"No One Need Think War is Pretty" Jolene

Words to Taps

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the hills,from the lake,

From the skies.

All is well,safely rest,

God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,

May the soldieror sailor,

God keep.

On the land or the deep,

Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go,

When the day, And the night

Need thee so?

All is well. Speedeth all

To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar

Goeth day, And the stars

Shineth bright,

Fare thee well; Day has gone,

Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,

'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,

'Neath the sky,

As we go, This we know,

God is nigh

(Note: there are no "official" words to Taps

above are the most popular.)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release May 2, 2000

Memorandum on the White House Program for the National Moment

of Remembrance

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: White House Program for the National Moment of Remembrance

As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to pause and consider the

true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day represents one day of

national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died

while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these

heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made to

securing our Nation's freedom, we should honor them especially on

Memorial Day.

In this time of unprecedented success and prosperity throughout our

land, I ask that all Americans come together to recognize how fortunate

we are to live in freedom and to observe a universal ``National Moment

of Remembrance'' on each Memorial Day. This memorial observance

represents a simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and

honor the struggle to protect our freedoms.

Accordingly, I hereby direct all executive departments and agencies,

in consultation with the White House Program for the National Moment of

Remembrance (Program), to promote a ``National Moment of Remembrance''

to occur at 3 p.m. (local time) on each Memorial Day.

Recognizing that Memorial Day is a Federal holiday, all executive

departments and agencies, in coordination with the Program and to the

extent possible and permitted by law, shall promote and provide

resources to support a National Moment of Remembrance, including:

Encouraging individual department and agency personnel, and

Americans everywhere, to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m.

(local time) on Memorial Day, to remember and reflect on the

sacrifices made by so many to provide freedom for all.

Recognizing, in conjunction with Memorial Day, department

and agency personnel whose family members have made the

ultimate sacrifice for this Nation.

Providing such information and assistance as may be

necessary for the Program to carry out its functions.

I have asked the Director of the White House Millennium Council to

issue additional guidance, pursuant to this Memorandum, to the heads of

executive departments and agencies regarding specific activities and

events to commemorate the National Moment of Remembrance.

William J. Clinton

Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press

Secretary on May 3.

Celebrate Memorial Day In An Infinite Number Of Respectful Ways. 

Visit cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

Visit  memorials.

Fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.

Fly the 'POW/MIA Flag'  (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

Participate in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3:00 p.m.(local time) to remember and reflect upon the sacrifices made by so many.

Renew a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Sent

From the Bottom of this
Red, White And Blue American Heart
and stamped with honor and respect?

You can bet your last dollar on it!

"THANK YOU

YOUR SACRIFICES CAN

NEVER BE REPAID".



Hubba, Hubba
Oh-Dad-E-Oh
Mew.

Artist Laureate of America-Norman Rockwell

"I showed the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed."

—Norman Rockwell

He was as American as Apple Pie and Uncle Sam! 

Who was he? 

He was, Norman Rockwell,

a reknowned and prolific artist, illustrator and historian 

who held the hearts and imaginations of Americans!

Through the genius of his works of art, Norman Rockwell recreated and interpreted  the essence of American life.  Yes, he painted a swathe of America's on-going history manifested from every day life.  Rockwell's messages, through his art, could be heard more clearly and far more loudly than the spoken word.

Norman was born in New York City in 1894,  and it is said that he always wanted to be an artist.  His first artwork commission, four Christmas cards, were painted before his sixteen birthday.   During his teens and quite incredibly, but oh so believably, he found himself employed as art director of Boys’ Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts of America.  This employ established him in the beginnings of a remarkably successful  freelance career illustrating a plethora of young people’s publications.

Following a family move to New Rochelle, NY, Rockwell joined with the cartoonist Clyde Forsythe and produced work for such magazines as Literary Digest, Country Gentleman and Life.  During 1916,  22-year-old Rockwell painted his first works for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post!  Through, perhaps, his role as Illustrator for The Saturday Evening Post, he found himself elevated to the best-loved of American Artists!  

Over the ensuing 47 years, 321 more covers by Rockwell would appear on The Saturday Evening Post.

Mr. Rockwell was the father of three sons, Jarvis, Thomas and Peter through his second wife, Mary Barstow, a school teacher.  Norman's first marriage in 1916 to Irene O’Connor, had ended in divorce by 1930.

Norman, with his sons and Mary, moved to Arlington, Vermont, in 1939, and his work  took on the nuances of  American life in the small town.

During the 1940s, Norman produced perhaps some of his most famous and beloved works.  From poignant scenes of Americans at war, and at home to joyous reunions, gatherings, family events and so much more.  From humor to everyay life, he depicted and encapsulated America.

President Franklin Roosevelt’s address to Congress in 1943, moved Mr. Rockwell to paint, the Four Freedoms paintings. These paintings were reproduced in consecutive issuances of The Saturday Evening Post alongside essays by contemporary writers. Rockwell’s renderings of the Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear were incredibly popular. His artist renderings went on  tour throughout America in an exhibition jointly sponsored by the Post and the U.S. Treasury Department.  Through this exhibit and through the sale of war bonds?   More than $130 million was raised for the war effort!  Oh, my stars and stripes, gentle readers!

Despite all of this success,1943 proved to be an enormous loss to the Rockwells. Fire ravished and destroyed his Arlington studio alongside near countless paintings and a myriad collection of historical props and costumes.  In 1954 the family again moved, this time to Stockbridge, MA and within six years he suffered the death of his second wife. 1961, found Rockwell married to Molly Punderson, who was  a retired teacher. In the next two years, he concluded his 47-year collaboration with The Saturday Evening Post and began working for Look magazine.  Rockwell continued onward painting his most sincere and pressing concerns and devotion to include American poverty and civil rights. 

In 1973, Rockwell established a trust to preserve his legacy and his works.  He placed his artistic creations into the fine custody of the Old Corner House Stockbridge Historical Society, now known  as Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge.

  In 1977, Rockwell  was honored

with the nation’s highest civilian honor,

 the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

As life woud have it, a Legend had passed,....gone. 

 November 8, 1978, Norman Rockwell died in his home in Sturbridge, MA.

Norman will be remembered forever through his works.  His very creations are an intrinsic part of all of us!

The world was changed by this Legend, this man

Norman Rockwell.

Mew.

Hubba, Hubba

Sad-Dad-E-Oh