Here are the responses to the May 25, 2003 Challenge.
The challenge is to write a story of the guys celebrating, remembering, observing Memorial Day — the last Monday in May, May 26th this year.
For those of you not in the States, Memorial Day is a national holiday set aside to remember the men and women who died while fighting for America. It started back in 1866 in Waterloo, New York to remember the men that died in the US Civil War (1861-1865). It was originally called Decoration Day. Since WW1, it has also been known as Poppy Day-volunteers sell small, red artifical poppies to help disabled veterans.
Following the map he had been given, he found his father's name on the wall. Swallowing hard, he knelt beside it and put out a hand to touch the letters.
"I miss you." He whispered, his fingers following the curves of the name there.
"But I am so proud of you and what you did for our country."
With a sob, he lowered his head and let the tears fall until they could fall no more. Then he rose and stepped back.
At peace.
"Good-bye Dad."
Time to let go of the hurt and remember only the pride.
Hi all, here is my take on the challenge. I'm not from the States, in Canada we have Remembrance Day on November 11th but the meaning is the same, to remember those who have fallen to protect us all. I hope this is fitting.
Josiah stood at the front of the church directing the moment of silence to remember everyone who had falling in times of war. Everyone was there but one. One of the seven was missing from the service.
Chris Larabee stood beside Vin Tanner both men remembering. It didn't matter which side they had been on.
As the service ended, everyone started to leave until they heard it. A piano, playing a mournful dirge. The soulful strains of Amazing Grace echoed through the town, and they knew that their seventh, Standish, remembered and mourned as well.
This idea immediately popped into my head when I read the holiday challenge details, and inspired me to write my first M7 fic. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: The Magnificent Seven and its characters are the property of MGM, Trilogy Entertainment, the Mirisch Corporation, and the Hallmark Channel.
"J.D., where the hell are you going?"
The young man half turned at Buck's exasperated words, then kept moving back toward the store. "I forgot something."
Nathan eyed the supplies they'd purchased for the holiday. "Forgot what?"
Chris and Vin shrugged in unison.
Ezra shook his head.
"What did you forget?" Josiah asked curiously as J.D. rejoined them.
Dunne lifted his hand to touch the red poppy pinned to his shirt. "This."
Stunned to silence, six men stared somberly at the small symbol of commemoration before nodding and reaching for their wallets.
"Thanks for the reminder, kid," Buck said softly.
~end~
Here's my take on the well, evening of the Day. The pups are LaraMee's.
The last rays of the evening sun shone a golden glow over the field as the boys played with their pups and the five men who sat around the table could hear their laughter.
A bright beam of sun shot through the bottle of amber liquid on the table as the mood became solemn with each of the men reflecting the meaning of the day. As the sun set Ezra stood and raised his glass.
"Gentlemen a toast to comrades no longer among us."
"God Bless America long may she stand." Josiah added.
"Here here" was the chorus.
The grass swayed in the breeze keeping time with the multitude of flags like a sea of green, red, white, and blue. Vin sat frozen on his haunches. It had seemed like a good idea at first. A fitting way to commemorate Memorial Day, but now...
His shaky voice was a mere whisper.
"Jist wanted ya to know how much yer sacrifice meant to a whole lot a people. Especially to me. Just wish I could have known ya."
Swallowing against the lump in his throat he placed an unsteady hand on the cold granite stone before him.
"Thanks, Dad."
Universe: RNLI
This is in response to the M7M Memorial Day Challenge, but as a Brit I don't feel I know enough to do that, so I used our equivalent day, which is the closest Sunday to November the 11th.
The lifeboat crew, in uniform, filed into the church on Remembrance Sunday with everyone else, poppies in lapels, medals proudly warn.
Before 'Last Post' and the two minutes silence, Travis read the Act of Remembrance, Buck and Vin looked at each other.
"They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them or the years condemn and at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."
The ex-marine and ex-navy chef joined the rest of the congregation on the response. "We will remember them."
They always did.
