This is probably one of the most memorable poems to come out of World War I. This poem prompted others in the US to organize for a unified, countrywide day of remembrance - now called Memorial Day.
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from falling hands we throw
The Torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Why green on St. Patrick's Day?
It all goes back to St. Patrick, a British youth held captive in Ireland, who escaped captivity and later returned as a bishop to Ireland to convert the Irish to Catholicism.
The color green is a represantation of catholicism and celebrates St. Patrick and his missionary work in Ireland.
St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity in his missionary work with the Irish, another tie in to the wearin' of the green on St. Patrick's Day.
Why pinch a person who is not wearing green?
This pinching practice started in the 1700's in Boston. The only way not to be pinched was to know that leprechauns cannot see the color green.
Wearing green meant they could not see and pinch you. Being pinched on St. Patrick's day was meant to serve as a warning and reminder about leprechauns.
tags: leprechauns, St. Patrick, St. Patrick's Day
Video: The History of St. Patrick's Day
tags: video st. patrick's day, video history of st. patrick's day
Video: Irish Songs for St. Patrick's Day
tags: irish songs, irish songs for st. patrick's day
The Press Enterprise had an interesting story last week about the Cabazon Water district. Cabazon is located on the I-10 between Banning and Morongo casino.
The story included a reference to a youtube video. Even though it's not Hemet related it's still an interesting look into our common past. It shows how it was in Cabazon, and may have been in Hemet, a hundred years ago.
The video describes the pioneer effort to get water, the digging of the San Jacinto tunnel through our local mountains, and other historical points of interest.
Check it out below.
tags: cabazon, hemet, water, san jacinto tunnel, cabazon water district
"Joyeux Noel" Happy Christmas - Celine Dion
"Petit Papa Noël" Little Father Christmas
Wishing all our customers health and happiness this Holiday Season and prosperity in the New Year.
We value our customer relationships and thank you for being our customer. We look forward to serving you in the New Year.
As Christmas approaches we would like to share some of our favorite Christmas carols. The first...
Schedryk
16th century Ukrainian Christmas carol
Carol of the Bells
English version of the Schedryk carol above
The U.S. personal savings rate has seen negative numbers only four times in recent history:
1932 and 1933
- struggling to cope with the Great Depression
2005
- consumers wiped out savings to buy cars and other big ticket items
2008 and 2009
- when the construction industry and everything else went south
U.S. Department of Commerce
As Flag Day was yesterday and 4th of July is approaching I felt it would be wise to list how to properly handle the U.S. flag. Listed below is the recognized way to handle the U.S. flag.
1. The U.S. flag is usually flown from sunrise to sunset.
2. In the morning raise the flag briskly, in the evening lower the flag slowly. Always raise and lower the flag with respect.
3. The flag should be illuminated when flown at night.
4. The flag should not be flown in rain or inclement weather.
5. After a tragedy or death the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days.
6. When flown vertically on a flagpole the stars and blue field are at the top and end of the flag pole.
7. The American flag is always flown at the top of the flagpole. State and other flags are flown below.
8. The stars are always on top. When displayed in print the stars and blue field are always on the left.
9. The flag should never touch the ground.
10. When storing fold the flag.
11. When retiring a flag the flag should should not be thrown away, preferrably burned.
US Flags
