From Roger on Memorial Day 2008
It’s hard to believe you have been gone for 3 years now, Dad. Memorial Day always reminds me of you. I’m attaching a few comments I sent to our family today. I think you would have enjoyed them too.
Your generation is known as the “Greatest Generation” They have lived up to the name. So many sacrificed so much to keep America and the rest of the free world free. They were astute in business, creating the most prosperous nation ever. The most creative moving from the horse & buggy to the Moon and beyond! What changes they saw, what an effect they had on the nation & the world.
We are seeing change too. Some good, some bad and some we don’t know what affect they will have for the future of our grandchildren. One thing seems pretty certain. The Burgess name should continue for another generation or so. Your 4 Burgess grandsons now have 6 Burgess great grandsons. We hope they share some of your character, work ethic and good judgment.
Roger
Today is a day to remember and honor all those, past & present, who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Because of their dedication and sacrifice we live in a free and prosperous country. A country people are still striving hard to get into…not out of! In this country we have more freedom, more wealth, more stability and security than most of the other nations of the world. We have our problems, certainly, and there are problems, of course. But where else would we want to live? Thousands, even hundreds of thousands of our soldiers have died over the years to assure our freedom. Many more were injured and most of the survivors forgotten except for this special day of the year.
In 1915 Lt John McCrae, M. D. wrote the following poem after witnessing the death of a friend at Ypres, Belgium. In 1918 McCrea died in France of pneumonia, a common battlefield ailment in those days. You have undoubtedly heard the poem before. It bears repeating.
“In Flanders Fields”
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Beneath 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.
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.
Your generation is known as the “Greatest Generation” They have lived up to the name. So many sacrificed so much to keep America and the rest of the free world free. They were astute in business, creating the most prosperous nation ever. The most creative moving from the horse & buggy to the Moon and beyond! What changes they saw, what an effect they had on the nation & the world.
We are seeing change too. Some good, some bad and some we don’t know what affect they will have for the future of our grandchildren. One thing seems pretty certain. The Burgess name should continue for another generation or so. Your 4 Burgess grandsons now have 6 Burgess great grandsons. We hope they share some of your character, work ethic and good judgment.
Roger
Today is a day to remember and honor all those, past & present, who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Because of their dedication and sacrifice we live in a free and prosperous country. A country people are still striving hard to get into…not out of! In this country we have more freedom, more wealth, more stability and security than most of the other nations of the world. We have our problems, certainly, and there are problems, of course. But where else would we want to live? Thousands, even hundreds of thousands of our soldiers have died over the years to assure our freedom. Many more were injured and most of the survivors forgotten except for this special day of the year.
In 1915 Lt John McCrae, M. D. wrote the following poem after witnessing the death of a friend at Ypres, Belgium. In 1918 McCrea died in France of pneumonia, a common battlefield ailment in those days. You have undoubtedly heard the poem before. It bears repeating.
“In Flanders Fields”
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Beneath 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.
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.
posted by Wade Burgess | 10:38 PM
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