(S8) - PT 2 - Memorial Day

[Oles]

Requirements

Written: Must include 200 words. For most Memorial Day isn't the solemn holiday it is meant to be. For most it's a fun weekend with family and friends shooting off fireworks and drinking beer. Some celebrate it loudly, while others quietly commemorate the occasion, remembering those who have passed. Write about your Memorial Day traditions, whether it's a fun family occasion or just a bit of quiet reflection.

Graphic: Create a graphic commemorating your Memorial Day activities. Whether it's grilling, drinking, or visiting veteran graves, just make a graphic of something. Include a render and one activity.
Full Payout = 3 TPE

Do not claim this TPE until a post is made in the claim thread.

Deadline
Saturday, June 2nd, 11:59 PM PST

[Oles]

Oles has stuck to his tradition of low profile holidays, doing charity work and trying to make the world around him a little bit better when he can. With his food truck and free time, he went to meet with veterans for Memorial Day, delivering hot meals to those who were able to come back and listening to their stories, whether they're war stories or just events that happened in their life in general. Sticking to his theme of charity work and helping the community, Oles embarked on a full day of visiting homes, Veteran's Hospitals, and anywhere else that might have veterans who may need some help, or just someone to talk to. Of course, Memorial Day isn't just about veterans, it's also about veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, dying in the line of duty. As such this also includes visiting memorials, graves, and remembering them in any way we can, through stories from family, friends, and veterans who were alongside them in battle. Learning the stories, their background, and why they decided to go to war was an enlightening experience for the Liberty QB. Hearing these veterans recount stories like they happened yesterday, and talking so vividly about something that has long since passed was an amazing experience for Oles, and gave him a new side to view things from. (223 words)

[infinitempg]

Memorial Day is strange to me - should it really be a holiday? Holidays imply joy and happiness, but the entire idea of Memorial Day is to solemnly remember the soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our country (or whatever goals our country wanted to accomplish at that time). But yet, Memorial Day is also the national "beginning of summer", where everyone goes to the beach or to a theme park or has a barbecue and enjoys the hot weather. Is this appropriate? Is this disrespectful, or is it simply using what the soldiers fought to protect for us? Is it really a "Happy Memorial Day" if we're supposed to mourn those who have died? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I can tell you I spent my Memorial Day meeting some relatives casually at a restaurant and then driving back from Boston to my home town in New Jersey. It was relaxed, certainly not disrespectful in the sense of partying and getting drunk on a beach (and then getting assaulted by cops), but it also wasn't mournful. I did go to a theme park on Tuesday, but that doesn't count.

At least I didn't tweet something like:

Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well I kicked and punted last year. Most punts inside the 20 in the league, best kicking percentage for field goals and extra points EVER (& no kicks returned for TDs), a high punting average and so much more. Nice!

260 wurz

[twiggin56]

On my memorial day I often go to a BBQ at a friends house. even with that being said I do believe in the true meaning of memorial day, which is remembering those who served our country and are currently overseas serving right now. having attended the west point academy it means even more to me. my father was a coach at the naval academy and his brother, my uncle Cletus coached at the air force academy. I learned a lot from those two and many other military men and women I have been around my entire life. As far as activities go I don't do a whole lot I tend to wake up early in the morning and hop on Xbox for a bit before I get dragged somewhere to celebrate with people who don't truly appreciate memorial day and just think of it as a day off, but I just put on my fake smile and greet people as happily as possible. to many of the people I see I'm just another person not a football player and not a celebrity which is a nice change. although it isn't my favorite holiday its one of the most meaningful to me.

[Daybe]

On my memorial day I often go to a BBQ at a friends house. even with that being said I do believe in the true meaning of memorial day, which is remembering those who served our country and are currently overseas serving right now. having attended the west point academy it means even more to me. my father was a coach at the naval academy and his brother, my uncle Cletus coached at the air force academy. I learned a lot from those two and many other military men and women I have been around my entire life.

Remember to hit 200 words in order to get credit!

