Monday, May 30, 2005

Memorial Day

For those of you who are wondering, no, I didn't get everything done yesterday.. but I did make progress, and that's a good thing... pics etc hopefully tomorrow (after I make a little MORE progress!).

For today, I really didn't have anything planned, and then this morning I heard a song that I'd never heard before by an artist named Chely Wright. For whatever reason, the lyrics to this song touched me, and sum up 'why' I feel the way I do about this day. So I thought I'd post it here. I found the lyrics here, and if you're interested about this artist you can find find out more about her on her homepage.

So.. here it is the lyrics to the song "Bumper of My SUV" by Chely Wright.

(also written by Chely Wright)

I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car
Says United States Marines
And yesterday a lady in a mini-van held up a middle finger at me
Does she think she knows what I stand for
Or the things that I believe
Just by looking at a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

See, my brother Chris, he's been in for more than 14 years now
Our dad was in the Navy during Vietnam
Did his duty then he got out
And my grandpa earned his purple heart
On the beach of Normandy
That's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

But that doesn't mean that I want war
I'm not Republican or Democrat
But I've gone all around this crazy world
Just to try and better understand
Yes, I do have questions
I get to ask them because I'm free
That's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

'Cause I've been to Hiroshima
And I've been to the DMZ
I've walked on the sand in Baghdad
Still don't have all of the answers I need
But I guess I wanna know where she's been
Before she judges and gestures to me
'Cause she don't like my sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV

So I hope that lady in her mini-van
Turns on her radio and hears this from me
As she picks up her kids from their private school
And drives home safely on our city streets
Or to the building where her church group meets
Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the U.S. Marines
On the bumper of my SUV



So, as you enjoy this day, please take some time to remember those you've given their lives so we can enjoy ours!

Thanks.

19 comments:

Spirit Of Owl said...

That really is a great song. (The great thing about country is there's often a real song involved, rather than one more "Oh Doris/Kevin I Love U Cuz" peice of twaddle. (On the other hand, I can find myself laughing my socks off at a lot of country music that is just plain terrible, but enough of that...)) And, Chely sure is a fine lookin' woman!

Being on the other side of the pond we don't have Memorial Day, but we do have VE Day, Remembrance Day, and other commemorations. It's a sad truth that a lot of teenagers here don't know what VE stands for, and when you tell them, they don't care. Maybe that's ok though, in some ways. Maybe it's ok for the kids to not have to think that they might have to kill, bleed and die for freedom. Because they're free.

Thanks for your post.

Trevor Record said...

You gettin' all countrified on us, Bill? Spirit of the owl is right, Chely is a hotty.

We have VE day in Canada, Victory in Europe.

Risu said...

I've never heard that song nor seen Chely, but I am going to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim her...pulchritude? I felt like using alliteration there, regardless of the fact that I am not 100% sure that's the word I am looking for.

Lois Lane said...

Great song and perfect tribute.
Lois Lane

Bill said...

Spirit of Owl: If you've heard it, it only sounds a 'little' country... it was the words. the story that touched me.

Trevor: I'm an equal opportunity listener... If I like it, I'll listen. Unfortunately, these days radio stations assume you know the artist... I pulled in the driveway a few months back, radio cranked up.. My stepson and his buds were in the driveway... later, he tells me "My friends think it's so cool you dig 'Nickleback'"... I loved the song, had no idea who it was!

Braleigh: She's got pics on her site, and I'm gonna have to check out some more of her stuff as she's got a great voice.

Lois: Thanks, those were my exact thoughts when I saw her perform it this morning.

For the record, she is pretty, but how many unattractive women singers ever get a record contract?

It's the music that matters :)

Memorial day.. is different than VE or VJ day... Not to take anything away from either of those days as they're both important days as well... but...

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

So it's been around a very long time, and you are all right, not many folks actually have a clue.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today!

Patrick M. Tracy said...

Bill,

With all the controversy and rhetoric in the air, this year's Memorial Day seemed more important than ever for a moment to think about the fact that the real guys, the guys who make the sacrifices and bleed for this country--they aren't the politicians and Washington flunkies--they're guys (and girls) from little towns all over this country. They don't set policy, they just enact it as best they can. Sometimes it's hard to seperate the actions of a country from the actions of its citizens, especially soldiers. It's our responsibility to elect leaders whose wisdom we trust, and when they make policy we disagree with, we must confront them directly. Blaming the man with a rifle in his hand isn't fair. When a person takes the oath for military service, he forgoes his right to disagree for a time. He has to follow his orders no matter how he might feel about them.

In light of all this, we must remember our soldiers, both living and gone, kindly and with great respect.

For me, I spent a nice morning talking to my dad and listening to old Beatles records. He went to Vietnam, and all his brothers went to Korea or WWII. His father fought in WWI and before, lying about his age to get into the service at 15 or so. I'm one of the first men in my family who hasn't been in the military, and I think about it sometimes. Although a Marine recruiter used to call me every week to try and get me to sign up, I had a scholarship to college, and I took it. I've sometimes wondered how my life would have changed if I'd enlisted, but that ship's long since sailed.

