Memorial Day. How Many American Flags Will You See Today?

It would be hard to live through an entire Memorial Day in the US without seeing a single American flag. Whether they are waving in the wind, printed on the paper plates at a party, or imprinted on the t-shirt of a friend, there will be lots of American flags displayed today.

American flags on Memorial Day are more than just a festive patriotic touch to a three-day weekend. They are a symbol of every freedom Americans enjoy and are a reminder to honor all the individuals who have kept our country free.  A three-day weekend is fun, but Memorial Day is not a happy event.

My perfect world is one where there is no need for the military. Humans work everything out with words and

Photos that might make you smile - or at least say CHEESE

A trick for being sure someone smiles in a photo is to have them say the word cheese.

I recently came across this photo taken a few July 4th's ago. This snack was prepared by one of my kids. :)

Their creative arrangement of cheese and crackers made me smile - or maybe I did just say “cheese”!

Cheese platter - with a stack of crackers for the 4th of July!

The beauty of fireworks usually elicit ooohs and aahhhs as well as smiles.

I took a lot of photos of the fireworks going off around our house, both near and far last night. Some turned out surprisingly well, and I'm quite pleased with these! Enjoy!

Photos of Fireworks - taken looking out from our deck and behind our roof

Fireworks photos - I took these with our zoom lens

Fireworks with American Flag in foreground - I  stood below our deck and waited until just the right moment for this!

Happy Weekend!

How did you celebrate the 4th of July?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog.  Check them out!

Memorial Day: Remembering Lives and Time Spent for Us.

The rights and privileges of living in a free country are the result of the sacrifice of many moments.

May 26, 2014  #Memorial Day

Lynne Cobb clearly explains this, in her article What is the Ultimate Sacrifice?  My friend Lana linked this article in her blog post on Saturday.  Lana encouraged her readers to take a minute this weekend to remember, and think about the meaning of Memorial Day.

Memorial Day, according to the United States Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, “commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.”  As Lynne suggests, it seems fitting to also honor everyone who has sacrificed (or is currently sacrificing) time from their lives for Americans and our country.  This includes family and friends who have spent time separated from their military loved ones.  

Not wasting time and making our “moments count,” according to Lynne, is a way of thanking and honoring the people who have been instrumental in our freedom.  Memorial Day seems to be a good time to do just that.

Reading Lynne's moving article is time well spent.  Then I suggest heading on over to Lana's blog, Two Teens and Their Mama,  and browsing there a bit. It is one of my favorite blogs to read.  I also humbly suggest that you might find some inspiration here - as making “the most - - of every moment” is what this blog is all about.

I am not the most red-blooded American you will ever meet.  Born in Canada, I never even lived in the US until I was 17, though I haven't called Canada home since I became an adult.  I have dual citizenship because my mother is an American, and I grew up always proud to be a Canadian-American.  I am equally moved when either anthem plays, and I have always valued my “mixed-breed” status. Today, though, as I watch our American flag waving in the breeze, I am as grateful as any full-blooded American for the sacrifice of time and life it represents.  

If there is someone special you remember or honor this weekend, I invite you to mention them in a comment below.