Hallowed Ground
11/10/13 02:56 PM
From: Ann Morrison
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2013 7:40 PM
To: Friends & Family
Subject: Hallowed Ground
It started as we drove back on base after visiting the commissary at Corry Station yesterday, something started tickling the back of my brain… little visual cues that didn’t quite register to a full thought but kept pulling at my attention… green… a deep green… dotted with rows of white…. and the flutter of red, white and blue… lots of it, in a place I typically didn’t remember it being; We have driven through this intersection several times since arriving at NAS Pensacola…. but something was different…
‘Alan, would you slowdown a little please….’
‘Why… I’m not speeding… something wrong?’
‘No, no…. it’s just that… could you turn around … could you go back please… will you… … go back to the intersection…. Ah… there it is…. stop, stop… can you find a place to stop please Love.’
‘What here? I can’t park here… authorized vehicles only…’
‘Yea… maybe go around the corner … there, there… turn into that driveway… ‘
We pulled in slowly and stopped…and then I realized what had pulled at me…. Alan saw it too… we both were struck by the reverence invoked at the sight.
Fields and fields of neatly rowed white headstones, all exactly the same size and shape, the grass reflected a bright green as the sunshine bathed the area; a light breeze was giving flight to numerous American Flags adorning the cemetery. It was the flags that had caught my attention, I had seen them as we drove by, not recognizing what I was seeing through the gap between the hedge and the canopy of trees. NAS Pensacola is home to one of Americas many National cemeteries; this is hallowed ground, when one steps onto the lawn, it is natural to tread lightly, carefully, so as not to disturb.
I started to ask the question…
‘why do you suppose…. …ah… of course, Monday is November 11th , Veterans Day…. the reason for the flags’
On November 11, 1918, an armistice ending World War I went into effect. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…". Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but after World War II and the many subsequent wars that took the lives of many Americans, the word "Armistice" was replaced with the word “Veterans"; on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
My heart becomes heavy when looking out across the field before me, so many men and women, each headstone a reminder of the many who have served in defense of this great nation; their time on this earth now done.
As we slowly make our way back to the car my thoughts turn to my father; this not a uniquely American holiday, while more often now referred to as “Remembrance Day” this is a day still recognized across many Commonwealth nations. I carry faint memories from my childhood, of every November travelling to the center of Durban, South Africa for the parade; my father and Uncle Ron were both veterans of WWII. Images slip together in my mind, my mom, aunt and siblings gathered on the sidewalk to watch these ‘Men of the Tin Hat (MOTHS)’ marching in formation down the main street of the city; the air seeped in solemnness and reverence as wreaths are lain at the foot of the WWI & II memorials…. bright red poppies peek out from the lapels of men’s jackets… a distant bugle plays ‘The Last Post’ signaling the end of the day, a call to those who are still out and wounded or separated that the fighting is done, to follow the sound of the call to find safety and rest… with the setting sun, flags are slowly lowered.
As I mentioned in my last note, NAS Pensacola is also the home of the Blue Angels. Their 2013 season was cancelled under the government sequester but funds have recently been made available to support a 2014 season. As luck would have it, on this same day, the day of our visit to the cemetery, they are scheduled to initiate their first practice as a team since being grounded… and we have front row seats. Their jet engines roar to life, they take flight and soar to the skies in precision formation. It is a strangely emotional moment for me… watching them, I am overwhelmed in my feelings of thanks and gratitude. Our visit to the cemetery provided an appropriate sojourn of remembrance but the living are also to be honored and remembered this holiday weekend. Active, retired, they do and have done their part to protect us, they are and have always been our frontline to national safety and security. To borrow a line from a well-known movie “they stand on a wall, and they say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch'… and for that I am eternally grateful.
The Angels do a last fly-by and start their turn to land and return to the ramp… it was time for us to head back to camp. Yes, hallowed ground… this is indeed hallowed ground…
To Alan Morrison, my ‘many zippered flying god’, to the men of VMA331, to the Flying Razorbacks, past and present, to all those service men and women who I know personally who have, who are today, who have children who are serving or have served in our armed forces… you have my respect, you have my appreciation and gratitude… and most importantly, you have my thanks…. thank you, thank you so very much….
