he gained serving and fighting in the war. He often told us his war stories. Though he never ...
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May 25, 2009
- Its harder than frozen bratwursts to believe we've reached the end of May already, but there it is—Memorial Day—delivering a swift kick in the buns to any lingering memory of a very ugly winter. And the mustard rises on another summer. Coincidentally, gas prices continue to spike. Again. Hey, alright. Just in time for travel season. What are the odds? Of course, none of us have the money to ...
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May 25, 2009
- Summer has begun in the United States. It may not be the official beginning of summer, but take my word, this is it. Or don’t take my word. Ask any kid; they’ll tell you. Sure, school is still in session, but summer is here. (I would ask my beautiful daughter Laura, but she is asleep. Last night she went to the prom. Laura is sixteen, but her boyfriend Fred is an eleventh grader and thus ...
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May 25, 2009
- It's been a few days for no real reason, just sleepy in the mornings and busy the rest of the time.I like the comic strips that work in Memorial Day themes. Those were a nice treat to see in the paper this morning. I'm a veteran who never suffered anything worse than a paper cut, but even in the peacetime military there were occasional deaths and I worked with many combat veterans who had ...
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May 25, 2009
- It's winter here, folks, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Memorial Day opens up with more of the same from the whole weekend, the arctic blast of fog we natives know so well and are seemingly confused by."Winter in Spring?" we say, forgetting about the 47 springs and summers we've lived through here.This is the weather that Mark Twain didn't write about in terms of San Francisco: ...
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May 25, 2009
- Last week, I began writing a Memorial Day blog. Back on Veterans' Day, I posted a blog and believe I said some really nice things, but while writing this one, I began to feel preachy. After all, I never served in the military, so while I understood the sacrifice that many soldiers made - that this country was born on the backs of dying soldiers and that our freedom has been preserved over the ...
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May 24, 2009
- In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold ...
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