Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Happy Memorial Day**** Tablescape Thursday

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Memorial Day is early this year, it snuck up on us! This is a table from last year, pre blogging, so new to you!

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The star plates are Pfaltzgraff, as are the blue soup bowls The cloth is fabric from the dollar a yard bolts at Walmart. Little patriotic bears from AC Moore...

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Another dinner..

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Happy Memorial Day...
I am thankful for all the men and women who served this country to preserve our freedom.
May we always remember them and the sacrifice they made for us, as well as so many other countries too...
66,000 American soldiers are buried in Normandy, France. I found this very interesting.. But some might not..

My friend recently visited the cemetery there..She said it was very emotional to see all the graves of our service people who never made it back to the US..

From Wikipedia...

Why were the American soldiers killed on D-Day buried in Normandy and not brought back to the United States and buried on our soil?
In: World War 2


Answer

Many of those American soldiers, sailors & airmen KIA on D-Day were brought back to the US to be reburied here. This option was offered to the families in the late 1940's & early 1950"s. However, many families felt is was best to leave their sons where they fell, liberating France & ending NAZI tyranny.

Richard V. Horrell WW 2 Connections



Answer 2
This was typical of not just the Normandy cemetery at Collievielle-sur-Mer, but American cemeteries all over the world. After a battle, it was the duty of members of the Grave Registration Services to locate and identify the soldiers Killed In Action. The proper thing to do was to bury the dead as soon as possible and record and mark the graves. Later, maybe a few months after the front had moved further away or maybe after the war had ended, the bodies were moved to a central cemetery.
Then after the war, the Government offered to return them back to the US so their families could bury them at their hometown.
Some families accepted this offer and others did not.
For example; General George Patton expressed a wish to be buried in Europe with the soldiers he served with.
The current cemetery at Normandy was set-up as a temporary burial site on 8 June 1944, just 2 days after the Allies landed on near-by Omaha Beach. This was later selected as the permanent site by the ABMC.
All American cemeteries on foreign soil are considered sovereign property of the United States of America and as such, the Stars and Stripes flies over the rows of markers.

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) was established by Congress in 1923 to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law.

The Commission administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. Presently there are 124,913 U.S. war dead interred at these cemeteries, 30,921 of World War I, 93,242 of World War II and 750 of the Mexican War. Additionally 6,149 American veterans and others are interred in the Mexico City and Corozal American Cemeteries.

The ABMC website allows you to search for those who remain buried on foriegn soil. You can search for someone by Name or by Unit ID. It provides their name, rank, serial number, hometown, and date they were killed in action, along with the cemetery and the exact location of their headstone.

Link: www.abmc.gov

The Location of all cemeteries maintained by the ABMC, both WW1 and WW2, are as follows:

Cemeteries
Aisne-Marne, France
Ardennes, Belgium
Brittany, France
Brookwood, England
Cambridge, England
Corozal, Panama
Epinal, France
Flanders Field, Belgium
Florence, Italy
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium
Lorraine, France
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Manila, Philippines
Meuse-Argonne, France
Mexico City, Mexico
Netherlands, Netherlands
Normandy, France
North Africa, Tunisia
Oise-Aisne, France
Rhone, France
Sicily-Rome, Italy
Somme, France
St. Mihiel, France
Suresnes, France

Don't forget to fly your flag...:)

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Please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see other Tablescape Thursday entries. Her table is absolutely beautiful...Thank you for hosting, Susan!

33 comments:

  1. A pretty tablescape and yes, we cannot forget what Memorial day really is -- it isn't a day to BBQ but to remember not only our fallen heroes but others who have passed away.

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  2. great table for Memorial day! I have to get your way one day! Happy Tablescape Thursday ~ Susan

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  3. Oh these tables are just wonderful! Love the red white and blue. God bless America and all our servicemen!! have a great Memorial Day weekend...

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  4. A perfect setting for Memorial Day. And, thank you so much for the information you printed about our soldiers. My Grandfather was one of the lucky ones who made it back from Europe after WW1.

