Morning Bray Farm

Memorial Day is a day of sacred honor, established by Congress and observed continuously in various forms since 1868. When originally envisioned by Gen. John Logan, it was to be a time of healing as graves and cemeteries of both Union and Confederate forces were to be decorated. It was a time to heal wounds of a once-torn nation by honoring all military dead of the Civil War.

Over the ensuing century, the focus has become one of honor for all of our war dead.

Since the War Department began keeping records during the Revolution in 1776, it’s estimated that more than 1.2 million American heroes from every generation, from every ethnic group in this melting pot we call the United States, and both male and female – in every war – have donned the uniform of this nation and never returned to live out the fullness of their dreams.

More than 1.2 million American heroes took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. They defended this Constitution with their lives, sacrificing their love and their futures so that we can enjoy freedom and the liberties embodied in the word and spirit of the Constitution our forefathers worked so hard to write.

On Memorial Day every one of us has the opportunity to pause and remember those who gave their all – for me, and for you.

I hope everyone will make this Memorial Day a personal day of honor and remembrance.

…As noted in the General Order Number 11 by General Logan, “no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances permit … If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts turn cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.”

Logan charged us to keep the faith with those who have sacrificed for us. So please join me this Memorial Day, for we cannot let our own hands slack, or our hearts turn cold.

Freedom has too high a price to forget our fallen heroes. We are not just the beneficiaries of their bravery – we are the stewards of their sacrifice.

– Timothy Hale, Cabinet Secretary, N.M. Department of Veterans’ Services

We were fortunate to have a new friend, Cat with Cats, visit us over the weekend.

The Boyz could barely contain their excitement when they realized Cat arrived bearing gifts of Paco treats.

As always, it was great fun having a fellow animal lover in our midst.

Cat was great fun and great help.

Thank you, Cat! ♥

Among other things, Hank loves his herd. He always needs to know where they are.

And Hank loves his mamma. He always wants to be with her.

And Hank’s mamma loves Hank. Dearly.

♥ ♥ ♥

Watching Bernard, Ellsworth and George exhausted Lucy and Alan. 

Those crazy boys never stopped moving.

Alan thought George had lost his marbles.

Why was George cavorting with the city boys like that?

Oh, how they played and played and played!

What a posse. Small, medium and large. ♥

If you visited Carson’s blog over at 7MSN today, you already know that Bernard and Ellsworth were there yesterday for a play date and that Carson and I took an obscene number of pictures.

Bernard and Ellsworth had the time of their lives with the 7MSN herd. While the humans laughed and watched, the boys and beautiful Lucy ran and cavorted like they were enjoying a day in heaven on earth.

There were moments though, that Lucy and Alan seemed incredulous. Stay tuned to see what they were watching. ♥

The Boyz reminded me yesterday that they haven’t been featured on the blog in a while.

I’m sorry, Boyz.

You’ve missed the new game that Bernard likes to play. He comes up behind me and gently puts his head between my legs so that I’ll put one of my legs over his back. 

I think  know he just likes being hugged.

Patrick continues to come out of his shell more and more with each passing day. He’s a remarkable donkey boy.

So does Nigel, by the way. We’re now touching Nigel’s face, so it’s a matter of time before we get a halter on him. He’s a remarkable burro boy. (Many thanks to Mel in NY for your advice with Nigel.)

You’ve also missed how happy everyone is when Don daddy gets home.

Daddy pushes down tree branches so the Boyz can eat leaves. The Boyz love leaves. Good golly… just look at Ellsworth’s face.

I kind of think the Boyz look like giraffes when they’re eating leaves from the trees.

Yes, Patrick… that’s a good thing.  ♥

From The Los Angeles Times:

Smoke, the Iraqi donkey, a favorite of Camp Pendleton Marines, arrives in U.S.

A donkey adopted as a pet by Marines from Camp Pendleton while they were deployed in Iraq has been brought to America to serve as a therapy animal for wounded military personnel.

Smoke arrived last week in New York aboard a cargo flight that originated in Turkey after a combined effort of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and retired Marine Col. John Folsom. 

In 2008, Folsom and Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Logistics Group found the donkey at Camp Taqaddum in Anbar province. The animal quickly became a favorite. His name comes from his color and the fact that he once snatched a cigarette from a Marine.

In 2009 the Marines departed but Folsom never stopped thinking of Smoke and what a morale boost he was for the troops. With help from the SPCA, Folsom raised funds and cleared away bureaucratic obstacles to get Smoke to America.

The SPCA estimates the final cost at upward of $40,000. The group has brought dogs and cats from Iraq but Smoke was the first of his species. The U.S. ambassador in Turkey was recruited to help get Smoke from neighboring Iraq.

“Once you met him and saw what a unique donkey he was, it was hard to say no to him,” said SPCA official Terri Crisp.

Supporters are bringing the donkey by truck to Folsom’s home in Omaha, Neb., where Smoke will serve as a therapy animal for the Wounded Warrior Family Support organization.

“He’s an American donkey now,” Folsom told the Associated Press.

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Welcome home, Smoke. Welcome home.   ♥