Fame’s Eternal Camping Ground (Open Thread)

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC

 © Miri WTPOTUS Memorial Day, 2012

The bloodied sun sinks in the west
And lights us all with glory;
Here sleep the brave in honored rest;
The bugler tells our story;
O dulce et decorum est pro patria mori;
O dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

Go tell the people, passer-by,
Read the stone before ye,
Tis sweet and fitting that we die
For our country’s glory;
Obedient to your will we lie
Pro patria mori;
O dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. …

Marian H. Neudel, 1990

Cemetery in the Pacific WWII – NARA

The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat
The soldier’s last tattoo’
No more on life’s parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few;
On Fame’s eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread;
But Glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.

Theodore O’Hara, 1847

Patriotic Parade, WWI, Connecticut – Library of Congress

Almighty God,
You loved humankind into being
and you bless us now with each precious moment of life.
Our hearts are grateful for your loving faithfulness.
Grateful, too, are we for the millions of loving acts
that blossom from human hearts around us every day

On this Memorial Day
help us to remember, with deepest gratitude and awe,
the extraordinary men and women who, out of love, gave their lives
to protect our beloved country and preserve our liberty.

Keep these fallen heroes in your loving care.
Help us to be ever mindful also of the wounded heroes in our midst
who, with valorous hearts, risked their lives that we might prosper
and that our children’s futures be secured.

Amen

Rev. Lawrence Madden, S.J.