[kckolbe]

Kevin Fitzpatrick is a proud American, so on Memorial Day he turns on a baseball game, which used to be America’s favorite past time. He tunes in early, in time for the playing of the National Anthem, and places his hand on his heart. However, not wanting to be appear to himself to be unsympathetic to the concerns of protestors or free speech in general, he momentarily kneels, just for a couple of seconds, to show his support. Then he rises back up, and begins feeling self-conscious that the gesture didn’t last long enough, and might be considered a mockery, so he kneels down again, and once again rises back up. Feeling as though he’d done as much as he can for patriotism and civil disobedience, he stands awkwardly as the anthem continues, his heart rate increased now from the combination of awkwardness and what were, effectively, two lunges. Having done both lunges on the same leg, he quickly does two on the opposite leg to balance out, though he realizes that the first two were more deliberate, so he adds a third, then, foolishly, a fourth, which was too much. Now he has to go back to the first leg, repeating over and over until he is well past 200 words. God Bless America.

[Ben]

Kevin Fitzpatrick is a proud American, so on Memorial Day he turns on a baseball game, which used to be America’s favorite past time.  He tunes in early, in time for the playing of the National Anthem, and places his hand on his heart.  However, not wanting to be appear to himself to be unsympathetic to the concerns of protestors or free speech in general, he momentarily kneels, just for a couple of seconds, to show his support.  Then he rises back up, and begins feeling self-conscious that the gesture didn’t last long enough, and might be considered a mockery, so he kneels down again, and once again rises back up.  Feeling as though he’d done as much as he can for patriotism and civil disobedience, he stands awkwardly as the anthem continues, his heart rate increased now from the combination of awkwardness and what were, effectively, two lunges.  Having done both lunges on the same leg, he quickly does two on the opposite leg to balance out, though he realizes that the first two were more deliberate, so he adds a third, then, foolishly, a fourth, which was too much.  Now he has to go back to the first leg, repeating over and over until he is well past 200 words.  God Bless America.

Fucking quality

[GoonerBear]

For Memorial Day, we get our family together for a day-long celebration with a little of everything. We started the day attending the City of Marshall's Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at the war memorial by the county courthouse. Even though it's anywhere between baking and burning, we make do with any coolant we can bring along - fans, water, any shade we can get - and listen to the speeches.

After that wraps up, we make a short, in-town trip to the St. Joseph's church for a community lunch. My parents usually whip something up for the potluck and we try to help out with anything from prep to quick runs to the store for ingredients. After getting some time to eat and cool off, we drive out to the grave site of my great-grandfather, Eustis Deringer, who was killed in action in the Pacific theater during World War II. We come prepared with a different arrangement of flowers in a wreath each year, and this year, we replaced the picture from the last one with one refurbished using a copy my great-grandmother preserved tight.

We don't linger for long before returning home to prepare dinner for our family and eat in our own home. We watch as a few others set off fireworks in the night, though we keep our budget saved for Independence Day. It's usually about 10 or so when that winds down and we go to bed.

(241)

[Ben]

Ardie is from New Zealand so this whole thing means nothing to him and he just took his daughter for a walk in New Orleans while he waits for the season to start

[dub]

Balthazar Crindy spent the weekend at his new condo in Arizona. Some of his stuff is still in boxes, having just moved in a week ago. A brand new grill, still smelling of fresh factory paint and with the price tag, is sizzling. His small back yard area is quiet except for the sizzling. In his hand, a team photo from his past, a 1987 varsity football team of his high school. Each one is numbered. On a legal pad, he's got names and sentences.

Seat squeaks. Paper shifting. Pen click. Taps on phone. Swig of beer. Distant gila woodpecker pips.

"died, 1995, car accident"
"died, 1990"
"died, 1999, suicide"
"died, 2001"
"died, 2007, cancer"

There are a few blank lines, folks he's still trying to track down, but none of the sentences Balthazar intended on writing are there. He hasn't once gotten a chance to write some of his guesses, "married, three kids, Baton Rouge.", or, "Married, lawyer, NOLA", or "married, photographer, california", or even just, "alive, Maurepas". Pen click. Seat squeaks. Meat crackle.

The dry desert air soaks up a tear on his cheek before he gets a chance to wipe it. Just then, his new phone buzzes. Tongs clink on the table. Grab. Swipe. Tap. Tap.

The protective plastic covering is still on the face.

Sorry, my father Luis Castor passed away ten years ago. Were you a student of his?

Crindy clicked his pen, writes next to number 29, an assistant coach second from the right, third row from bottom. "died, 2008" Click. Pen clinks on table. Swig. Crackle. Squeak. Distant gila woodpecker pips.