August Reed

During the Civil War, the lose of life was so great that communities began gathering to commemorate those who had died. A hundred years later, Memorial Day had become an American holiday and included the fallen in all wars. Today, it is the unofficial beginning of summer. School is out. Families take their first vacation. They have barbeques with family and friends or make a quick run to the coast for a long weekend.

As holidays go, it’s rather mild. Not like Veterans Day, which has parades, speeches and flag folding ceremonies. These activities engage and challenge us to be involved and to participate. Memorial Day is not like that. It lends itself to quiet reflection and solemnity. Each person is allowed to remember at their own pace and in their own way.

Over the years, I have always enjoyed the time off. All of my family members who served came home after their war. My friends who served are either still serving or are civilians now. No one close to me has died while in service. So, in truth, I have no personal connection to this day, per se. My feelings have always been more toward the general humanity this day represents. While I have great respect for it, I have had no forethought of my mindset changing. That is, until about a week ago.

My friend, Wu, began telling me a story. Wu is one of the kindest and most gentle persons I know. Whenever I visit with her, my heart is made better for it. On this day, though, Wu shared with me something completely unexpected. She started by mentioning that this coming weekend was a special holiday. I agreed with her, but thought it peculiar at first because it’s an American holiday, and she is Chinese. Then I thought better of it. Each country has experienced its own lose, and a day remembering that is a good thing.

Wu grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. She was sent to the countryside to work and denied education. She was told what to believe and what to think. Nevertheless, her parents knew education was important, and they found a way to send her to school. When the opportunity came to continue her education abroad, they encouraged her to go, and she did. Wu went on to earn her PhD and moved to the states with her husband.

At the time, however, her young son had to stay in China with her parents. It was only temporary, until they could establish themselves in their new life in this new ¨beautiful country.¨ The couple themselves lived apart for several years. It took some doing, but the time came when they all could be together in the same city. And they were, Mother, Father and Son. The three of them had five wonderful years with each other until tragedy befell them. Wu’s son died in a car accident on his way to basketball practice.

This was her story. Her journey to this moment in time. I was overcome by many emotions and my heart broke. In doing so, something changed. They way I saw things changed. Wu has lived in America for many years. She is Chinese but fully integrated into the fabric of American life. She knows our history because it is now hers. Memorial Day is hers. She knows of Lee and Grant and the Civil War. She understands why we remember, and she fuses that with her own story of struggle, sacrifice and lose. She harks back a hundred and fifty-seven years ago to the men and women who decided to join together to honor those who were dying too soon.

So today, I have a very different perspective on the true meaning of Memorial Day. It is a vigil honoring those who have gone before us. It is a day to remember my mom, my dad and my grandparents. It is a time to remember my friend’s son who died of cancer at age twelve. It is a time to remember Wu’s son who was only sixteen. It is a time to remember all the sons and daughters lost to wartime.

It is also a time to offer up a silent prayer for the living and to be thankful for our own lives. May we live them with love and compassion.

Let your light shine brightly!

In memory of Sir Terry Pratchett April 28, 1948 - March 12, 2015.

Newly homeless man and 4-year-old son struggle to get food, shelter...

" 'It's my fault,' Shawn Noe said of his status as a homeless dad to his 4-year-old as he stood in front of the 15 Place day shelter on North Washington Avenue. Nearby was his car, in which he and his son have slept most nights since arriving in Mobile on Sept. 24. Just a couple weeks ago Noe had a roof over his head, and just two years ago he had visited 15 Place and assisted a homeless man.

Now Noe is without a job and in need of assistance himself. "If I got a job today, who is going to watch my kid?" Noe said Friday in the cafeteria of the Mobile Rescue Mission before getting his lunch. He and Kolby went through the line, received their lunch of a burger and various sides, then took a seat alongside several other homeless men."

Read More...

Newer article on ongoing support for the Noe family.

Make a Donation.

"For the past 20 years, Toyota has been working on a vehicle that could revolutionize the way we get around. It’s virtually silent, its emissions are so clean you could drink them, and it’s finally ready to hit the streets next year. Meet the 2015 Toyota FCV – the first fuel cell vehicle you’ll actually be able to buy. We recently had a chance to jump behind the wheel and test drive Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell car in San Francisco – read on for our first thoughts and 10 things you need to know about this groundbreaking vehicle." Read more from @inhabitat...  

These are long overdue!!

Egyptian Basketball Star Dropped Everything to Change Kids' Lives

"On an unremarkable day in Cairo four years ago, it was business as usual for one of the best women's basketball players in Egypt. Until a chance encounter with a begging father changed everything."

"So many people thought I was crazy and it was too late to start over. But when I would talk to people about what I was going to do, I could see it in their eyes -- they would die to do the same."

(source espnw.com)