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Dozer523 · 07-17-2009, 21:12

The memento thing really bugs me. That things are left at all. I live near the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. We went there for the Memorial Day Service and the beautiful symmetry of the markers was only enhanced by the flags placed by dozens of groups (especially) Boy Scouts.
As I drove the lanes and walked the paths following the service, the beauty and peacefullness literally overwhelmed me. I was awed by the makers predating the Civil War (to include more then 200 for Confederate Soldiers) and all the wars and conflicts since. But the "mementos" of teddy bears and bottles of rum and assorted family pictures and packs of cigarettes were not in keeping with the sence of reverence that washed over me. I was offended by it. Offended that the living friends of our fallen brothers would highlight their drinking habits to "honor" them. That there was no thought to the families who might visit the nearby interned. It is not appropriate. Soldier (all military) interned lived their lives following the dress and bearing standards of their services. I think that same "spit and polish", "dress, right, dress" is deserved in death. $0.02
I've read and seen in movies (Schlindler's List) that it is traditional in Jewish cemeteries for a visitor to leave a small pebble to commemorate the visit. An innocuous pebble to note that this loved and respected person was visited.

BTW I asked one of the grounds crew what happens to all the flags after the Holiday is passed. He smiled and sort of groaned. "hundreds arrive to place them but it's us 25 or so who take them up." (They are dried; inspected and rolled in bundles of 25 and then stored. The average flag sees 9 Memorial Days.) The next day I had about 10 Guardsmen and Cadets in the Armory. We drove down and spent the day removing flags. It was a cloudy, wet day (it did not rain on us) we were practically alone except for the 10 or 11 internments. It was quiet, individual work (more tiring then you would think) but offered a great chance for reflection and introspection. Many of the younger guys finally started to "get it". One of our cadets made the comment "everyone of these guys was led by someone like us." I thought, 'Yeah, don't forget that after commissioning."

07-17-2009, 21:12	#8
Dozer523 BANNED USER Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,751	The memento thing really bugs me. That things are left at all. I live near the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. We went there for the Memorial Day Service and the beautiful symmetry of the markers was only enhanced by the flags placed by dozens of groups (especially) Boy Scouts. As I drove the lanes and walked the paths following the service, the beauty and peacefullness literally overwhelmed me. I was awed by the makers predating the Civil War (to include more then 200 for Confederate Soldiers) and all the wars and conflicts since. But the "mementos" of teddy bears and bottles of rum and assorted family pictures and packs of cigarettes were not in keeping with the sence of reverence that washed over me. I was offended by it. Offended that the living friends of our fallen brothers would highlight their drinking habits to "honor" them. That there was no thought to the families who might visit the nearby interned. It is not appropriate. Soldier (all military) interned lived their lives following the dress and bearing standards of their services. I think that same "spit and polish", "dress, right, dress" is deserved in death. $0.02 I've read and seen in movies (Schlindler's List) that it is traditional in Jewish cemeteries for a visitor to leave a small pebble to commemorate the visit. An innocuous pebble to note that this loved and respected person was visited. BTW I asked one of the grounds crew what happens to all the flags after the Holiday is passed. He smiled and sort of groaned. "hundreds arrive to place them but it's us 25 or so who take them up." (They are dried; inspected and rolled in bundles of 25 and then stored. The average flag sees 9 Memorial Days.) The next day I had about 10 Guardsmen and Cadets in the Armory. We drove down and spent the day removing flags. It was a cloudy, wet day (it did not rain on us) we were practically alone except for the 10 or 11 internments. It was quiet, individual work (more tiring then you would think) but offered a great chance for reflection and introspection. Many of the younger guys finally started to "get it". One of our cadets made the comment "everyone of these guys was led by someone like us." I thought, 'Yeah, don't forget that after commissioning." Last edited by Dozer523; 07-18-2009 at 10:24.
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