On Memorial Day


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

-John McCrae, 1915


I remember every memorial day weekend growing up my mom would always have a crepe paper poppy attached to the strap of her purse, and I remember that whenever I was with her, she would give me a dollar to donate so i could have one too. I loved those little paper flowers, though I hardly understood their significance way back then. Memorial Day is for remembering, for honoring, and for thanking those who have given their lives, or are risking their lives to make sure that we have the rights and liberties that we have here in America. My grandfather was a veteran, and I remember visiting his and my grandmother's graves every Memorial Day and looking at the flags pushed into the earth of their graves. My sister played TAPS on her trumpet at the cemetery, so it was mostly my mom and I, since it was her parents. I suppose that I'm blessed in the fact that not many of my loved ones (friends or family) are in any branches of the military, I have a couple of friends serving in various branches, and for that, I thank them, but I never have to worry about a family member not coming home, like so many others in this country. Regardless of that fact, I extend my thanks and eternal gratitude to those serving this magnificent, though sometimes flawed, country of ours. In honor of our armed forces, I did the logos for the Marines, the AIr Force, the Navy, and the Army, as well as the American flag accented with what else, a poppy. :) I apologize that the logos aren't perfect, but I did what I could with the space I had. ;)



I used:

Thumb: American flag & poppy

American Apparel Cotton as a base with CND Anchor Blue for the blue, and China Glaze Salsa for the red of the stripes as well as the poppy. for the black I used American Apparel Hassid, and for the green, I used CND Green Scene .

Index: Marines

American Apparel Passport Blue as a base, with China Glaze 2030 from Khrome Collection for the gold, and China Glaze Salsa for the red, over Sally Hansen All the White Stuff, so the red popped.

Middle: Air Force

China Glaze Millennium as a base, with CND Anchor Blue for the logo.

Ring: Navy

Sally Hansen All the White Stuff as a base, with American Apparel Passport Blue, China Glaze 2030 from Khrome Collection for the gold, Sally Hansen All the White Stuff for the shield, with CND Anchor Blue for the blue on the shield, and China Glaze Salsa for the stripes on the shield.

Pinky: Army

American Apparel Hassid as a base, with Sally Hansen All the White Stuff for the star, and outlined in American Apparel Manila.

Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

15 comments

  1. Great nails, great post, I love that poem. x

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  2. Great job Liss - Grandpa would be proud!!

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  3. =O! the flag came out awesome!!!!
    great nails. and have a happy Memorial Day!

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  4. These are really great! I can't believe I just learned the significance of the poppies..... Great post.

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  5. That's a wonderful poem. I remember reciting it in public school for our Remembrance day assembly. It always touched me.
    On that note, it totally confuses me that Remembrance Day and Veterans Day are both on Nov 11th, when it would make more sense for Remembrance Day and Memorial Day to be on the same day. lol Oh well.

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  6. oh no! you forgot the Coast Guard! :(

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  7. That is the only poem I have memorized!

    I want to tell you- I have checked your blog EVERY SINGLE DAY for a month now. It's one of the highlights of my day.

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  8. These are simply amazing. What a great tribute to all the brave men and women that serve our country!

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  9. **oops, WHO serve our country....clearly I didn't retain anything from 4th grade English

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  10. Great job! Your post was well written, too. :-)

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  11. I'm not sure if I've ever commented on your blog, but I read it daily.

    Thank you so much for this post. So many people forget what Memorial Day is for. Everyone I know seems to love it for the day you get off from work. I am not such a fan since I do have someone who I now have to remember on Memorial Day who never came home.

    In case you're interested, here's an article about one of my best friends, Scott:
    http://www.details.com/culture-trends/news-and-politics/200712/iraq-war-hero-sergeant-scott-kirkpatrick

    Wow, sorry for the Rant-a-coaster here. hahah I'll just wrap it up by saying that I think your nails for Memorial Day were AWESOME and a great tribute! ;D

    Linda

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  12. No Coast Guard? :-(

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  13. Thanks a great deal with this posting. A lot of people forget about exactly what Commemorative Day is for. Every person I realize generally enjoy it during the day you will enjoy off from do the job. I am not this sort of fan since i have unfavorable reactions somebody who When i depend on to recollect upon Memorial Day exactly who never emerged property.
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  14. Actually I prefer other non politic nail designs. keep on working sweety!

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Go on, comment... you know you want to. ;-P