Maybe a little late for Memorial Day; but, my favorite redhead sister-in-law just e-mailed me this video clip. Click on the following for the video clip –
Remember Me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0.
(Source for flag and sun - Download-By.net - http://gfx.download-by.net/screen/16/16621-flag-3d-screensaver.jpg )
(Source for Honor Guard statues - http://z.about.com/d/godc/1/0/C/9/honorguard.jpg )
PS Thank you Lizzie Palmer the creator of the video clip.
(Source of picture of stained glass window and description - The Patton Society - http://www.pattonhq.com/church.html )*
The General George S. Patton, Jr.
Memorial Window
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Of all the colorful windows in the Church of Our Saviour, perhaps the most outstanding is the General George S. Patton Memorial window. It was presented to the Church by his children and their families. The window was dedicated on October 13, 1946.
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The design was adapted to the medium of stained glass from an original needlepoint embroidery on which Mrs. Totten was working at the time of her father's accident in Germany. General Patton showed great interest in this tapestry, which Mrs. Patton described to him during the fatal illness resulting from his accident.
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The main figure is Saint George conquering the dragon. The scales of the dragon are the Nazi swastika. The blanket on the horse has a pattern made up of the insignia of the 4th, 9th, 11th, 13th 14th, and 16th Armored Corps which were under the General's command during his dramatic sweep across war-torn Europe. Saint George's shield is emblazoned with the insignia of the Third Army General's command.
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In cloud formations, below the figure of Saint George, appear what General Patton considered to be the three main battles of World War II -- Metz, Coblentz and Bastogne. The four important cities of Rennes, Frankfort, Weimar, and Regensburg are shown being released from the stifling clutch of the Nazi dragon's claw.
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Surrounding the window is a decorative border topped by the insignia of the four corps under the General's command during his final thrust into the heart of Germany. They are: the Pentagonal Wheel of the 5th Army Corps, the Windmill Blades of the 12th, the Triangles of the 3rd, and the Crosses of the 20th. Also shown in the border are the shoulder patches of the twelve divisions in his army: the Poleax of the 65th, the '71' of the 71st, the Mountains of the 80th, the Four Leaves of the 4th, the Axe and Tree of the 70th, the Checkerboard of the 99th, the TO brand of the 90th, the YD brand of the 26th, the Diamond of the 5th, the Trident of the 97th, the Star-Indian of the 2nd, and the '1' of the 1st. These are all bound together by a decorative treatment of the rivers that General Patton crossed in his German Campaign: the Innsi, the Iser, the Ems, the Rhine, the Somme, the Danube, the Saar, the Kill, the Sauer, the Moselle, and the Meuse.
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The window is surmounted by the American Flag. In the bottom left-hand corner is the shield of the United States Military Academy at West Point. At the lower right General Patton is seen mounted in his tank wearing the redesigned Armored Force shoulder patch. The verse on the window is from Timothy 4:7:
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I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
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The inscription reads, simply:
"In Loving Memory, General George S. Patton, Jr. -- 1885 - 1945."
Patton was a complex man. Patton was definitely a leader – strong willed, determined, and brave. As a general Patton was competent. But some people would label his generalship as dangerous and not merely audacious. Many people would label Patton peculiar. Amongst other things Patton believed in reincarnation. Following is a poem by Patton reflecting his belief in reincarnation. Enjoy. ;-) GC
THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY
Through the travail of the ages,
Midst the pomp and toil of war,
Have I fought and strove and perished
Countless times upon this star.
In the form of many people
In all panoplies of time
Have I seen the luring vision
Of the Victory Maid, sublime.
I have battled for fresh mammoth,
I have warred for pastures new,
I have listed to the whispers
When the race trek instinct grew.
I have known the call to battle
In each changeless changing shape
From the high souled voice of conscience
To the beastly lust for rape.
I have sinned and I have suffered,
Played the hero and the knave;
Fought for belly, shame, or country,
And for each have found a grave.
I cannot name my battles
For the visions are not clear,
Yet, I see the twisted faces
And I feel the rending spear.
Perhaps I stabbed our Savior
In His sacred helpless side.
Yet, I've called His name in blessing
When after times I died.
In the dimness of the shadows
Where we hairy heathens warred,
I can taste in thought the lifeblood;
We used teeth before the sword.
While in later clearer vision
I can sense the coppery sweat,
Feel the pikes grow wet and slippery
When our Phalanx, Cyrus met.
Hear the rattle of the harness
Where the Persian darts bounced clear,
See their chariots wheel in panic
From the Hoplite's leveled spear.
See the goal grow monthly longer,
Reaching for the walls of Tyre.
Hear the crash of tons of granite,
Smell the quenchless eastern fire.
Still more clearly as a Roman,
Can I see the Legion close,
As our third rank moved in forward
And the short sword found our foes.
Once again I feel the anguish
Of that blistering treeless plain
When the Parthian showered death bolts,
And our discipline was in vain.
I remember all the suffering
Of those arrows in my neck.
Yet, I stabbed a grinning savage
As I died upon my back.
Once again I smell the heat sparks
When my flemish plate gave way
And the lance ripped through my entrails
As on Crecy's field I lay.
In the windless, blinding stillness
Of the glittering tropic sea
I can see the bubbles rising
Where we set the captives free.
Midst the spume of half a tempest
I have heard the bulwarks go
When the crashing, point blank round shot
Sent destruction to our foe.
I have fought with gun and cutlass
On the red and slippery deck
With all Hell aflame within me
And a rope around my neck.
And still later as a General
Have I galloped with Murat
When we laughed at death and numbers
Trusting in the Emperor's Star.
Till at last our star faded,
And we shouted to our doom
Where the sunken road of Ohein
Closed us in it's quivering gloom.
So but now with Tanks a'clatter
Have I waddled on the foe
Belching death at twenty paces,
By the star shell's ghastly glow.
So as through a glass, and darkly
The age long strife I see
Where I fought in many guises,
Many names, -- but always me.
And I see not in my blindness
What the objects were I wrought,
But as God rules o'er our bickerings
It was through His will I fought.
So forever in the future,
Shall I battle as of yore,
Dying to be born a fighter,
But to die again, once more.
(Source for poem – The Patton Society - http://www.pattonhq.com/unknown/chap14.html )
"In the United States, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. The day was created in 1949, and was a result of the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, but observance of these days, especially within each particular service, continues to this day.
The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and air shows. Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, and Armed Forces Week begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May. The purpose of Armed Forces day is to honor Americans serving in the five services - the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard."
(Source - Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Day )
PS A salute to those who serve our Country in these difficult times and a heartfelt thank you for your service and sacrifices. God bless those who serve and their families. ;-) GC
(Source for graphic of waving flag- ZingerBug.com - http://www.zingerbug.com/holidays/ArmedForces/index.htm )
(Source for picture of "Twin Towers" - http://www.blueprintsolution.com/store/fitcommerce/Twin_Towers_Under_Attack_9-11.jpg )
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In a World oft times that seems to have gone mad, God gave us our Mothers.
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