The End
It had been a month since Vin returned from the war. Everyone gathered at the ranch to celebrate his recovery. But after an hour no one could find Vin. They looked in the barn, in the house, out in the field and yet there was no sign of him.
Then JD remembered the little cemetary down the road and how Vin would go there whenever he thought of his buddies overseas.
Here they found Vin placing flowers on all of the soldiers' graves. He turned as he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Vin, son I couldn't be more proud.
"JD? What ya doing, kid?"
"Hey, Buck. Me and Casey and Miz Travis wanted to have a picnic tomorrow. And I wondered if you'd join us? The others are coming."
Smiling, Buck slapped the young man on the back. "Heck, kid. I'm always ready for a free feed. Mind if I ask just why you're planning a picnic? Special occasion?"
JD smiled back, replying. "Yeah, it's something that Mom and I celebrated back east. May 30th is Decoration Day."
"Decoration Day?"
"It's a way to honor the men who died in the Civil War."
"I'd be honored, kid. Thanks"
He stood at the front gate and gazed across the field of white crosses. In front of each cross a small American flag waved. His feet felt numb as he strode forward and the air was like breathing molasses.
A warm hand slipped into his. He glanced down and into the dark eyes of his wife. The warmth spread through his entire body. He smiled sadly at the beautiful woman.
Taking out the map, he glanced at the markings. Together, they set off. Several minutes later, they approached the correct area and located the correct cross.
"Happy Memorial Day, Daddy."
Sanchez stopped at the directory and located the panel. Silently, he moved down, feeling the warmth radiate from the stone. They were in town for a commemorative dinner. Each offered to accompany him, but he shook his head.
He reached the spot, scanned the names inscribed in black stone, names of men he had watched die in the fields of Viet Nam.
"Happy Memorial Day, boys." Time passed, darkness descended. Josiah sighed, said his goodbyes, heading back.
He smiled upon seeing six silhouettes framed in the streetlight. He left one set of brothers, moving down to path to join another set.
"Good morning, gentlemen." Ezra strolled into the office, a small box balanced on his palm.
Grunts were the only responses he received, causing an eyebrow to raise on the southerner's face. Undeterred, he removed small red poppies from the box, placing one on each man's desk.
"Come, come, gentlemen. It is not that bad" he said as he moved around the room.
"What are these?" JD asked.
Five men looked up as Standish explained. "I purchased these in support of the disabled veterans."
"Oh," was the young man's response.
As they pinned the flowers on, five ŒThanks, Ezra' were heard.
A knock on his door had the team leader's head coming up. Standish stepped in, placing the last flower on Larabee's desk. Chris reached out and picked up the red flower. He pinned it to the pocket of his shirt.
"Thanks, Ezra. That's nice of ya."
"I never served, so I thought I would show my support in other ways."
"Sorry about making you work a holiday, but they need this info tomorrow."
"I had no plans, Mr. Larabee."
"Good. Then you can make the cookout tonight, Buck's place. No excuses this time."
Smiling, Ezra nodded, "I would be honored."
The little boy bounded into the kitchen.
"DAD!"
"Vin?"
"We gotta go."
"There's time, cowboy. Relax."
"But Buck has JD in his seat, ready," he lamented.
"Well," the man said squatting, "we better hurry." The blond grabbed the little boy's hand and out the door they headed.
Thirty minutes later, the men sat on the curb, the two little boys sitting between their father's legs, each holding a small plastic American flag. The wind carried a sound to them and the boys leapt up.
Vin turned, wide-eyed, "It's a parade, Chris."
Chris smiled as his son enjoyed his first parade.
Wilmington sat, staring at the paper Mary Travis had passed out earlier. The headline stared back.
DECORATION DAY—TO REMEMBER-May, 30.
As if he could forget. The only good thing that had come of that war was he had met Chris. So many had died, so many young men lost. He fought in a battalion that saw the loss of two-thirds its men.
A weigh pressed on his leg. He looked down into the hazel eyes. "You sad, Papa Buck?"
"A little. I was remembering old times, old friends."
"You miss Œem?"
Buck smiled and gathered the child up. "Yep."