Memorial Day: Arlington, Poppies, Taps, and the Cost

Memorial Day this year is on Monday, May 28. What do you know about it?

The first Memorial Day, on May 30, 1865,  was called 'Decoration Day,' because it was designated as a day to remember the dead of the Civil War and to decorate their graves. However, did you know that at that time, a number of southern states refused to participate? Some still hold separate days of remembrance: January 19 in Texas; April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee.

For some interesting facts about the Civil War, visit: http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/facts.html

Did you know that the land where Arlington National Cemetery is located, was originally the home of General Robert E. Lee? Lee was married to a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, named Mary Anna Custis-the property was inherited by Mary Anna. The mansion on the property is still sometimes referred to as the Custis-Lee Mansion. The Union seized the property and used it for a headquarters. As the war continued, there was a huge demand for burial space (see the number of casualties below), so they converted the grounds into a cemetery. The first graves were very close to the mansion so that Lee would see them every time he looked out his window, should he ever return.

It has expanded over time to include 624 acres with more than 400,000 people buried there. There are many separate memorials within the cemetery, including one for military nurses, two Space Shuttles, and the National Park Service, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, you must be either a veteran or someone on active duty at the time of death, or the spouse or minor child of a serviceman or woman, or have held elected office, including Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.

Visit the Arlington National Cemetery website for more information and pictures:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Default.aspx

How did the custom of wearing the red poppy flowers for Memorial Day come about?

It started with this poem written by a Canadian military doctor  serving in France in World War I in a part of France known as Flanders (Flanders is an area in the north of France close to Belgium)---and by the way, he threw the poem in the garbage because he didn't like it, and it was taken out of the garbage and submitted to a newspaper by one of his soldiers:

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.

Memorial for WWII soldiers--France

                                                      

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.

A lady named Moina Michael came up with the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who had died during their service to the country in wartime. She sold poppies to her friends and used the money to benefit servicemen in need. Eventually, the VFW began to sell them, developing a program where disabled vets made artificial poppies to sell.

A thoughtful video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qt57c7rnHM

The song was written by Pete Seeger.

24 Notes Everyone Recognizes

What do you know about "Taps," played at the end of every military funeral? It's called "Taps" because years ago in wartime, at the end of the day the bugler sounded some notes and then tapped three times on the drum to signal Lights Out (or Extinguish).

The composition of Taps used at military funerals was written by Daniel Butterfield, a Civil War veteran.

• It was first used officially in July, 1862.
• Taps is often played by members of your local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) at funeral services.
• Taps was played as a quieter alternative to a cannon volley, which had been done at Civil War funerals:  if the service was held too close to enemy troops the noise of a cannon would tip them off.
• There are words to Taps. Here is one verse:

                Day is done
                 Gone the Sun
                   From the lake, from the hill, from the sky
                     All is well
                       Safely rest
                         God is Nigh.

• At a military funeral where there has been a gun salute, the casings from the spent shells are collected by the servicemen who did the salute and are presented in a pouch to the spouse or other survivors. The bugler and marksmen silently march away from the site when they are finished.

Number of Americans killed in war:

Revolutionary War                 4,435*
War of 1812                            2,260
Mexican War                         13,283
Civil War                             364,511
Spanish-American War           2,446
World War I                        116,516
World War II                      405,399
Korean War                          36,574
Viet Nam Conflict                 58,209
Gulf War                                    382
Afghanistan                             2,031
Iraq                                         4,487
War on Terror                         6,280

*did you know that the Revolutionary War lasted more than 6.5 years?

Remember someone who has served our country, not just once a year but all year.

Yoga

Have you ever tried yoga? It's been around for over 5,000 years and began in India.


A Yogi, then, is a yoga 'instructor,' although that term is not completely accurate; a Yogi has been learning to master yoga for some time and is still mastering it.

