As we honor and remember what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion", let us also remember that we are doing this work, at least in part, to honor their sacrifice and to ensure that it was not in vain. I continue to be a proud member of this Hopium community and it is my honor to work beside you all in this fight for our country. Onward!
Thank you for this tribute to our history and honor as a democracy. And your Tug memories sweetly reminded me of all the beloved pups who’ve shared life with me.
Thank you Simon. And thanks for the Tug photos. Nice to have your humanity and love for your family of two leggers AND four leggers be part of our community. Also... everyone, see Heather C.R 's post today and her new project of 1 minute videos depicting Americans who have been building and protecting OUR DEMOCRACY since the beginning. She has a new slogan: "We Are America!" Maybe we can use it too. And spread it everywhere....
When I feel like giving up this fite I think of my German grandfather who jumped ship in NYC after he was told everyone in his submarine had to join the NAZI party or be arrested. He later signed up to serve w/US troops and fought for the Allied forces in the Philippines.
I have a German background, as well as Canadian. My parents’ siblings on both sides fought in WW2. I used to think most Americans had a similar experience. It’s part of the reason I’ve been so confounded by choices Americans have made about leadership in this century.
I always watch PBS's Memorial Day Concert. It is a wonderful tribute to All the Hero's of the Wars that were fought. Some are no longer here, and many other's are there, being honored. It always "Tugs" at my heart and I do cry! Thank you Simon, for the great pictures. Tug is is definitely special, and I can see why You and the family miss him very much. I have lost many of my own and had a difficult time.
Thank you for sharing. Tug was adorable and clearly was a very happy guy! And thank you for bringing the entire Hopium community together in solidarity of democratic values. And for reminding us there is light, even in pervasive darkness.
Will always remember the summer my parents took us to DC. Standing in the Lincoln Memorial, my mother reading the words with tears running down her cheeks she was so moved. A beautiful and stately city.
I am disgusted at the sight of the Three Stooges - Trump, Vance & Hegseth - presiding over the ceremony at Arlington.
What a disgrace.
Oh, Vance just crossed himself.
Yes, he's just so splendidly holy.
The only way to wash this image from my brain is to turn to "The Best Years of Our Lives," from what I believe is possibly the most perfect screenplay ever penned (by Robert E. Sherwood).
I got misty-eyed looking at photos of Tug, knowing how much Simon loved him, and how much I loved the dogs in my life that are no longer here.
We’ve just returned from the Memorial Day ceremony at our tiny local cemetery in Tiffin, Iowa. A beautiful day on a lush green hill side with flags fluttering and a dazzling array of colorful blooms on dozens of graves.
Who should show up? Our trump-enabling congresswoman, Mariannette Miller-Meeks! Aaak!
I thought she was going to speak and I would be forced to politely listen to her lying about how she honors our beloved veterans, all the while knowing that she is allowing this regime's cuts to the VA, arbitrary firing of generals for “wokeness”, treating our troops like pawns in tRumpy’s disastrous efforts to shore up his tough guy facade, and countless other dishonorable acts.
Luckily, she simply listened to the prayer and the reading of the names of those veterans buried in our cemetery, then slithered off after the 21-gun salute and mournful rendition of Taps.
She had to wait to back out of her parking spot for our car to pass so I was able to look her in the eye and give her a thumb’s down: I don’t know if she was expecting a lot of positive attention at this ceremony but she sure didn’t’t get it!
Hi Marcia - I'm from Iowa originally and know Tiffin and your area of the state! Let's defeat Miller-Meeks this year! What a loser she has been. I live in Peoria now, but I'm really hopeful for many candidates in Iowa. The last place I lived in Iowa was up by Decorah, Rob Sand's hometown, where he is well-loved for obvious reasons. Turn Iowa blue!
I live just east of Tiffin in Coralville. I figured Miller-Meeks would be in the district but hadn't thought about her making appearances at Memorial Day ceremonies. Yes -- let's vote her out in Nov.!
I'm on the west side of the Missouri in Omaha, cheering you Iowans on. My mom was from Sioux City and I have family in Coralville and Iowa City. Hoping for two new governors in Iowa and NE.
Today, my husband and I honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion, including my husband’s cousin, by casting our VBM ballots for NJ’s primary.
We will continue to respond peacefully and forcefully to those who threaten the foundational principles of our country.
I am grateful that the Iowa Secretary of State's website has a facility for checking the status of absentee ballots. I was happy to see yesterday that my husband's and my ballots were received by our county auditor on Friday. I'd turned them in at the auditor's office to make sure the mail couldn't delay delivery, but it still was reassuring!
