And we're at it again
Soldier boy goes back to class today after having a four day weekend. It was great having him home those days. We hung out, ran some errands, emptied the storage unit into the garage, etc. Memorial Day didn't go quite as expected though.
We woke up and then putzed around most of the morning. The Memorial Day ceremony wasn't until 11:50 so there wasn't any rush to get out of here. We both ate breakfast, watched some tv, and then headed out.
The ceremony was very nice. They had the army band there playing. Since we are the Artillery post they had the howitzers there for the 21 gun salute. There was the red, white, and blue wreath that the retirees each added a flower to. As the extra flower was added we were told what the colors stand for. When we got there the flag was at half mast. Near the end of the ceremony they played Taps and then the National Anthem. While the anthem was played they hoisted the flag up to full mast. Once the flag was all the way up, some one started to give an address. I forget who it was, and I honestly can't really say what he talked about. A few minutes in I started feeling light headed so walked over to a shady grass area. I sat down in the grass. I stood up for the chaplain's benediction and attempted to stand for the medley of the armed forces, but just couldn't do it. So I sat back down, put my head on my knees, and tried to stay conscious. Yeah... that didn't work.
Next thing I knew I was on the ground staring up at people I don't know, heard other people saying "get the medic and EMTs." They got me to sit up, gave me water, asked me a million questions (did I eat today, have I had anything to drink, could I be pregnant, do I want an ambulance, has this happened before, etc etc etc). Part of me wanted to laugh. I haven't completely passed out since my sophomore year in high school (and what a fun time THAT was!) so here I am, 11 years later at it again. I thought I was over this. Well, maybe not over this, but I definitely thought that I was old enough to recognize the signs and take care of it before I reached the complete pass out stage.
After we convinced the EMT and the medic that I really would be okay we headed to the car and immediately home (so much for lunch and errands after the ceremony). We got home, I got out of the car, and pretty much immediately threw up the breakfast I had made sure to eat that morning. Soldier Boy put me on the couch with a bucket and a liter of water with re-hydrating salts mixed in (btw: ewww) and didn't let me get up until all my water was gone and we had watched about three movies.
Yeah... Good times...
On a happier note: I am glad that they raised the flag up during the Memorial Day ceremony. I had found this quote and it stuck with me because I don't see Memorial Day as a day of mourning. I see it as a day to remember and to be thankful to/for those who have died to give me the freedoms I so often take for granted.
"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. " - Benjamin Harrison
We woke up and then putzed around most of the morning. The Memorial Day ceremony wasn't until 11:50 so there wasn't any rush to get out of here. We both ate breakfast, watched some tv, and then headed out.
The ceremony was very nice. They had the army band there playing. Since we are the Artillery post they had the howitzers there for the 21 gun salute. There was the red, white, and blue wreath that the retirees each added a flower to. As the extra flower was added we were told what the colors stand for. When we got there the flag was at half mast. Near the end of the ceremony they played Taps and then the National Anthem. While the anthem was played they hoisted the flag up to full mast. Once the flag was all the way up, some one started to give an address. I forget who it was, and I honestly can't really say what he talked about. A few minutes in I started feeling light headed so walked over to a shady grass area. I sat down in the grass. I stood up for the chaplain's benediction and attempted to stand for the medley of the armed forces, but just couldn't do it. So I sat back down, put my head on my knees, and tried to stay conscious. Yeah... that didn't work.
Next thing I knew I was on the ground staring up at people I don't know, heard other people saying "get the medic and EMTs." They got me to sit up, gave me water, asked me a million questions (did I eat today, have I had anything to drink, could I be pregnant, do I want an ambulance, has this happened before, etc etc etc). Part of me wanted to laugh. I haven't completely passed out since my sophomore year in high school (and what a fun time THAT was!) so here I am, 11 years later at it again. I thought I was over this. Well, maybe not over this, but I definitely thought that I was old enough to recognize the signs and take care of it before I reached the complete pass out stage.
After we convinced the EMT and the medic that I really would be okay we headed to the car and immediately home (so much for lunch and errands after the ceremony). We got home, I got out of the car, and pretty much immediately threw up the breakfast I had made sure to eat that morning. Soldier Boy put me on the couch with a bucket and a liter of water with re-hydrating salts mixed in (btw: ewww) and didn't let me get up until all my water was gone and we had watched about three movies.
Yeah... Good times...
On a happier note: I am glad that they raised the flag up during the Memorial Day ceremony. I had found this quote and it stuck with me because I don't see Memorial Day as a day of mourning. I see it as a day to remember and to be thankful to/for those who have died to give me the freedoms I so often take for granted.
"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. " - Benjamin Harrison