Posted on May 27, 2017
Flags-In 2017 at Arlington National Cemetery
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Memorial Day
Service
Sacrifice
Freedom
Posted >1 y ago
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HOOAH, OOH-RAH, Bravo Zulu! A time to reflect and remember. Let us enjoy our today especially for those that gave up their tommorrows ! Thanks for sharing!
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LTC John Mohor
That's nice to know that some schools are still learning the meaning behind Memorial Day! Thanks for sharing!
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A long standing tradition that I had the honor of participating in for four years. Back in my day, Flags In was not a press event. We went into the cemetery in the early morning hours well before sunrise and completed the task long before the cemetery opened.
I liked how we did it back then. For the tourists and other visitors of the cemetery, the flags just magically appeared a few days before Memorial Day. I like how they do it today too. It calls attention to it and serves as a reminder that Memorial Day is about something more than the beginning of summer. More than beer and barbecue.
Memorial Day is for remembrance of our war dead. It's one of the days on which people choose to say "thank you for your service". That bothers me a little, but I don't correct it. I accept it gratefully in the spirit intended. The fact that I am here to memorialize our war dead means that the day isn't about me. It is about those who didn't make it home.
Many of us today, have a close relationship to the holiday because of the casualty lists of the past fifteen years. Some of my friends in Waukesha, WI remember Specialist Michelle Witmer, military police in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Many of us who have served, recognize a name or names of those lost in the Global War on Terror.
I take the opportunity to offer a memorial for two young soldiers. I didn't know them personally. They were mechanics from a support battalion that were attached to my unit for movement during the ground offensive. They gave their lives for their nation on February 27, 1991, about twelve hours before the cease fire.
Sergeant Scotty Wittenberg was 22 years old from Carlisle, Arkansas
Private Michael Fitz was 18 years old from Horicon, Wisconsin
PS - A guide that I offer my friends who aren't so clear on the purpose. It's OK to offer a "Thank you for your service" to those who serve or served on Armed Forces Day or Veterans Day, but not on Memorial Day. Memorial Day is for our war dead.
- Armed Forces Day (early May) - honor those who currently serve
- Memorial Day (end of May) - honor those who didn't make it home
- Veterans Day (November) - honor those who served
I liked how we did it back then. For the tourists and other visitors of the cemetery, the flags just magically appeared a few days before Memorial Day. I like how they do it today too. It calls attention to it and serves as a reminder that Memorial Day is about something more than the beginning of summer. More than beer and barbecue.
Memorial Day is for remembrance of our war dead. It's one of the days on which people choose to say "thank you for your service". That bothers me a little, but I don't correct it. I accept it gratefully in the spirit intended. The fact that I am here to memorialize our war dead means that the day isn't about me. It is about those who didn't make it home.
Many of us today, have a close relationship to the holiday because of the casualty lists of the past fifteen years. Some of my friends in Waukesha, WI remember Specialist Michelle Witmer, military police in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Many of us who have served, recognize a name or names of those lost in the Global War on Terror.
I take the opportunity to offer a memorial for two young soldiers. I didn't know them personally. They were mechanics from a support battalion that were attached to my unit for movement during the ground offensive. They gave their lives for their nation on February 27, 1991, about twelve hours before the cease fire.
Sergeant Scotty Wittenberg was 22 years old from Carlisle, Arkansas
Private Michael Fitz was 18 years old from Horicon, Wisconsin
PS - A guide that I offer my friends who aren't so clear on the purpose. It's OK to offer a "Thank you for your service" to those who serve or served on Armed Forces Day or Veterans Day, but not on Memorial Day. Memorial Day is for our war dead.
- Armed Forces Day (early May) - honor those who currently serve
- Memorial Day (end of May) - honor those who didn't make it home
- Veterans Day (November) - honor those who served
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SPC Jill Drushal, RN, MA
A day or two before Memorial Day each year, I find a meme and post it on my Facebook timeline. The ones that I've posted in the past follow your guidelines. They usually have a battlefield cross and they say things like, "Memorial Day is for the fallen. Please don't thank me for my service this weekend." If someone does thank me, I don't correct them. I accept their thanks in the spirit they intend.
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Memorial Day 2017 has special meaning to me. I have been a member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW) for several years. In the past few months, I have proven that I am a descendant of SGT Andrew P. Webster, a 3rd great-grandfather. He served with Co. F, 9th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On 6 Apr 1862, he was killed in action at Pittsburg Landing, the Battle of Shiloh, TN. He is buried under one of the 2357 unknown grave markers in Shiloh National Cemetery.
My original DUVCW membership is based on my direct lineage to another 3rd great-grandfather, PVT Isaac B.P. Sebring. On 27 Apr 1862, he died of disease in Peoria City, KS while serving with Co. C, 13th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He is buried in a family cemetery in Caledonia, IL. Isaac's son (my 3rd great-uncle) also enlisted and died during the American Civil War. PVT Nathan Hartwell Sebring served with Co. K, 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was gravely wounded at the Battle of South Mountain, MD on 14 Sep 1862. He died the next day. Nathan is buried in the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC.
Additionally, I am a descendant of PVT Ira D. Grow, a 2nd great-grandfather. He served with Co. E, 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He survived the Civil War with a disability. After the war, he moved his family from Illinois to Iowa. He died unexpectedly in 1871, one month before my great-grandfather was born. Ira is buried in Algona, IA.
On Memorial Day 2016, I only knew that PVT Isaac B.P. Sebring was my Civil War ancestor. In the past year, I have learned that I have four Civil War ancestors: three great-grandfathers and one great-uncle. Three of them died while serving in the Union Army.
It is my privilege to honor all who fell while in military service to our great nation, including my own fallen ancestors, through my membership in Daughters of Union Veterans. It is particularly poignant that SGT Andrew P. Webster, my 3rd great-grandfather, is buried under an unknown grave marker at Shiloh. I am eternally grateful that I was able to locate numerous records about Andrew. He is one "unknown" soldier whose story did not get lost to history.
My original DUVCW membership is based on my direct lineage to another 3rd great-grandfather, PVT Isaac B.P. Sebring. On 27 Apr 1862, he died of disease in Peoria City, KS while serving with Co. C, 13th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He is buried in a family cemetery in Caledonia, IL. Isaac's son (my 3rd great-uncle) also enlisted and died during the American Civil War. PVT Nathan Hartwell Sebring served with Co. K, 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was gravely wounded at the Battle of South Mountain, MD on 14 Sep 1862. He died the next day. Nathan is buried in the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC.
Additionally, I am a descendant of PVT Ira D. Grow, a 2nd great-grandfather. He served with Co. E, 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He survived the Civil War with a disability. After the war, he moved his family from Illinois to Iowa. He died unexpectedly in 1871, one month before my great-grandfather was born. Ira is buried in Algona, IA.
On Memorial Day 2016, I only knew that PVT Isaac B.P. Sebring was my Civil War ancestor. In the past year, I have learned that I have four Civil War ancestors: three great-grandfathers and one great-uncle. Three of them died while serving in the Union Army.
It is my privilege to honor all who fell while in military service to our great nation, including my own fallen ancestors, through my membership in Daughters of Union Veterans. It is particularly poignant that SGT Andrew P. Webster, my 3rd great-grandfather, is buried under an unknown grave marker at Shiloh. I am eternally grateful that I was able to locate numerous records about Andrew. He is one "unknown" soldier whose story did not get lost to history.
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