As the motor coach crosses Memorial Bridge and makes its way through the gates of Arlington National Cemetery the price of freedom and the yearning for peace seem clear to me. Now how do those concepts find a place in the minds of my middle school aged fellow travelers?

While a year may be a large part of their lives it is but a tiny fragment of mine. And as I look out over the 750,000 plus white stones that stand as if at attention it saddens me to realize that many who lie here were a mere 48 to 60 months older than my young traveling companions when they gave it all away for the rest us.

It is sometimes sobering for students to realize that freedom is not a wheel set in perpetual motion by the founding fathers. But rather a mill stone that must be constantly turned with great strength and love in order that we may reap the real freedom that comes only when we are at peace.

Darrell Hosack, ITMI #170

Your question came at the right time for me.  I am presently on a tour with a group from the U,K. and we have been seeing American flags flying on various houses and buildings as we are traveling around the western states.  The people on the tour asked if we are allowed to fly our flags at any time, and this brought up the subject of Memorial Day as well as the feeling of being proud to fly an American flag.  When we passed a military cemetery I also explained that on Memorial Day and other specific holidays there is a flag on every grave, and they were very impressed with that.  They said they wished every country had that tradition.  It made me very proud to be an American and to know that the people in this group appreciated the importance of the holiday and the American flag.

Barbara H

This morning, a beautiful spring day here, in NICE, I had a rewarding interaction with Steve & Jane (a couple from Harrisburg, Pa).  They had just alighted from the “SS Windsurf”, a cruiser equipped with sails.  I complimented them on NOT having been spooked by the recent influenza scare.  I shared with them that aside from Swine flu being an unusual strain of organism, it is nonetheless, another seasonal flu challenge, with which we must cope annually.  The usual precautions of hand washing, muffling coughs & sneezes were indicated.  But aside from this one need not generally fear augmentation of virulence or mortality.   One major drawback is the fact that the advent of the arrival of this flu did not permit enough time for the laboratory development of the appropriate vaccine. 

As both members of this couple were health care professionals, our communication was facilitated.  As a physician myself, with professional knowledge, I may have been preaching to the choir.  This couple had been so in tuned with my point of view that they did not hesitate to take advantage of the very attractive special fare offers in making their reservations for the cruise.

Hope to see you guys one of these days, Ted & Randy.

Frederick  C., M.D.