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Steve Berman's avatar

Sunday I saw an electronic billboard swap in a “Happy Memorial Day” message from a law firm. I thought they (both the law firm and the billboard company) should know better. In emails the week before the holiday I would include the line “enjoy the holiday weekend” since it’s the unofficial start of summer. Or I’d tell people to have a good weekend. It simply feels wrong to call the day “happy.” I compared it to saying “chag sameach” (the generic happy holiday greeting) in Hebrew on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust remembrance day). Just inappropriate if not offensive.

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

Thanks for an interesting story about Pvt. Rucker, a northeast Georgian. I remember Hart County the way it was before Hartwell dam was constructed. I had a friend who lost his pilot's license for flying under a bridge just downstream from the dam. He was crazy but still completed engineering school and was a commissioned officer in the US Army. After the dam was completed, there was excellent trout fishing in the tailrace until it was submerged by Lake Russell years later. Way off topic I know. Sorry.

There is a story today about the remains of Luther Story, an infantry corporal awarded the Medal of Honor for valor during the Korean War, being returned to Sumter County after 73 years. The Medal is on display at the Infantry Museum, not far from where you live and where I went through basic training.

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David Thornton's avatar

That's interesting about flying under the bridge. My dad was a private pilot and I remember him telling me a story about an instructor in Anderson, SC who was bragging about his students flying under the bridges on the lake or river, not sure which.

He said that his instructor replied, "Anybody who can land an airplane can fly under a bridge, but my students have enough sense not to."

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

It's not something I would try even if I knew how to fly a plane. If I remember correctly, the concrete spillway and powerhouse were under construction. I do not how high the concrete had been poured but it is now about 200 feet high and less than half a mile upstream from the bridge. I do not know if the plane was flying upstream or downstream. Either way, I would not have wanted to be in the plane.

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SGman's avatar

For the weekend as a whole, "happy long weekend".

For the day itself, "A somber Memorial Day to you"

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