Originally Posted By ssWEDguy On Memorial Day this year the Army's Golden Knights will skydive and parachute into Epcot at noon. In the MK the daily 5pm retreat will be an extended Memorial Day version, including choral music, bands, orchestral music, and special presentations.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>In the MK the daily 5pm retreat will be an extended Memorial Day version, including choral music, bands, orchestral music, and special presentations.<< Sounds neat. Things like this and the special activities for the 4th and New Years always make me think twice about visiting during slow times.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy It's 7:36am at Epcot. The Army's Golden Knights skydiving team just completed their early morning test jump over Epcot and SSE. The 8 skydivers landed just outside the park within yards of their target. The main show will repeat for real later today at noon.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I would have loved to be there but was busy for a portion of the morning..
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Or maybe I will be at the MK at 5pm today. (Look for navy tee from Universal Studios Japan, with a "Little Devil" inscription on it and a devilish looking Woody Woodpecker.) Say hello to TDLFAN if you see him.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Just got back from the MK. Simple ceremony, about 20 mins long... lots of american music (God Bless America, Star Spangle Banner, This land is your land...etc etc) by Voices of Liberty and the WDW Marching Band. Lots of well intentioned speeches about the sacrifices made by those who served and fell in the name of our nation, and those fallen heroes deserve each and every bit of this tribute and respect. Yet, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth that so much ado is made about "our freedom" and "equality for all" when I can't still marry my partner and am put down for my sexual orientation, or when we still look at other members of our society in distrust, just because they wear middle eastener clothing or simply because they look different. Whatever.. this nation will never be truly "free" of those demons, no matter how many men and women spill blood and die abroad. The ceremony of course was initially briefly delayed due to microphone problems, and then... the military man lowering the flag lost his hat when the wind blew it away... but no major incidents.. Of course, I kept waiting for the Thunderbirs fly over the MK or at least a white dove release (I know.. they don't do those anymore) to symbolize what we as a nation want most: Peace. Here are the photos... straight from my cellphone <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32196335&f=" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32196335&f=</a>
Originally Posted By Labuda Wow, great quality pics there, TDLFAN! Small, yeah, but you've got a great camera on that phone!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Thanks Labuda. You know what else was strange to me?? The MK was actually very uncrowded today!! I expected chaos a la TDL on a holiday, but the MK was really quieter than normal.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> when we still look at other members of our society in distrust, just because they wear middle eastener clothing<< Agh. I was totally embarressed last week at a Phillies game when they had an older gentleman wearing middle eastern garb with a turban with his American/ized family on Phan-o-vision -- the crowd booed him. Bad move on the Phillies staff for having him up there. They had to know this would happen :-( back to topic. thanks for the pix!
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer Great post TDLFAN. You are so right that we aren't free as long as we let prejudices control us. But I think that more than prejudice it is fear -- fear of the differences -- that hold us back from being a truly great nation. When we let go of the fear and embrace those differences and learn from them then we will be the "Melting Pot" that this country was supposed to be. Getting off my soap box now. Great pictures by the way.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^Unfortunately, as long as prejudiced families raise prejudiced children, the cycle will never end. The children will only learn what they see their parents doing. I don't know that there will never be complete acceptance in this country.
Originally Posted By Kimrue I agree about respecting others differences...it's scary that being respectful often translate to letting down our guard to people that hate us. Yes, respect others differences, however acknowledge that certain groups of people DESPISE American's and want us dead. We need to protect ourselves. I don't like what's going on in our country right now..but I also don't like that my sister could've died on 9/11 had she not gone into work late that day. I believe racism and prejudism is disgusting and a true disgrace to ANY culture, not just ours. Hopefully when my children are my age the world will be a better place
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well Kimrue, if the USA didn't seem to be so quick to stick their nose in the rest of the World's affairs when not invited and allowed things to be, maybe we would not be hated as much and could possibly be more respected and revered. Only an opinion here and I wish things were that easily changed. But no. Sadly, many feel that we earn our respect by the size of our cannons...well, I feel that our hearts and minds and being able to uphold our freedom of speech while respecting others is what makes a nation truly great. But as I previously stated, as long as we are a fractured society in mind, we will never truly be ONE nation. Very sad.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer After 9/11 the entire world was on our side. We had the opportunity to unite with nations that really had nothing to do with us prior. However, our leader decided it was more important to invade a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11 BY HIS OWN ADMISSION. That is why they hate us now. We are seen as invaders and tyrants. I only hope that the damage that has been done can be rectified or our children will pay the price as our soldiers are paying now. My prayers continue to be with them. Oops, there I go again. TDLFAN, I usually don't agree with you on things WDW but I guess on these issues our opinions are similar. A perfect illustration of not judging people by one aspect of their being but on the whole being.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "^^Unfortunately, as long as prejudiced families raise prejudiced children, the cycle will never end. The children will only learn what they see their parents doing. I don't know that there will never be complete acceptance in this country. " Well, hopefully those groups will get smaller and smaller over time. There are still KKK members, but they are certainly not the majority. They do raise their kids to hate, but at least society does not support them.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Also, thanks for the pics again, TDLFAN. What kind of camera phone do you have? I'm looking to get a new one and these pictures were very good for a phone.