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  5. I salute you for your beautiful tribute to our veterans and for the information on the resting places. I actually was at the cemetery in Italy.
    Joyce (Proud Army Mom)

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  6. Lovely table! My tiny hand is upon my heart!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  7. I love your adorable tablescape..
    xo bj

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  8. Fabulous table for Memorial Day! Thanks for reminding us of the sacrifices that were made on our behalf. And thanks for visiting my blog & leaving me a comment.

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  9. Thank you Kathleen for the beautiful and informative tribute to all the courageous veterans, who served to keep us Safe & Free. My father served under Patton, and was one of the Lucky Ones to return home. He is 87!

    Your Memorial tables are
    wonderful!

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  10. Beautiful table and yummy-looking desserts! Great military tribute also. My hubby is retired military.

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  11. Great table and post Kathleen! Have a wonderful Memorial Day - you have made it more meaningful for lots of us now! :D Jewel

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  12. How wonderful! I'm still decorating! Have a grand day!!!! Cathy

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  13. Love your new header picture, Kathleen. Your Memorial Day table is gorgeous ... so many details and very patriotic and festive.

    Thanks for the info on Normandy cemetery ... very interesting and moving.

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  14. Now that's the spirit!!! I must say that your dessert on those plates are amazing!!!! Great combination of plate & dessert! Stop by and see my table setting, if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe to my blog by clicking on "Follow" in the right hand column. This way we can inspire one another frequently! Be sure to stay a while when you're there and enjoy the experience!

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  15. What a fabulous tablescape. I love every single detail. Just gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  16. Kathleen! I adore this! How wonderful. I love patriotic tablesettings and yours is just perfect. Wow! Hope you have an amazing weekend!
    Debbie

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  17. Very attractive table setting for Memorial Day. It was very helpful and interesting to read the information you provided.
    My older brother, a Viet Nam vet who died in 2006 is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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  18. I love this post. I know a man here that fought in the battle of Normandy. It gives me chills just thinking about the sacrifices that were and still are made for our freedom. We should never get complacent and forget.

    Beautiful table. Thanks for sharing.

    Christi @ A Southern Life
    http://asouthernlife.com

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  19. Beautiful tablescapes, Kathleen...but even better, teh reminder of why we celebrate Memorial Day..thank you!
    happy holiday weekend!
    ;-D

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  20. Thank you so much for the reminder that many have given their lives so we can be free and that Memorial Day is a day to honor them!

    Lovely tablescape, very patriotic!

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  21. Memorial Day is so much more than a day off from work. Thank you for this post!!!!

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  22. Thanks for your wonderful post. Happy Memorial Day!

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  23. Beautiful header Kathleen - as well as your tables!

    Thanks for the history lesson - it was very interesting and informative, facts I did not know before!

    Happy Memorial Day!!

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  24. Kathleen,
    I'm so glad you came by my blog so that I could come here and see these fabulous tables! Honestly, my mouth dropped open when I opened up your blog because I love these tables so so much! How do you fold napkins like that? Bravo! Cindy

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  25. Oh, this is beautiful! As is your blog banner. I love these colors. I love stars. And you're very good at this table setting!
    Brenda

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  26. What a beautiful table! Love the theme!

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  27. Great looking table, Kathleen!

    Interesting post! Have a great weekend! My flag will be flying,too!

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  28. Kathleen, this was such interesting information. I don't think I ever learned that some families elected to leave their family members burried there.
    Your tablescape is so great. This post made me want to start singing God Bless America! laurie

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  29. Thank you for telling about the graves in other countries that are resting places for our brave men. I have always wondered why they were left, and I had thought maybe the number was so great that it would have been nearly impossible to get them all home. Thanks for your patritotism...I am, also! Thanks for visiting my blog and if you don't mind, I think I'll have a look around yours! *Ü*
    XOXO
    Joni

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  30. Wonderful post! Beautiful table and informative too! "lest we forget"

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  31. This is an awesome post. I love your tablescape and your home's curb appeal!

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  32. Wonderful post Ms. Kathleen!!! I learned something new and enjoyed the pictures too!
    Thanks,
    Jaybird

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  33. How wonderful that your blog is back working on my "testy" computer - I had so much beauty to catch up on! The patriotic tablesettings are gorgeous and your home with the bunting is too!

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