For further thoughts, come and read my new poem, Devices of Faith. I wrote it for the occasion.

Spirit Of Owl said...

Sorry if I blundered talking about a day that I am culturally ignorant of. Even appraised of its story, I can't hope to understand it like an American does. I suspect Remembrance Day is the nearest UK equivalent, but as you say, it is not the same thing.

Being a typical loved-up liberal pacifist wuss, I'm always moved by these days, and I'm glad they exist. Not only do I feel acutely for those who have suffered and died for our way of life, I'm also reminded how fortunate I've been not to have faced anything like the World Wars.

Yup, I did listen to the song. Sure it's only a little bit country. I guess I'm a lot like you when it comes to music - if I like it, I like it. But I'm also anal, so if I can put it in a box, I will. :-)

Spirit Of Owl said...

Oh, and pray! "pulchritude" is a properly prodigious and precocious post parley proferring.

Pu pu pu now my beak feels funny...

Bill said...

Firehawk: My sentiments, are much like yours. I’m very torn about the prosecution of the War on Terror; I have no idea if it’s the right, or wrong, thing to do. I do know however, that we’ve been free of further attacks since it began. Is that the reason we’ve been free from them? I don’t know that either.

I do know I’m committed to the folks in the fray however. I know how it feels to be unsupported at home, when your choice (yeah, I enlisted) to serve is not popular with the public, or your family (although for different reasons). I’ve had a lot of friends, some of whom died in country, some died later, at home, who’ve given their all for me (and others) to enjoy the freedoms I have. I honor them, and all those I didn’t know, today.

Governments come and go, it’s the people (in my opinion) that ultimately make the difference.

Also, the sheer numbers of those killed on D-Day, or in the Battle of the Bulge, during WWII are staggering to me… almost beyond comprehension… and yet so many stood in line, even lied, as you heard today, to get in and do their part… I stand in awe of, and humbled by, those men (and women).

Spirit of Owl: You didn’t blunder at all. One of the strangest, most unlikely, ‘friendships’ on this planet is the one between England and the US. One time bitter enemies, our two countries have managed to close that gap and stand shoulder to shoulder when it matters. I for one am very glad they been able to do that!

I’m from an era where my peers, and myself, were all about peace, and love. I once had both feet firmly in the ‘liberal’ sector. Today, I’m not so squarely in any ‘camp’, I choose to learn all I can, and then make the best choice of those available to me. Time and history will tell if any of us are right, in the end.

Ok… so what box is Bonnie Raite in?

Bill said...

Spirit of Owl: Too funny! pa..pa..pa..perfect!

Spirit Of Owl said...

"how many unattractive women singers ever get a record contract?"

Two words: Spice Girls

"So frequently pigeonholed as a guitar-slingin’ blues mama, Raitt has in fact created a unique musical territory in a career spanning more than three decades, with a complexity few artists can rival."

Straight from Bonnie's site. Having torn up a box or two for her already, I often think that the daft old bird should get some direction in her life. ROTFL

Bill said...

Come on now... "Spice Girls"?? Well, I gues they did (do?) have a contract... sheesh... just when I thought I'd been able to completely forget them! :lol:

As for Bonnie... *exactly* why I asked... She's one of my favorites and fairly difficult to categorize!! :grin:

Bill said...

Thanks, and welcome! That's exactly what I thought when I heard it!

Anonymous said...

very cool song! and thanks for shedding a tear with me! that is one of the things I love about you!

Karyn Lyndon said...

Maybe the lady just shot her the finger 'cause she cut her off in traffic...and it has nothing to do with her bumper sticker. Guess we'll never know...

Bill said...

RealLady: You da one babydoll, you just let me, be me... and love me despite myself! :)

Bill said...

Karyn: Well, I suppose that could be true... but it wouldn't have made as good a song... at least that's my take on it.

Besides, you obviously don't listen to much 'country'.... it's always the other person's fault! :)

Cylithria Dubois said...

Bill _ I love this song and did have a bright red sticker on the back of my car and then when I bought my jeep, on my jeep. When I have a new vehicle I will once again proudly don the Eagle Globe and Anchor on my bumper..... This song is one of the best and I was lucky enough to have a friend who was in Iraq and taped Chely singing it while playing accoustically. I heard it before it was released to the public here in the US. She's one hell of a special lady and captured something very near and dear to all of us who love a service man or woman!!!

Thanks for posting this Bill, and by golly I'm still playing catch up with the rest of your blog LOL, now i know how others feel when I post alot! hee hee hee

Hope all is well with you and the Mrs and I hope your weekend was wonderful!

Bill said...

Scott - Thanks for stopping by... don't know how 'doctor' stuff got you here... and my hair is leaving fast enough, I doubt I'll need a laser to hurry it along!!