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TechnoCultural Activist, Cultural Health and Physical Health Practitioner
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Memorial Day - My Dad and My Culture

News Type: Opinion — Sun May 27, 2007 10:59 AM EDT

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My dad in WWII on the jeep and me during Vietnam era

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This day is not just the first big barbecue day of the summer. It is a day to remember and honor our country's fallen and our Culture's fallen. On this day I especially remember my dad in World War II, and his fathers in World War Zero.

More than 1 million men and women have died in the service of this nation in wars and conflicts dating back to 1775. Anyone who has lived through a war will tell you, war is a terrible thing and nobody "wins".

I sat down yesterday and asked one of my grandsons, what holiday is this. He is seven and finishing up the second grade. Like usual he knew the answer, Memorial Day he said proudly. I asked him what is Memorial day? He quickly responded the day to remember soldiers that died. Well, it is always good to know that they are still teaching young people something in school.

Then Honorable Grandson asked the grandson question. Do we have any soldiers that died in wars in our family? I responded, not that I know of but we have soldiers in our family and we know fellow soldiers who gave their life in service to their country. Grandson says who? I showed him a picture of me during the Vietnam Era and his great grand father during World War Two.

Grandsons have a way of causing grand parents to think. So I went to ancestry.com and found my fathers 1943 Enlistment record. I also found out that ancestry.com just put up some ninety million newly digitized records, including military records. You and I can access these records for free until June 6th. Later today after the barbecue, I am going to check on my family tree and see if we were in WWI and the civil war. Thank god for grandsons.

In the Cultural Health tradition you know we also utilize American holidays to promote Cultural literacy. So Memorial day, is also a day for Africans in America to remember our fallen Cultural Solders.

Lets refresh your memory regarding the Cultural War c.1500 B.C.E. - Present. We have lost many brave souls in many battles. In ancient times we should remember Hypatia daughter of Theon in the African city of Alexandria. in Greek times, Socrates and the nameless ones come to mind. Fast forwarding to modern times we should Remember the one hundred million fallen of World War Zero ("Slave Trade"/African Holocaust). We should also remember the fallen of the most recent battles in the Cultural War, the Civil Rights battle and the Cultural Literacy battle. Dr. King and Dr. Clarke come to mind respectively.

Have a safe and Culturally Healthy Memorial day and don't burn down your back yard.

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{"commentId":737742,"authorDomain":"spongeteri"}
spongeteri

Thank you for sharing this story. Ben Franklin said, "There never was a good war or a bad peace". Words to live by. Plus thank you for bringing to the forfront again, WWZero. History needs to be rewritten without an agenda so the future generations know the truth. Thank you Aunk for taking the time to talk to your grandson. Sounds like your both pretty lucky to have each other!

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  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Sun May 27, 2007 12:06 PM EDT
{"commentId":737935,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Aunk (The Cultural Health Guy)

Hetep and Respect, good spirit spongeteri. tnx

{"commentId":737935,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Sun May 27, 2007 2:24 PM EDT
{"commentId":739269,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
Bill Harrison

Very good article. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day in honor of those who fell during our Civil War. Thank you sir for your service to our country.

{"commentId":739269,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
  • 2 votes
#1.2 - Mon May 28, 2007 11:18 AM EDT
{"commentId":739793,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Aunk (The Cultural Health Guy)

Hetep and Respect Bill, thank you for your consideration and the historical link.

{"commentId":739793,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
  • 3 votes
#1.3 - Mon May 28, 2007 3:38 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":737994,"authorDomain":"jazzman646"}
jazzman646Deleted
{"commentId":738147,"authorDomain":"PurelyPolitical"}
Bodhi1

Happy Memorial Day, Aunk. Thank you for sharing that story.

{"commentId":738147,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"PurelyPolitical"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#3 - Sun May 27, 2007 5:34 PM EDT
{"commentId":738868,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}
PasiDeleted
{"commentId":739094,"authorDomain":"bretelles"}
bretellesDeleted
{"commentId":739589,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
ShaunV

Freedom Is Not Free
By LCDR Kelly Strong, USCG - Copyright 1981

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Service man saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

ancestry.com just put up some ninety million newly digitized records, including military records. You and I can access these records for free until June 6th.

Thank you for the head's up.

{"commentId":739589,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#6 - Mon May 28, 2007 1:40 PM EDT
{"commentId":739783,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Aunk (The Cultural Health Guy)

Hetep and Respect Shaun, thank you for sharing.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
{"commentId":739783,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
  • 4 votes
#6.1 - Mon May 28, 2007 3:34 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":739648,"authorDomain":"unplugged"}
Unplugged

My entire family is Irish and I know that at least one of my ancestors fought with Michael Collins against the British way back in the day, but besides that my family has no experience with war or with sacrifice. It's hard for me to completely identify with how personal it becomes, but I have a vivid imagination and doesn't take a rocket scientist to acknowledge how truly taxing such things can be on families and, indeed, entire generations.

I'm not an American, but even still, I think you for your service.

{"commentId":739648,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"unplugged"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#7 - Mon May 28, 2007 2:08 PM EDT
{"commentId":740020,"authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
Oluseye

To all who fell in service to their fellow men. A cliche, but an eternally valid cliche. You have not died in vain.

{"commentId":740020,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"200MilesUp"}
  • 7 votes
Reply#8 - Mon May 28, 2007 6:21 PM EDT
{"commentId":740827,"authorDomain":"djd"}
djd

My thoughts are with you and your ancestors Aunk - great article.

{"commentId":740827,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"djd"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#9 - Tue May 29, 2007 6:44 AM EDT
{"commentId":1842086,"authorDomain":"proudinfidel"}
Ana Rebecca1027

Awesome story Aunk. Thank you so much for sharing your family's history. Very moving.

Wishing you a peaceful Memorial Day!

{"commentId":1842086,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"proudinfidel"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#10 - Mon May 26, 2008 4:01 PM EDT
{"commentId":1843087,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Aunk (The Cultural Health Guy)

H&R, tnx Good Spirit

{"commentId":1843087,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
  • 2 votes
#10.1 - Mon May 26, 2008 10:47 PM EDT
Reply
{"commentId":4025440,"authorDomain":"Nardol"}
Nardol

God Bless You all-- my family is Irish, American Indian, French, and African American.  We have all fought for freedom..  Let Freedom Ring.

{"commentId":4025440,"threadId":"107667","contentId":"741735","authorDomain":"Nardol"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#11 - Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:18 PM EST
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