Memorial Day, USA

I had no idea so I am grateful to Mr. Jay Cost at The National Review for teaching me that the last Monday in May, in other words today, is set aside in America as Memorial Day to acknowledge the sacrifices of their servicemen who perished on duty in sundry wars and conflicts.  So far, so good, but as this painting indicates, the first sacrifices were made against us, their British cousins.  Shockin', shockin'!

The March to Valley Forge, 1883, by William Trego (Wikimedia)

Heavens to Betsy it was actually a revolution against good, ol' King George III who, I am assured, was a very decent, old chap although, to be honest, he was subject to the odd fit of insanity.  Also, he was awfully hard up and really needed the money he tried to raise off those 'fat cats' in Boston.  Honestly, there was no gratitude back in those days!  Anyway, after considerable sacrifices of the ultimate kind by the new American army - and navy (in case 'JK' is reading this) - we Brits grumped off back home and invaded India instead which was, on the whole, much easier to run!

All that was a light-hearted piece of nonsense which should not be taken seriously.  The serious fact is that countless American servicemen and women have given their lives since then, mostly in noble causes and it is entirely right that they should be memorialised by their own kith and kin.  We in this country have much to be grateful for in their sacrifices and so, metaphorically, I salute them on this solemn day.

 

 

Comments

[Whitewall]

We thank you. Freedom isn't free.

[Bob]

Thanks to the Americans and Brits who have served.

[JK]

Thanks Kith. And Kin.

[Bob]

Thanks also to the Aussies and others who are 'on our side'.

[JK]

David,

http://supremacyandsurvival.blogspot.com/2015/10/between-two-worlds-english-and-american.html

You are, if I'm recalling accurately, reading about Cromwell ain'tcha?

It's odd we here in America owe a'lot to that ol' sod too.

[JK]

If David, you're inclined to the Cliffnotes version of what I linked above:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7096504-13-16-_between-two-worlds-how-the-english-became-americans-_-by-malcolm-gaskill-and-gildart-jac

That's the whole interviewing shebang.

My searching his archives maybe saves you being at the bottom of a bookslide.

[David Duff]

Thanks, JK, a pair of interesting links - although you need to be careful not to confuse your 'Cromwells' as I do from time to time! Thomas is the one I'm studying, he was Henry VIII's 'bagman' - until Henry chopped his head off! The other Cromwell was Oliver who came roughly a hundred years later and spent most of his time burning Catholics!

[JK]

https://audioboom.com/posts/7096488-11-16-_between-two-worlds-how-the-english-became-americans-_-by-malcolm-gaskill-and-gildart-jac?playlist_direction=forward

I noted there was an interlude between how that first part stopped seemingly incomplete, so I had to do abit more archive swimming.

Oh and thank you David, I hadn't a clue!

Oliver's the fellow obviously because, as I understand it, Henry VIII wasn't using his Cromwell to fund American colonies now was he?

[AussieD]

Memorial Day. Eight bells in the forenoon watch, time to face aft and salute the ensign.

Thanks for the links JK. Very interesting and I shall follow them up.

[Glesga]

David, re-Cromwell (Oliver). He may have burnt some Catholics but their souls were saved! However the Catholics and C of E did a good hatchet job on Scottish Protestants and Covenanters. Cutting of ears of the Covenanters was a favourite practice of the C of E.