The most commonly practiced now is called Hatha, although there are a number of kinds of Yoga (see end of the blog).This involves positioning your body and holding it there while you concentrate on your breathing, then moving to different positions, and ending in a calming period while you sit or lie still. You are to be only aware of how your body feels in the moment, focusing and concentrating on that and nothing else. It is a form of meditation. If you take yoga in a class setting, the instructor leads you through the poses, speaks quietly and softly, and often strolls through the people in a class to help them get their poses correct. There may be aromatherapy during your session, as well; essential oils or scents that encourage you to breathe deeply, to calm you further.

                                                                                                     It might look easy, but it's not.
Generally, all you need to practice yoga is comfortable clothing and a mat. No equipment is necessary. It works for most people because it doesn't involve sudden movements, jumping, or impacting joints. You are encouraged to only do what is comfortable, and to stop if it hurts. If you have a bad knee or shoulder, for example, you need protect those spots and possibly ease into moving them as you feel flexible enough.
How does yoga affect your health? You may think it's just doing poses and being reflective, but there are some solid health benefits to doing yoga:
The American Heart Association notes these benefits:

• Improvement in flexibility
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Lowers the heart rate
• Helps with circulation
• Improves your muscle tone

In general., Yoga can

• Ease arthritis symptoms
• Improve your balance
• Improve your posture
• Help with depression
• Let you sleep better
• Increase overall strength, including bone strength
• Help with weight loss by upping your metabolism
• Improve your memory skills
• Improve digestion
• And it's good to do while you are pregnant: It can help with pregnancy discomfort and the birthing process, and is no-impact so it is not jarring to you or the baby

People of any age can do yoga. Some schools are trying yoga with children as a way to get them to calm down and get along better, instead of punishment. https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/04/health/meditation-in-schools-baltimore/index.html

Yoga history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga



There are several kinds of yoga, although they all aim to improve self-awareness, physical strength, mental strength, and promote healing.












Yoga Journal:
https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/history-of-yoga

 

 

You're Not That Lost

Often, a student sees our office and rather tentatively pokes her head in, or a toe, or a shoulder, and asks for directions. We don't mind: when you're new to a building, it always seems like a maze.

Today, a young woman stopped in, looking totally confused, and timidly said: "I know this sounds stupid, but I'm so lost. I need to find the Testing Center." She didn't realize how close she was: just a hallway and a turn to the right, and she'd be there. I said to her: You're not that lost. I showed her the way, and off she went. As I sometimes do, I watched her to make sure she headed the right way, and she did. And no, her question didn't sound stupid at all.


Some of you are off to new adventures: In the fall, you'll start college. Or, you'll be taking different classes with different instructors than last year.

Or, you're graduating and heading out into the world.


And you might be feeling a little lost. All the familiar things are now removed, with or without ceremony, and while it's invigorating and exciting, it's also intimidating to have to start all over again. You really want to take it on yourself, but you're torn between "I can do this on my own" and "Help! I'm so clueless!"

As you've grown, I hope you've learned two things: One, that you are usually very capable of figuring things out for yourself, and Two, it's sometimes necessary to ask for help.


Sure, a lot of navigating in your new world involves geography.: where on earth is Room 423-B???You may need to find the location of an interview, or you may be starting a new job. Finding your way around an unfamiliar place is quite a challenge at first, but you'll get the hang of it. .

When you look at the whole picture to see where it is you want to go, and how to get there-academically, career-wise, and in your life, there are lots of paths to take. Maybe you feel overwhelmed, as if it's too much for you. But try not to panic: Friends, parents, advisors, counselors, all can help. Whatever you can figure out for yourself, bravo. And when you find yourself a little lost, it's ok to ask directions. You're not weak or stupid to ask; in fact, it's a sign of wisdom and courage to realize you need some assistance.


Mr. Rogers once said, "Look for the helpers." Everyone needs to seek out a helper from time to time, and we're out here waiting for you to ask.


You might be just a little lost.


And you might find that you were closer to your goal than you thought you were.