Hugs to you all
AM
P.S. Happy Birthday USMC!
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2013 7:40 PM
To: Friends & Family
Subject: Hallowed Ground
It started as we drove back on base after visiting the commissary at Corry Station yesterday, something started tickling the back of my brain… little visual cues that didn’t quite register to a full thought but kept pulling at my attention… green… a deep green… dotted with rows of white…. and the flutter of red, white and blue… lots of it, in a place I typically didn’t remember it being; We have driven through this intersection several times since arriving at NAS Pensacola…. but something was different…
‘Alan, would you slowdown a little please….’
‘Why… I’m not speeding… something wrong?’
‘No, no…. it’s just that… could you turn around … could you go back please… will you… … go back to the intersection…. Ah… there it is…. stop, stop… can you find a place to stop please Love.’
‘What here? I can’t park here… authorized vehicles only…’
‘Yea… maybe go around the corner … there, there… turn into that driveway… ‘
We pulled in slowly and stopped…and then I realized what had pulled at me…. Alan saw it too… we both were struck by the reverence invoked at the sight.
Fields and fields of neatly rowed white headstones, all exactly the same size and shape, the grass reflected a bright green as the sunshine bathed the area; a light breeze was giving flight to numerous American Flags adorning the cemetery. It was the flags that had caught my attention, I had seen them as we drove by, not recognizing what I was seeing through the gap between the hedge and the canopy of trees. NAS Pensacola is home to one of Americas many National cemeteries; this is hallowed ground, when one steps onto the lawn, it is natural to tread lightly, carefully, so as not to disturb.
I started to ask the question…
‘why do you suppose…. …ah… of course, Monday is November 11th , Veterans Day…. the reason for the flags’
On November 11, 1918, an armistice ending World War I went into effect. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…". Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but after World War II and the many subsequent wars that took the lives of many Americans, the word "Armistice" was replaced with the word “Veterans"; on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
My heart becomes heavy when looking out across the field before me, so many men and women, each headstone a reminder of the many who have served in defense of this great nation; their time on this earth now done.
As we slowly make our way back to the car my thoughts turn to my father; this not a uniquely American holiday, while more often now referred to as “Remembrance Day” this is a day still recognized across many Commonwealth nations. I carry faint memories from my childhood, of every November travelling to the center of Durban, South Africa for the parade; my father and Uncle Ron were both veterans of WWII. Images slip together in my mind, my mom, aunt and siblings gathered on the sidewalk to watch these ‘Men of the Tin Hat (MOTHS)’ marching in formation down the main street of the city; the air seeped in solemnness and reverence as wreaths are lain at the foot of the WWI & II memorials…. bright red poppies peek out from the lapels of men’s jackets… a distant bugle plays ‘The Last Post’ signaling the end of the day, a call to those who are still out and wounded or separated that the fighting is done, to follow the sound of the call to find safety and rest… with the setting sun, flags are slowly lowered.
As I mentioned in my last note, NAS Pensacola is also the home of the Blue Angels. Their 2013 season was cancelled under the government sequester but funds have recently been made available to support a 2014 season. As luck would have it, on this same day, the day of our visit to the cemetery, they are scheduled to initiate their first practice as a team since being grounded… and we have front row seats. Their jet engines roar to life, they take flight and soar to the skies in precision formation. It is a strangely emotional moment for me… watching them, I am overwhelmed in my feelings of thanks and gratitude. Our visit to the cemetery provided an appropriate sojourn of remembrance but the living are also to be honored and remembered this holiday weekend. Active, retired, they do and have done their part to protect us, they are and have always been our frontline to national safety and security. To borrow a line from a well-known movie “they stand on a wall, and they say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch'… and for that I am eternally grateful.
The Angels do a last fly-by and start their turn to land and return to the ramp… it was time for us to head back to camp. Yes, hallowed ground… this is indeed hallowed ground…
To Alan Morrison, my ‘many zippered flying god’, to the men of VMA331, to the Flying Razorbacks, past and present, to all those service men and women who I know personally who have, who are today, who have children who are serving or have served in our armed forces… you have my respect, you have my appreciation and gratitude… and most importantly, you have my thanks…. thank you, thank you so very much….
Hugs to you all
AM
P.S. Happy Birthday USMC!