One Hundred Forty Two Years Ago

Thank you Dad (4 yrs. in the Pacific)-thank you Uncle (P38 pilot)-thank you brother-thank you husband--brother-in-law---nephew -friends--thank you Grandfather-new citizen from Denmark- you volunteered for WWI and won the Purple Heart---I wish I had taken the time to talk to you about your experiences-and taken notes...
Thank You - to ALL of Our BEST who have given and are giving their all-

h/t Threedonia
General Orders No. 11 1868:

“If our eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.” – General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868, Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic

“The solemn trust.”

“Ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.”

The quote above is from the order establishing a day in May to gather and present flowers upon the graves of the Fallen.

In other words, it is our duty to remember those who gave all on Memorial Day. The General Order continues:

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

As it was one hundred and forty two years ago, it is the same today