A Memorial Day Nighthawk

Vol. 102, May 28th, 2024 Published a day early online

Remembering & Acting

In 1868, General John Logan issued Order No. 11, a way to commemorate. It couldn’t bring them back, but a nation could gather, remember, and mourn the Civil War dead.

156 years later, we’ve added to the wars, and to the dead. From between the sales for grills and things to cook on them, behind the speeches and plastic bunting, a breeze rustles, and we pause.

I’m struck with how the courage, strength, and sacrifice of the Fallen bless us with freedom–and how ignorance, ingratitude, and malice continually gnaw at the foundations of that same freedom like termites in the dark.

What do we do with the memory, and the grief? How do we honor the deeds of the Fallen, and make sure their sacrifices aren’t in vain? How do we carry the torch forward with courage?

I don’t know for sure. It seems like today is for remembering. Tomorrow is for continuing. How? Well, that’s complicated. Some say the success or decline of civilizations is tied to the health of the individual. This begs the question: What can we do in our own way?

I’m sure there’s something. Memorial Day becomes active.

Early Days

President Grant and Gen. Logan (key founder of the holiday) sit at an early “Decoration Day”, 1873.

Book of the Week: The Constitution

I’ve got my pocket version handy. Today seems an excellent day to brush up. Say the word if you need one.

Quote of the Week

“We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.” –George Orwell

Quit Fooling Around, Earthlings

A solar eclipse today, 585 BC, possibly predicted by the Greek Thales, ends a nearly six-years war after frightening the Lydians and Medes into peace. “We’ll be good!”

Carol’s Appalachian Word of the Week

Coffee Soup: Bread or cornbread dunked into coffee (usually for breakfast). “Best hold off the coffee soup. You’re wired enough.”

Write to Us!

The Nighthawk is a new old-fashioned way to connect, published weekly. You’re invited to write back, or just enjoy reading. Let’s have some fun! It’s a social paper! Send stories, etc to: PO Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588 or Joshurban@protonmail.com

Letters from Josh

(A weekly update from Josh Urban’s adventures on the farm and in the city. #187)

Appearing in the Altavista Journal, etc: Cavekeeping

Howdy, folks, and welcome back to the show! Greetings from my new house. I’m sitting looking through a window that didn’t exist a few months ago, in a room that was an idea until recently. What a charge. It’s...wait, excuse me.

And we’re back. The new neighbor’s dog is wandering back in the right direction, away from the road.

Don’t get the wrong idea, folks. Like that small adorable poodle over yonder, I’ve been house-trained for years–but domesticated is another thing. “Why would I spend money on curtains? I’ve got blinds” was the logic at my old bachelor pad. “Watch out you don’t knock the bark off the edge of the table.”

Now it’s time to tighten things up, and do ‘em right. My folks are nearby, and are a tremendous help with advice on grown-up living. I’m never one to turn down extra wisdom, though, so if you’ve got any helpful hints for good housekeeping–or even reasonable housekeeping, I’m listening.

The noodles and boxes of instant rice are already stowed in sensible cupboards, but: maybe some cooking is in order. The kitchen must be more than a microwave, right? Anyone have a good recipe to share? (Let’s start with a minimum of spices, please. Those things are even more expensive than the curtains I put up.)What about little “hacks”, like changing smoke detector batteries every 4th of July, like one of the builders suggested? Illuminate me, folks! Oh sure, I could Google it, but local lore is where it’s at.

The sprinklers for the new lawn go on today. The grass seed is growing. I’ve been handy since I could walk, but finally care about doing things traditionally, well, and right.

The gardening is another puzzle. With the blank slate of an empty yard, what would you do? There’s a lilac ready to go in, and some iris on the way. What about apple trees? My great grandfather sailed away from Lithuania many years ago, and planted his Connecticut yard with trees that fed him. That seems like a wise strategy. Maybe it’s a good time to continue the family tradition. What’s a good variety to grow?

Drop a postcard or letter with your advice! Hey, maybe once things get rolling here, there will be a new column: Josh Urban’s Caveman Cavekeeping. The mailbox isn’t up yet, so P.O. Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588 is your best bet.

I’ll take credit for one thing so far: the kitchen smoke detector has stayed quiet. Then again, it’s hard to start a fire with egg noodles.

But not impossible.

Catch you on the flip side,

Josh

Send any and all advice to P.O. Box 783, Rustburg, VA 24588, or on X @RealJoshUrban