Great idea. I think I will drop my California Ballot in the local drop box today, Memorial Day is a fine day to cast a ballot to honor those that served and died for our democracy.
Great pics of Tug, Simon and I appreciate the words and photos from around the Mall and D.C.
The drop boxes are awesome. I got notification that my ballot had been received and counted within a couple of days after I put my ballot in. I don't even trust the mail anymore.
I just looked at the 2024 After Action Report. It seems obvious to me why Ken didn't release it right away - from an academic's point of view, the numerous sloppy errors and lack of source material definitely support Ken's comments about it and his ultimate decision not to release it immediately. Whoever produced the Report just didn't do a great job. I'm glad Ken released it now so folks can see what the issues with it were. Ken's in a very difficult position, and I support both his vision and his leadership. Happy Memorial Day, friends. Here's to our country and our service women and men.
Thank you for the photos of Tug. My cat turns 2 tomorrow. My previous cat was diagnosed with cancer and died around the time of the turmoil about Biden’s departure from the campaign. Tough times.
As we honor and remember what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion", let us also remember that we are doing this work, at least in part, to honor their sacrifice and to ensure that it was not in vain. I continue to be a proud member of this Hopium community and it is my honor to work beside you all in this fight for our country. Onward!
Thank you for this tribute to our history and honor as a democracy. And your Tug memories sweetly reminded me of all the beloved pups who’ve shared life with me.
Thank you, Simon. I really enjoyed the pictures of Pug! I'm writing postcards to Ohio voters today.
Tug (definitely not a pug 😀)
Thank you Simon. And thanks for the Tug photos. Nice to have your humanity and love for your family of two leggers AND four leggers be part of our community. Also... everyone, see Heather C.R 's post today and her new project of 1 minute videos depicting Americans who have been building and protecting OUR DEMOCRACY since the beginning. She has a new slogan: "We Are America!" Maybe we can use it too. And spread it everywhere....
When I feel like giving up this fite I think of my German grandfather who jumped ship in NYC after he was told everyone in his submarine had to join the NAZI party or be arrested. He later signed up to serve w/US troops and fought for the Allied forces in the Philippines.
I have a German background, as well as Canadian. My parents’ siblings on both sides fought in WW2. I used to think most Americans had a similar experience. It’s part of the reason I’ve been so confounded by choices Americans have made about leadership in this century.
Thank you so much for the photos, including the ones of Tug! He looked very trim and fit, which may have contributed to his long life.
Deferment by George Bilgere
My friends came back from Vietnam
and some of them were pretty messed up
and others got carved into a wall.
And the ones who were alive wrote about
napalm and land mines and carpet bombing
and I wrote poems about my sensitive soul.
And the ones who were dead wrote about
burning babies and rice paddies full of blood,
while I read Leaves of Grass.
They wrote about twelve-year-old whores
with hand grenades in their purses,
they wrote about My Lai and Rolling
Thunder and a necklace made of human ears,
while I composed a villanelle
about my father’s love of Puccini
which appeared in a fairly good journal.
Nowadays my friends come back from Vietnam
raving about the pho curry,
the Bún cha. You should go, they say.
The pad thai is to die for.
This is jarring and raw and epitomizes all wars doesn’t it?
I always watch PBS's Memorial Day Concert. It is a wonderful tribute to All the Hero's of the Wars that were fought. Some are no longer here, and many other's are there, being honored. It always "Tugs" at my heart and I do cry! Thank you Simon, for the great pictures. Tug is is definitely special, and I can see why You and the family miss him very much. I have lost many of my own and had a difficult time.
Thank you for sharing. Tug was adorable and clearly was a very happy guy! And thank you for bringing the entire Hopium community together in solidarity of democratic values. And for reminding us there is light, even in pervasive darkness.
There is a quote attributed to MLK, jr, although probably spoken by others, that goes, "Only in the darkness can you see the stars."
Will always remember the summer my parents took us to DC. Standing in the Lincoln Memorial, my mother reading the words with tears running down her cheeks she was so moved. A beautiful and stately city.
I am disgusted at the sight of the Three Stooges - Trump, Vance & Hegseth - presiding over the ceremony at Arlington.
What a disgrace.
Oh, Vance just crossed himself.
Yes, he's just so splendidly holy.
The only way to wash this image from my brain is to turn to "The Best Years of Our Lives," from what I believe is possibly the most perfect screenplay ever penned (by Robert E. Sherwood).
