An American Heart: Part 2

My own American Heart has been a bit fractured lately.  One part has been extraordinarily busy, busy, busy.  And to be honest I have been grateful to have those distractions to keep me from feeling the full weight of the other part of my heart that has been so deeply sad, even despite all the things that I know I should be more than grateful for.

So today I will share with you from both sides of my own American Heart.

First- here are some other fun shots from our Memorial Day spent at the Palm Springs Air Museum:

I know some people who would really like a ceiling fan that looked like this!

Here are some fine examples of beautiful pin-up style lovelies, painted by Santiago "Sant" Godinez :

We got to watch 'Pretty Polly' fly that day.

On our way out of the museum we saw this sign:

Visiting this flying WWII air museum on Memorial Day gave me an even stronger appreciation for those who serve.

 And as for that other side of my American heart...  I will share with you a couple of videos that have given me pause lately.  I have been sad to see what is becoming of my beloved America and yet I have hope when I see things like this:



And this:



These are some of the things that have been on my heart, lately.  How about you?

An American Heart: Part I

You may have noticed that I kind of dropped off the edge of the blogging planet here for a bit.  I didn't really mean to, but it happens occasionally.

There seems to be two situations that cause me to have trouble keeping up with my blogging.  The first being a question of time.  Sometimes I'm just up to my ears in work and sometimes I am up to a whole bunch of fun.  Either way, a lack of time equals a lack of blogging.  The second scenario is one that is more recent and may just be personal to me.  You see, I just don't seem able to blog so much when I am up to my neck in worry over whatever in the heck is happening to the country that I love...  (I know, I know.  I shouldn't let it get to me so personally and yet I don't always win the battle to remain positive.)

Recently, I have experienced BOTH of my blogger delaying scenarios.  Today, I will stick with the positive.

As far as the being busy in a fun way, there was another trip back down to Palm Springs for Memorial Day week.  We did make it to the Flower Drop at the Palm Springs Air Museum and it was completely awesome!

There was a solemn beauty in the desert this past Memorial Day as a Mitchell B-25 Bomber was escorted onto the runway:

 

She started up and was off to complete her mission:

The fantastic piece of WWII history buzzed over the crowd three times:

 That third time was the moment of the magical flower drop:

The White Carnations represented our military members lost from and prior to WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The Red Carnations were for those lost in more recent wars including The Persian Gulf, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pride spilled out in the form of tears for so many in the crowd as we focused on the brave Americans who had given everything that these red and white carnations represented, falling against a perfect blue sky.  I can honestly say that I have never seen anything quite like it.  This really was a meaningful way to spend Memorial Day. 

A Memorial Day Option For A Patriot

On this coming Memorial Day, the Palm Springs Air Museum will host its 15th annual flower drop.

The highlight of the ceremony will be a B-25 Mitchell bomber fly-by that drops 3,000 red and white carnations onto the tarmac and the into the awaiting crowd.

Carnations and Mignonette- Boston Public Library

The carnation is sometimes known as the flower of the gods with its scientific name being dianthus.  Dios for god and Zeus and anthos for flower.  

The flowers being dropped will honor all those who lost their lives defending the U.S.  White will signify those lost in the wars of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  Red is for those lost in more recent military conflicts from the Persian Gulf and Desert Storm to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

I can just imagine the resulting red, white and blue effect as the flowers drop from a sunny Palm Springs sky.  

I am always on the lookout for meaningful ways to celebrate our proud American heritage.  What will you be doing this Memorial Day?