Flags, Leis, and Scouts

The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children. ~William Havard

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (otherwise known as the Punchbowl) is now officially draped in the beauty of the red, white, and blue. Hundreds of scouts descended upon the hallowed ground with one mission: place flags and leis on each of the stones. HS and HH set off early this morning to help fulfil this mission and returned home late this afternoon full of pride. I asked them each to answer the following questions: What was the most rewarding thing you did today? What was the reason for placing the flags and leis for each stone? What will you remember the most from today?



HS: I went with daddy and I got to say thank you to all the dead people. It was nice to place the leis down. I'm going to remember that. We went and placed the flags so that all those who are down in the ground will know we thank them and remember them. They will like the flags that all the kids made. It makes the cemetery very nice.

HH: Watching HS place the leis on the headstones was my most rewarding. Placing the flags and leis is a good way to remember those who have done so much for our country. I will remember the moment of looking out and seeing all the scouts working so hard.



As you prepare for Memorial Day tomorrow, what are some of the things that you could find yourself doing besides enjoying a hamburger and chips? Memorial Day has signified the beginning of the summer for many, but you can modify and add a few things into your day to ensure that the true meaning of the day lives on in the hearts of our children. A website I found today provided many ways to observe Memorial Day and restore the true meaning of this significant holiday.

Memorial Day reminds us of our duties towards the wounded soldiers and the bereaved families, orphans and widows of the dead soldiers. We should honor the dead by adorning their sacred remains with flowers and garlands and show our gratitude towards them in the following ways:

Adorning the graves of the soldiers with flags or flowers.
Visiting cemeteries and memorials.
Furling the American Flag at half-mast until noon.
Furling the 'POW/MIA Flag'.
Keep silence for a minute at 3 p.m., 'National Moment of Remembrance' and listen to Taps being played.
Take a pledge to aid the disabled veterans, widows, widowers and orphans of the dead and keep it.
You may support the efforts to restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day back to May 30th.
Offering thanks to the veterans and appreciating the ultimate sacrifices of the soldiers to the bereaved families personally may help too.