A Correspondence Reply

Les Braves, Vierville-sur-Mer,
Omaha Beach, Normandy, France (April 2024)

Dear S_:

It was good to hear from you returning from a visit to Lois, a Christian sister in Idaho. Perhaps you are now in Winthrop Harbor, IL., enjoying the lake and being with C_’s family. As God through the apostle John, we pray all goes well for you. I hope you are as strong in body, as I know also you are in spirit. (3 John 1:2)

Monday, 27 May, was the last Monday in May; it was Memorial Day in these United States. This yearly federal holiday was first inaugurated in 1868 to commemorate the dead of the Civil War; henceforth, all U.S. armed forces who died in global armed conflicts.

Today is 6 June. Here in the U.S. will honor the eightieth years of D-day for the liberation of Europe from the tyrannical Nazi Germany. On that day eighty years ago, this country loss many young men on the shores of Normandy, France. Perhaps there are still “a few of those collected here” in this country still remembered and honored the relinquishment of so many young American lives on 6 June 1944. (e.g.,The Bedford Boys Hometown Memorial )

Now, for some home front news. My neighbor put up in a new fence on the east side last week or so. It took 2.5 days; and it was a tall wooden fence which gave them and us more privacy. As for me, for the last few weeks I cleared about 35’x 4.5’ of Golden Poppies and weeds grew among the tree roses and gardenias on the south fence line. The area looked dried and messy after spring. In lieu, I am now planting more heat tolerant succulents with plenty of spaces in-between for removing resurgent weeds. These succlents were transplanted from established plants in the backyard. In addition, I trimmed some Spanish, French and Englih lavender shrubs. In addition, I repaired several drip line leaks. By the way, at this writing it is 100 °F (the max is forecast at 103). The planted succulents are doing nicely in the heat (so far). I still have several pots of the different succulent plants potted and readied for new locations. Finally, I had a handyman came and looked at the patio lattice-fence and the garage florescent tubes. Since these are non-urgent projects, he could prioritize the tasks. I think he will start the patio lattice this month.

So long for now.

L’

Eighty Years Ago: D-day, June 6, 1944

WARS

In the old wars drum of hoofs and the beat of shod feet.
In the new wars hum of motors and the tread of rubber
     tires.
In the wars to come silent wheels and whirr of rods not
     yet dreamed out in the heads of men.

In the old wars clutches of short swords and jabs into
     faces with spears.
In the new wars long range guns and smashed walls, guns
     running a spit of metal and men falling in tens and twenties.
In the wars to come new silent deaths, new silent hurlers
     not yet dreamed out in the heads of men.

In the old wars kings quarreling and thousands of men
     following.
In the new wars kings quarreling and millions of men
     following.
In the wars to come kings kicked under the dust and
     millions of men following great causes not yet
     dreamed out in the heads of men.

- Carl Sandburg, 1916

Memorial Day Weekend, 2024

THE BATTLEFIELD

They dropped like flakes, they dropped like stars,
      Like petals from a rose.
When suddenly across the June
      A wind with finger goes.

They perished in the seamless grass,—
      No eye could find the place;
But God on his repealless list
      Can summon every face.

    — Emily Dickinson

Thy Friends Are Exultations, Agonies, and Love

Thou hast left behind
Powers that will work for thee; earth, air, and skies,
There’s not a breathing of the common wind
That will forget thee; thou hast great allies;
Thy friends are exultations, agonies,
And love, and man’s unconquerable mind.

— Wordsworth

Your Sacred Dust Be the Choice Trust

Memorial Day, 2022

Our martyred dead! on each low bed,
Green be the chaplet, fresh the roses;
No marble cold may guard your mold,
But loving hearts around are swelling.

Oh, lightly rest, on each calm breast,
The turf where each in peace reposes;
Each daring deed shall gain the meed
Of praise from all hearts richly welling.

Hail! hero shades, your battle blades
A wall of steel our homes surrounded;
Your sacred dust be the choice trust
Of Freedom's grateful sons and daughters.

- Anonymous

The Russian Bear Could Eat Half or All of This Fish

Father's Day, 21 June 2020

"There is something in't.
More than my father's skill, which was the greatest."
- All's Well That Ends Well: A1, S3.

On the matter of the official beginning of summer yesterday, 20 June 2020, any calendar day was just another work day in Arabia for T.E. Lawrence of yore.

"Here flew a head, dissever'd from the trunk,
There mangled arms and legs were tossed aloft,
As when a whirl wind takes the summer dust."
-Edward III, A3, S1.

Steve Allen and His Jazz Band,  (1996)
- Lawrence of Arabia Movie Theme
(Jarre)

Click or tap here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.

Mother's Day 2020

War and Remembrance - The Longest Day

It's midnight 7 June, in Paris, France. In 1944, thousands of allies died on the beaches of Normandy 6 June. Most of the dead were Americans. It was as the film depicts, "The Longest Day."

Hail, Dearest Few!

Memorial Day
Louise Imogen Guiney
1909

O day of roses and regret,
Kissing the old graves of our own!
Not to the slain love's lovely debt
Alone.

But jealous hearts that live and ache,
Remember; and while drums are mute,
Beneath your banners' bright outbreak,
Salute:

And say for us to lessening ranks
That keep the memory and the pride,
On whose thinned hair our tears and thanks
Abide,

Who from their saved Republic pass,
Glad with the Prince of Peace to dwell:
Hail, dearest few! and soon, alas,
Farewell.

Veterans Day 2012

Veterans Day 2011

A Veterans Day Remembrance
Click here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.

Veterans Day Prayer and Meditation
Susan Kramer

"You gave for peace with courage
That families may be free
So children could grow strong
And safe they'd ever be.
In giving for the sake of peace
You may have suffered loss
Your body may still show its wounds
From taking up the cause.

May remembrance of your time away
Your sacrifice for peace
Spur us on to strive more strongly
For freedom, that there'll be release.

From causes that sent some away
To fight that we may freely live
With gratefulness we thank you, veterans
For all you gave and give!"

National D-Day Memorial

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

Click here to view this L'Envoi YouTube.

And some more National D-Day Memorial pictures...

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

D-Day Observance, 2011

The MP3 below expired on 06-23-2011.
Click here to play the current selection.

A Selection from
The 1988 "War and Rembrance" Soundtrack
for D-Day, June 6, 1944 Observance

Memorial Day Remembrance, 2011

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA

Ronald Reagan 100th Birthday Anniversary

Ronald Wilson Reagan
40th President of the United States
(6 February 1911 – 5 June 2004)

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

-- Ronald Reagan

D-Day, June 6, 1944

Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, Normandy
"Good Luck! And Let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God
upon this great and noble undertaking."
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Order of the Day, June 4, 1944

RIP Dick Francis

One of my favorite British mystery writers died on Sunday at the age of 89. His horseplaying around earned him a CBE from the Order of the British Empire. That he did.

The Gipper's Birthday Anniversary

President Ronald Wilson Reagan
(6 February, 1911 – 5 June, 2004)

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

-- Ronald Reagan

Memorial Day Weekend, 2008

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery
This MP3 Selection Expired on 05-29-2008
Lausanne Intrumental and Vocal Ensemble (2000)
Qui tollis peccata mundi (JS Bach)

Qui tollis peccata mundi
Four-part Chorus
from 'Mass in B minor, BWV 232'
Johann Sebastian Bach

Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.