I got misty-eyed looking at photos of Tug, knowing how much Simon loved him, and how much I loved the dogs in my life that are no longer here.
a most profound work, stellar cast, Gregg Toland cinematography!!! Hoagy Carmichael!!! and Harold Russell for whom the Academy created a special award. Director Wiiliam Wyler served in the airforce during WWII, filmed in combat, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Memphis_Belle:_A_Story_of_a_Flying_Fortress
A very profound scene where returned Frederic March sidesteps his son's questions about Hiroshima
Oh, yes, and also the brazen altercation at the soda counter regarding isolationism vs democracy.
Just perfect in every way.
yes, such a scene! 1946 and Wyler really understood where those ideas were going!
We’ve just returned from the Memorial Day ceremony at our tiny local cemetery in Tiffin, Iowa. A beautiful day on a lush green hill side with flags fluttering and a dazzling array of colorful blooms on dozens of graves.
Who should show up? Our trump-enabling congresswoman, Mariannette Miller-Meeks! Aaak!
I thought she was going to speak and I would be forced to politely listen to her lying about how she honors our beloved veterans, all the while knowing that she is allowing this regime's cuts to the VA, arbitrary firing of generals for “wokeness”, treating our troops like pawns in tRumpy’s disastrous efforts to shore up his tough guy facade, and countless other dishonorable acts.
Luckily, she simply listened to the prayer and the reading of the names of those veterans buried in our cemetery, then slithered off after the 21-gun salute and mournful rendition of Taps.
She had to wait to back out of her parking spot for our car to pass so I was able to look her in the eye and give her a thumb’s down: I don’t know if she was expecting a lot of positive attention at this ceremony but she sure didn’t’t get it!
Hi Marcia - I'm from Iowa originally and know Tiffin and your area of the state! Let's defeat Miller-Meeks this year! What a loser she has been. I live in Peoria now, but I'm really hopeful for many candidates in Iowa. The last place I lived in Iowa was up by Decorah, Rob Sand's hometown, where he is well-loved for obvious reasons. Turn Iowa blue!
I live just east of Tiffin in Coralville. I figured Miller-Meeks would be in the district but hadn't thought about her making appearances at Memorial Day ceremonies. Yes -- let's vote her out in Nov.!
Good for you. You managed to get your point across and stay classy.
I'm on the west side of the Missouri in Omaha, cheering you Iowans on. My mom was from Sioux City and I have family in Coralville and Iowa City. Hoping for two new governors in Iowa and NE.
Today, my husband and I honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion, including my husband’s cousin, by casting our VBM ballots for NJ’s primary.
We will continue to respond peacefully and forcefully to those who threaten the foundational principles of our country.
I am grateful that the Iowa Secretary of State's website has a facility for checking the status of absentee ballots. I was happy to see yesterday that my husband's and my ballots were received by our county auditor on Friday. I'd turned them in at the auditor's office to make sure the mail couldn't delay delivery, but it still was reassuring!
Thanks! And you can create an online account to check the status of your ballot/registration, too. Now we just need same-day registration!
Yup, have account.
And in Essex County our ballots include lines for phone number and email so the Board of Elections will call me if I need to correct my ballot.
They’re not afraid of the voters here!
Yes, I get txt and phone call here in Monmouth. :)
Great idea. I think I will drop my California Ballot in the local drop box today, Memorial Day is a fine day to cast a ballot to honor those that served and died for our democracy.
Great pics of Tug, Simon and I appreciate the words and photos from around the Mall and D.C.
The drop boxes are awesome. I got notification that my ballot had been received and counted within a couple of days after I put my ballot in. I don't even trust the mail anymore.
Thank you, Simon, for this deeply touching piece, for bringing clarity and
balance to this essential day. And for sharing Tug!
I just looked at the 2024 After Action Report. It seems obvious to me why Ken didn't release it right away - from an academic's point of view, the numerous sloppy errors and lack of source material definitely support Ken's comments about it and his ultimate decision not to release it immediately. Whoever produced the Report just didn't do a great job. I'm glad Ken released it now so folks can see what the issues with it were. Ken's in a very difficult position, and I support both his vision and his leadership. Happy Memorial Day, friends. Here's to our country and our service women and men.
Thank you for the photos of Tug. My cat turns 2 tomorrow. My previous cat was diagnosed with cancer and died around the time of the turmoil about Biden’s departure from the campaign. Tough times.