Today is Memorial Day in the U.S., a national ‘howliday’ where we remember all those who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. Originally known as Decoration Day back in the years after the Civil War (when Union and Confederate soldiers honored their dead by decorating their graves with flowers), it has morphed into the current form honoring all Americans who died serving their country.
Today is also the ‘unofficial’ beginning of the summer vacation season and as too often the case here, has been co-opted into a shopping frenzy with Memorial Day sales. It will be a quiet day of reflection at the Ranch, especially given the turbulent climate around the world. Today we honor those in our family who served their country and say a special prayer for the 4-legged who have also served this nation with distinction.
What plans do you have for this 3-day howliday?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
We relaxed as well. And ate WAY WAY too much at a cookout where we also spent time sharing stories we have heard about The Greatest Generation. God Bless our troops (those fallen and those still with us) as well as their families and our canine heroes too. ❤️
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Happy belated Memorial Day
I avoided the stores. Instead, I stayed home and reflected. 🙂
Good on you! Us too. Well mostly I reflected why the hell my dog is soooo strange. LOL
A quiet weekend for us too. I don’t like when holidays get co-opted into shopping frenzy days. I’d far prefer to relax at home!
Exactly. Pause and reflect on the real meaning of the day and relax with the furry ones.
We agree that Memorial Day has become another commercial holiday for too many. We save our celebrating for the 4th of July and remember those who sacrificed all for our freedom on this day. ♥
When I was a child, my parents always took us to the cemeteries on Memorial Day to put flowers on my grandmother’s and other relatives graves. I always think of that on this day, as well as all who sacrificed for our freedoms.
These are complicated times so reflection is very impawtent!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
That’s diplomatically put, guys. I’m inclined to call them something else, but maybe I’m just getting old…now get off my lawn people! BOL
I walked in a charity run/walk this morning for the American Cancer Society – 4K walk. Others did a 4 mile run. I have run before, but not this year. If the rain holds off, I plan to play tennis later – no BBQ or shopping for me.
Kudos to you! I’m actually hoping for a shower this afternoon but no BBQ or shopping here either. 😉
Thank you for reminding me of the almost-forgotten term, “Decoration Day.” My Grandma lost her youngest son in WW II, and we always honored the day with a freshly mowed lawn, backyard picnic, and watching the Decoration Day Parade march past our house. It was the one day of the year where complete strangers felt at home setting up their aluminum and nylon lawn chairs in stranger’s front yards in order to watch the parade. There were horses and baton twirlers and the American Legion Band and the fez-topped group of men whose name escapes me. Wow, I’m typing a post. Sorry. 🙂 Anyhow, the parade ended in the cemetery at the end of our block, and we always visited the graves afterward. Phew. That’s all.
I remember those days. Looks like we’re both oldsters. BOL As always, post away my friend❣️
LOVE that graphic! DakotasDen
Thank you. The only way it could be better is if it were paw shaped. Happy Memorial Day!
As I’ve already said on other blogs: as a German born 2 years after WWII, I’ve always been and will always be grateful to those heroes that gave their lives so that I could grow up and live in freedom.
We share those thoughts today. 🇩🇪🇺🇸
Happy Memorial Day everyone! I think we’ll have some fun times hanging out with our dogs and maybe taking Momar to the store with us since he’s certified a Service Dog for my mom. Hope everyone has a good one!
Love this post! I agree 100%! Today we will mostly just relax and remember our own family members who served our country. (We do have to do some food shopping though. Ugh!)
Happy Memorial Day to All of You!!!
And to you and yours as well❣️
Good luck with the grocery shopping. I need to do that too but will try to postpone.
Thanks! I wish I could postpone, but the only food in the house is in cans and a bag from Chewy. And maybe some peanut butter. While I could get by with the pb, hubby would be grumpy and snarky all. day. long.
I know exactly what you mean. When I lived alone, as long as there was dog food in the house, I never worried about groceries. I figured that’s why they made cereal. LOL
Happy Memorial Day 🙂
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memorial day sales… that’s candy in the ears of the mama… but we rather stay away and cook all american food while remembering our heroes…
Don’t take in too much ‘candy’ so that the dad will stay happy. 😇