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Showing results for tags 'Memorial Day'.
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Did you know that Memorial Day was originally known as "Decoration Day," and observed on May 30? It has fuzzy beginnings that differ in the North and the South (with the American Civil War, and related issues, being a major influence). The name wasn't formally changed until 1968, by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (note also this proclamation by President Lyndon Johnson), and beginning in 1971, the act officially stated that it was to be observed on the final Monday of each May. There's a lot to read about it - you can spend five minutes, or five years, studying its history. For many, Memorial Day and Labor Day mark the beginning and end of summer; for me, they are (as well as being serious commemorations) convenient placemarks for the French Open and the U.S. Open: two slices of bread that sandwich Wimbledon, the Australian Open being the pickle on the side of the plate. -
As some of you may have seen, the only charity that I'm currently working with - actively working with - is Operation Honor Our Heroes (please read that post). Remember that Operation Honor Our Heroes is going to have a huge exhibit over Memorial Day Weekend, between the Korean War Memorial and the Reflecting Pool - a prime piece of real estate. Here is the problem: 10,000 flags are being shipped up from Austin, Texas, and arriving at Dulles. There are also coolers, gas tanks, a generator, volunteers, soldiers' families, etc., that need to be shuttled to-and-from the Mall. A moving van is being rented to take care of the flags, but we need a pick-up truck (or, if we can't find one, a cargo van) for those five days. Can anybody spare one? It doesn't need to be nice (other than that soldiers' families will be in it); in fact, the bigger, and more beat up it is, the better. This shouldn't be someone's personal vehicle that will be sullied if it gets one small dent - it needs to be somewhat heavy duty. Can anyone help? American Airlines is being kind enough to transport the flags under what's known as a "Dignified Transport" - this is where an announcement is made to passengers, and water cannons salute the plane as it taxis to the runway: the very same level of honor as if the plane was transporting a deceased soldier (yes, they make that announcement to the passengers, about a fallen American hero accompanying them on the journey). To summarize: 1) Please read the Operation Honor Our Heroes post. 2) Can someone donate a pickup truck or cargo van, and *not* sue the organization if it gets a dent in it? I'm not saying it will; I'm just saying it will be heavily used during this five-day period, and doing good works the entire time. It is every bit as valuable a donation as if you wrote a check. 3) The organization is chronically underfunded - the founder has donated $15,000 of her own money this year (she has donated at least $100,000 over the past five years). If you wish to donate to the families of fallen American soldiers, please consider this a golden opportunity. I will be donating $200 today to help cover the cost of the moving van, or for whatever they need the money for the most. I have thoroughly vetted this organization, and 100% (yes, 100%) of your donations go *directly to operations*. There are no paid employees; only volunteers - your contribution will go directly towards funding this Memorial Day event - I hope everyone down on the mall this Memorial Day stops by to see it, and if Christi-Ana is working (she is my personal assistant), please tell her you're a friend of mine. Here is the location of the display (keep in mind, this is during *THE* Memorial Day festivities, with Operation Rolling Thunder there, and everything): And here is a minute-by-minute schedule of activities: MEMORIAL DAY VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE.pdf And some more information for volunteers WHICH ARE STILL DESPERATELY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY: OHOH Volunteers.pdf Christi-Ana's phone number is (817) 995-9215, and her email is info@honorheroes.org - she urges everyone to call or write her, and in fact, you should contact her directly instead of going through me, as she's President of the organization (not the founder who has funded it, but the President who works around the clock - I have never met someone with more energy than Christi-Ana Crews). --- You know what? Even if you want nothing to do with donating money, or volunteering, even something as simple as tweeting about this post will help the message get in front of the right people, and will only take a moment of your time (thank you to ol_ironstomach, whose Facebook post helped the organization in a large, tangible way). There is *nothing whatsoever* in this for me, by the way (I hope I didn't need to say that).
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