Memorial Day, 2015

 Another Memorial Day is upon us, and as each year passes, the reason for this day seems to be diminished. It's a sad day of reflection for me, as I think about those who stood for the greater good and gave their all. 
  The members of the Greatest Generation are all but gone from the current scene. They stood, as one, to preserve the rights of a free people to exist. The horrors that they uncovered, both in the European and Pacific theaters of war are well documented. Yet, there are so many today who choose to forget the sacrifices of these great men and women. They all came together to fight for the freedoms that we all enjoy today. We must never forget their sacrifices. We must never forget those who were designated for annihilation by those who claimed to be the master races.
  I spend these days reflecting on the efforts of those who wished a better future for us all. It was an effort that the entire generation of a free people voluntarily sacrificed for. So many died, willingly, so that we might be free.
  So, as you have your barbecues and family gatherings on this day... remember those who gave their all so that you might have such gatherings.. so that you might breathe the free air, and continue to live in relative freedom. Take a few moments to give thanks to those who gave so much so that you could be free.
  I don't care what your political beliefs are, just remember that because so many were willing to give their all, you have the right and the obligation to continue to express your beliefs. 
 Love and Peace to All, as always!
 John Zaffino
 Kent Lakes, New York
 Memorial Day, 2015

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aging.... Gracefully?

Image
I was reading an article on line the other day and came across a paragraph that focused on 'Baby Boomers' (I hate that title), and it said that some of us were elderly. Curious, I looked up 'Elderly' to find out at what age one becomes elderly, and was shocked to find that I passed that milestone two years ago!  How could this be? My mind is still sharp, even if my eyes aren't. My wit is nimble, even if my body isn't. This just could not be true, I told myself. So, I searched several more times, and each time came back with the same result.... I'm elderly. I was stunned. Then, I started to think about aging, and what we have been led to believe we were going to be in for, as opposed to the truth. My conclusion is that we have been led down the garden path to smell the roses, and instead have become lost in the woods.   We have been told all of our lives that we will grow old gracefully. Ha! Let me tell you, for most of us, there is nothing graceful about
Read more

Summer

Image
Summer! What I have waited for all year... I love the Spring, but I am head over heels IN LOVE with Summer. My favorite day is the Summer Solstice... the longest day of the year. You will usually find me out early, and staying out late... I need to absorb every single second of light that is given to me on this day. It is Yin and Yang.. good and bad... it signals the beginning of the hot Summer season; but, sadly, it also signals the beginning of the Sun's inexorable march south. The days are beautiful, but each day is slightly shorter. Still, I love it. I love every drop of sweat that trickles from me. I love the caress of the Sun's rays on my aging body. I love the songs of all the birds, starting early in the morning, and lasting until dusk. Sadly, my hearing has deteriorated to the point where I no longer hear the peepers and the crickets singing at night. I miss those songs. However, I can still see the lightning bugs signaling to each other, as they search for a mate. I c
Read more

Thoughts On Thanksgiving- Part I

Image
Thanksgiving  2008 OK, now I'm going to sound like the Old Man that I am. This is about Thanksgiving, after all, and Thanksgiving is an old tradition that dates back to Abraham Lincoln. So if you get bored with old-timer stories, hang in there, because this is going somewhere, and I have something to say.   Back when I was a young boy, Thanksgiving was a really big deal. It wasn't just Black Friday Eve, or the day that people sat in front of the Television with a plate of food, watching every mind numbing football game that your 200 - Plus television channels will bring you. It was a time to be with your family and enjoy a big meal together. It was a time to reflect on everything that you were thankful for. People got dressed for dinner. Mom and the other women of the family would start cooking and baking days in advance whatever they could, so that the family could sit and enjoy each other's company. No one worked, except for certain utility workers, and people that w
Read more