It feels a Shame to be Alive — When Men so brave — are dead — One envies the Distinguished Dust — Permitted — such a Head — The Stone — that tells defending Whom This Spartan put away What little of Him we — possessed In Pawn for Liberty — The Price is great — Sublimely paid — Do we deserve — a Thing — That lives — like Dollars — must be piled Before we may obtain? Are…
Memorial Day means a weekend by the water to many Floridians, but environmental group Audubon and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission say boaters and beachgoers need to watch out wildlife. Many rare and declining species of water birds make their homes on Florida beaches and islands, and even a small disturbance can decimate an entire colony by causing parents to flee their nests, the groups say. “Memorial Day is always a fun time to be around or on…
I was catching a flight a few years ago at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport during summer travel season. The American Airlines non-stop to Tampa was going to be overstuffed with crying babies, stressed parents, restless 6-year-olds and travelers trying to fill an overhead bin with more stuff than would fit into a Winnebago. I must have looked extra forlorn because the exhausted ticket agent surveyed the gate area and told me apologetically, “We have taken a premium service and turned…
My husband and I take our kids to Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg every Memorial Day. We’ve been attending this event for 14 years and can remember the days when hardly anyone showed up. Back in 2000 and 2001, we could always find a parking space, a seat in front, and plenty of elbow-room as we walked around the graveyard. That changed with 9/11 and our country’s involvement in wars all over the world. The crowds grew and…
First of all, Memorial Day commemorates something completely sober, which transcends the material: the brave sacrifices by countless Americans made to secure our freedoms, safety, and values. So much so, that our elective representatives have set a day aside where public institutions are closed and where people are encouraged to do the same in their own ways. But the observation of Memorial Day is wholly reflective, somber, and meaningful. That said, for many Americans, the long weekend of Memorial Day is…
Wounded veterans across Florida will boat, fish, hunt, and more at no charge during Memorial Day in the fourth annual Operation Outdoor Freedom, a program sponsored by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ state Forest Service. Outdoor Freedom honors wounded veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces by providing no-cost recreation and rehabilitation opportunities in state forests and private lands, including guided hunting events and fishing trips. Last year, more than 650 wounded veterans participated…
Expect an above-average flow of traffic as people pile into their cars for Memorial Day getaways this year. According to AAA Travel, 37.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles to celebrate the summer kick-off holiday. This is expected to be the busiest Memorial Day for travel in 10 years. Anticipated trips are up nearly 5 percent from last year’s 35.5 million. “Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip flops and making…
