Memorial Day People

Memorial Day is a federal holiday for honoring soldiers who died in military service. This day is observed on the last Monday of May.  Over 4600 American military men and women have died so far in the War on Terrorism in these two operations: 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq).  Of these fatalities, 2.4% were women who make up 16% of the department of defense force.  Over 4500 deaths have been men who comprise 97.6% of the force.  

These stats represent real people whose departure from this world has a heart wrenching impact on those close.  Appreciation, gratitude and sadness is felt from people across the country for these men and women, on this day.

Memorial Day was initially known as Decoration Day to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the American Civil War.  After World War I, this day commemorated all our fallen soldiers who have died in all wars.  Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day in memory and honor of those who gave their lives fighting for a common cause.  This total so far is over 340,000 people.  Of this total is William Newman.  

Airman William Newman

12/8/1983 - 6/7/2007

In remembrance of our son, William Newman, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  He was only 23 years old when died serving as an Air Force EOD technician.  William was part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team stationed at Hickman Air Force Base in Hawaii.  He was killed while disarming an IED(improvised explosive device) in Balad, Iraq.  One year later the Hickman Air Force Base EOD facility was dedicated and named in his honor.  Thank you for your service and dedication to our great country.  We miss you and love you so much.

Thank you to all the Veterans, for all those currently serving in our military, and for those who have lost their lives.  Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation. - Angela Newman, founder of Pink Ladders.

Mother's Day - a feminist idea

When most of us think of celebrating Mother's Day, we think about reservations for brunch, bouquet of flowers, and cards.  Oh, and of course, our mothers and grandmothers.  We take stock of our relationship with them or lack thereof.  We think of ourselves as mothers or step mothers or other mothers like aunts, friends or sisters.  We tend to feel honored, sad or maybe indifferent on this day. In any case, this day is an opportunity to think bigger than ourselves, as mothers of our society.

Mother's Day in the United States was brought to discussion with the writing of the Mother's Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe, a feminist, in 1870.  Julia also wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  Being a feminist meant that women had a "responsibility to shape their societies at a political level". The Mother's Day Proclamation was a response to the deaths and injuries of the sons as result of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War.

This Mother's Day amid our plans for food and company, maybe we think about and talk about our roles as mothers of our society. 

Mother's Day Proclamation

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,

Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn

All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country

To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.

It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.

As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,

Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means

Whereby the great human family can live in peace,

Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,

But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask

That a general congress of women without limit of nationality

May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient

And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,

To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,

The amicable settlement of international questions,

The great and general interests of peace.