Happy Birthday America

Memorial Day 2013

By Diane Forrest

Every last Monday in May I head down the veteran's cemetery here in town.  It is a beautiful heartwarming site to see all the flags waving, but they also serve as a reminder that the flags were placed there because someone gave their life while fighting for me.  These people who didn't even know me fought so that I would have certain freedoms and a safer life.  It always brings tears to my eyes, and makes me so proud.

Memorial Day started after the end of the Civil War.  Then it was called Decoration Day.  There are many stories about the beginning of this holiday, but the town of Boalsburg, PA claims to be the first to practice the decorating of the soldier's grave.   According to wikepedia.com, on May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic - the organization for Union Civil War veterans - General John A. Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" should be observed nationwide and annually. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; according to folklore, the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. According to the White House, the May 30 date was chosen as the optimal date for flowers to be in bloom.

Today the day is spent having cookouts, listening to political speeches, going to car races or golf tournaments.  It marks the beginning of summer and the end of school.   The name, Memorial Day was first used in 1882, and the original date of observance was changed from May 30 to the last Monday in May to allow for the 3 day week end and in compliance of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act established in 1968.  There have been some efforts to move the observance back to the original date of May 30, because people believe that the 3-day weekend celebration takes away the meaning of the day.

However you plan to celebrate this day, please keep in mind the countless veterans who gave their lives in battle so that you can have the rights and the freedoms that you have today.

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Remember to Register to Vote Week

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By Diane Forrest

Active Registered Voter

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Unless you have been living on a deserted island for the past year, you should be aware that our country is about to hold elections for President and Vice President for the next 4 years.   The other night a friend asked me who I was going to vote for, he was undecided.  He told me one of the candidates had said something he didn't like.  I told him he needed to look at the whole picture.  Each candidate at one time or another will say or do something you may not agree with, but is that a game changer?  I advised him to study each candidate, what are their views on the issues important to you and your family, and how has their history affected their views.

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This November we will be facing a very important election.  The economy depends on the outcome.  Only registered voters who vote will be able to determine the operations of the country for the next 4 years.  I am reminded of the speech given in the movie Protocol by Goldie Hawn.  She was before a Congressional Hearing describing recent events where she had been sent to a foreign country for the promise of becoming the wife of an Amir, without her knowledge.   During this speech she stated that if we the people did not get involved, learn about what is going on around us, then we get what we ask for. 

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 There is another similar sentiment from the movie Legally Blonde 2 when Reese Witherspoon also speaks before congress.  Hello everyone my name is Elle Woods and I’m here to speak to you today about a piece of legislation called Bruiser’s Bill. But you know, today is supposed to be about education so instead I want to tell you about the education you all have given me over the past three months. See one day I came to Washington to help my dog Bruiser and somewhere along the way I learned a really... unexpected lesson. I know what you’re thinking, who is this girl? And what could this simple small town girl from Bel Air have to say to all of us? Well I’ll tell you, it’s about something that’s bigger than me or any single act of legislation this is about a matter that should be at the highest importance to every American, my hair. You see there’s this salon in Beverly Hills. It’s really fancy and beautiful but it’s impossible to get an appt. I mean unless you’re Julia Roberts or one of the girls from Friends you can just forget it. But one day, they called me. They had an opening. So I was finally going to get the chance to sit in one of those sacred beauty chairs. I was so excited. Then the colorist gave me Brassy Briggite instead of Harlow Honey. The shampoo girl washed my hair with spiral perm solution instead of color intensive moisturizing conditioning shampoo. Finally the stylist... gave me a bob, with bangs. Suffice to say it was just wrong, all wrong, for me. You know? First I was angry and then I realized my anger was completely misdirected. I mean this wasn’t the salon’s fault. I had sat there and witnessed this injustice and I had just let it happen. I didn’t get involved, in the process. I forgot to use my voice. I forgot to believe in myself but now I know better. I know that one honest voice can be louder than a crowd. I know that if we lose our voice or let those who speak on our behalf, compromise our voice than this country, this country is in for a really bad haircut. 

So speak up America, speak up!

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This week is Remember to Register to Vote Week.

If you are not registered to vote, take a few minutes to go to your court house and register. 

If we don't get involved in the process - then we are depending on others to make our decisions on who to represent us.

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