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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day

Joe,

I have to express to you my utmost disappointment with our country over Memorial Day. I am responsible for creating three bulletin boards at my office. My idea was to use a patriotic theme for all three. So last week I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to hit some of the stores and I wouldn't have much difficulty finding patriotic decorations. I went to Walmart, K-Mart, Ben Franklin Crafts, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Target so far. Their selection was very limited. I was told by a Walmart employee, "Oh we don't really get in really good patriotic decorations until after the Memorial Day holiday". I stood their in shock. On Sunday I went to pick up a few things for a BBQ. Also I thought ok I'll look while I'm out for bulletin board decorations as well. I wanted a patriotic table cloth for the BBQ. At K-Mart the only oblong table cloth that they had, had hot dogs, hamburgers, mustard bottle, ketchup bottle etc. I was disgusted. They had one small section of patriotic decorations. What the heck is wrong with us? There were many memorial services yesterday. They had a good attendance at the one in Snow Hill. So to our Veterans I say thank you. To our retail outlets and people who didn't recognize our Veterans, SHAME ON YOU!!

Sincerely,
Beth

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

you can't honor veterans by buying junk at wal mart. I bet most veterans would hate wal mart. in a way you are dishonoring them for being materialistic and shallow

Anonymous said...

so, you want to buy patriotic plastic crap at stores who get their products from china?

Why dont you make your own. why do you have to buy junk? If you wanted to honor the veterans, you would put a bit more effort into it.

Anonymous said...

How is buying decorations for a BBQ being materialistic and shallow? Did you have a flag flying yesterday? Did you go to a service yesterday? What exactly did you do yesterday? Cut grass? The point I think was to recognize the fact that people only look at Memorial Day as another day off for them. I was walking through a store around Easter and I heard some dumb teenager say "When is Easter".

Anonymous said...

How about you don't buy cheap petroleum based products so we can't bring the troops home from any more wars for oil?

Anonymous said...

11:33 AM, I agree Walmart sucks, and believe that the local retailers should of honored the Vets with at least discount, which Jolly Rogers said they have but we would have to travel to Ft. Meade for the discounted ticket, way to go Jolly Rogers, I rather pay full price then spent twice the amount on gas to get over the bridge and back. Anyhow, a discount always shows our VETS how much we are appreciated/honored. After all that's what Memorial Day is about appreciating and in Memory of those who have faugh to defend this country,

Anonymous said...

11:47 AM, Maybe the teenager wasn't the dumb one, maybe they were referring to what date, nothing wrong about that, maybe your the dumb one, for assuming that the teenager was asking what month it was on.Let me guess were you at Walmart again?

Anonymous said...

The DOLLOR EXPRESS STORES have quite a selection of decorations.

Anonymous said...

Our Vets do a great job killing our enemies without the added insult of our patronizing flag waiving. Our flag establishes our courts as military hearings. That is their pupose. It is not to "honor" those who gave their lives killing our enemies. The Vets did not do it so they can be honored in this shallow manner. Memorial Day is the replacement for Armistice Day in the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. It is for the remembrance of the dead. Show some respect for the dead.

Anonymous said...

If you want those military discount Jolly Roger tix, try calling the Navy installation at Wallops Island. They have an MWR office. (757)854-1366. You might also call the Coast Guard Station at Chincoteague.(757) 336-5917. The Navy MWR can usually get tix from the larger facilities, like Annapolis, Ft. Meade, etc.

The Salisbury Goodwill store offers a 10% discount (when no other discounts apply) to all active, reserve and retiree military. It took a few letters to get theme to do it, but they came around.

Anonymous said...

I bet almost all of you went shopping yesterday. Everything should have been closed yesterday. Should have been a day of remembering, honoring those who we lost and thanking the men and women who protect and serve us. Instead we are a country of me, me, me, me, me.

Anonymous said...

try Michaels Craft store

Anonymous said...

Educational Supplies in Court Plaza carries many decorations
for Holidays and themes especially for bulletin boards.

Anonymous said...

So basically what you guys are saying is that if we are looking for patriotic items for your BBQ you shouldn't buy them and it is disrespectful to use those items. You missed the point all together. This individual was looking for things to display her patriotism for her country. What's wrong with that?

Anonymous said...

12:56 there is a lot of truth to what you say. I remember when ALL stores except "filling stations" were closed on Sundays (and even some of them were closed). Memorial Day was a day when the community shut down its commercial venues and had parades, ball games, cookouts, and Memorial Services - first in churches, and then in the communities. I mean the whole place was shut down. No grocery stores, no drug stores (what they once were called), no department stores (there were no malls then). Alas, I fear those days are gone forever. Today's society is the poorer for it because its done now is to foster, as you say, the me, me, me, me in this country.

Anonymous said...

It begs the question of WHY one needs disposible plastic products to express and display ones patriotism for her country, 1:03 pm. Do Vets really care if shiny plastic stars and stripes are blazened across U.S. workplace bulletin boards in a united display of support and appreciation?
I'd rather just hug my grandpa, poor old dear.
Frankly I find this post hilarious. What is more American than consumerism? Go on with your patriotic self, Beth! ;)

Anonymous said...

If people didn't shop on Sundays, the stores wouldn't be open.

Some of you are off an a tangent. Our country as a whole should be more patriotic.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:52
Funny. If stores weren't open, people wouldn't shop!

Anonymous said...

Good grief. You all need to chill out. Who would have thought that this post about being a little more patriotic would have turned into such a gripe session. I think she was just stating that as a whole consumers don't have options for finding patriotic items other than around the 4th of July. These items should be available to us whenever we want them not just one freaking time a year. And by the way, the stuff we would like to have should be made in America!! Then again we have become a country that has decided it's much better to support other countries instead of our own.

Anonymous said...

In typical Delmarva fashion everyone here has ripped Beth for a well thought out post. You people should be ashamed of yourselves... really, like it's Beth's fault the store is open and the products are made in China... how did a post about honoring Memorial Day get twisted into such anger, malice, and hurtful words? Grow up.

Anonymous said...

On a serious note, it is very telling that we become aggressive in defending our opinions. Why? I think it is because we KNOW our government is out of control. We no longer feel good about being patriotic because we know the wars are not defensible. They are wrong morally and legally. We have become a morbid Nation, thinking only of killing other people. We have people living with us now, who do not consider themselves to be Americans. They don't speak our language or understand our history and culture. Therefore, our culture is dissapearing quickly. We feel unconnected to our Nation - and we are embarassed about what our government does in our names. It is horrible. The American flag is beginning to be confused for how we feel about becoming suspects and criminals in our own Country. It is as if our Country has been taken over from within - by a globalist group of bankers. We now realize that we cannot control our government, but instead, it is controlled by these bankers. They open our borders and they kill our neighbors. What are we to do?

Chimera said...

It is sad that rather than a day of remembrance,Memorial day has become a "3 day weekend".