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Health & Fitness

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah: Memorial Day

View Video (2012): http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=10eec9b2922e50b50b529d3&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=t...

Last September, we fulfilled my dad's last wish to be interred at the Riverside National Cemetery (RNC). He was 88 years old when he passed away August 27, 2012. Seaman Second Class, John Giusti, served in the United States Navy during World War II: May 1942 (18 years old) to August 1946. He was wounded during a 1944 bombing attack on the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands, though he never spoke of the experience. He re-enlisted in the navy reserves, serving four years until 1950. I wasn’t aware of all of those details until this morning. I was rifling through boxes of memorabilia as I brought home those things marking time from my storage units. In addition, I’m filing photographs on my external hard drive; I’ve taken many at the arboreal, quiet, breezy RNC, laden with breathtaking monuments. The lush, green grass cradles headstones appearing as a patchwork of landscaped mortality. The RNC is indeed attentive to funeral services. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration maintains 131 cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 33 soldiers’ lots and monument sites. According to Wikipedia, The Department of the Army and the National Park Service maintain 14 cemeteries associated with historic sites and battlefields. My dad wanted a simple, military service. The regalia involved with the attending, volunteer, Navy detail provided a formal send-off for my aged, veteran dad who once was a just a kid serving in a war. Two, young cadets methodically unfolded the American flag; one stepping back from the other until it reached its half-open length. The one stepping back paused and then began stepping and folding the flag toward the other, 13 times, into a triangle. One bugler played Taps throughout. The cadet receiving the folded flag then handed it to my sister, Michelle. This poses a question: Why is the American Flag folded 13 times before it’s stored for the evening or before it’s given to the family of those departed? Each fold has symbolic meaning: http://www.im4kidz.org/flagfolds.html There’s nothing more symbolic, nor spiritually reflective than the bugle music for Taps. The song was adapted (not composed) by Union General Daniel Butterfield (1831-1901) in July, 1862. In the United States military, the call is sounded at the end of the day (lights out), at funerals and memorial services. According to Jari A. Villaneuva’s article entitled: 24 Notes That Tap Deep Emotions, the U.S. Army Infantry Drill Regulations (1891) refer to the mandatory use of Taps during military funeral services. There’s nothing more regal, nor more heart wrenching than a military funeral service. That’s just what I’m writing about on this Memorial weekend, because the mortal dash of destiny punctuates each of our lives. The passing of a loved one is a sad journey for every surviving family member and friends. I salute these blessed United States, the American flag, the fallen, brave soldiers and their families. I’ve never known anything but peace and prosperity in our land: Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! The following website answers frequently asked questions about military funeral benefits: http://www.cem.va.gov/cems/listcem.asp

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