Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Soldier (2016)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it. My dad was in the Marines during Korea. My favorite uncle was a foot soldier in Vietnam. My oldest nephew was in the Navy.  

2) This song is about the courage it takes for soldiers to march into battle. Gen. Patton said, "The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers." He was emphasizing that each individual's dedication is essential to the unit's success. Do you work well as part of a team? Or are you better on your own? I'm an independent soul, but I think one of my strengths is recognizing my weaknesses. That enhances my ability to acknowledge I can't do it all alone and helps me be a good team player.

 

3) As of 2025, California is the state with the most military bases. Have you ever visited or lived on a base? Nope.

 

4) At the turn of the of the 20th century, wristwatches were considered non-essential jewelry items, with pocket watches preferred for everyday timekeeping. During WWI, soldiers in the trenches needed to both synchronize actions across the battlefield and keep their hands on their weapons, so the wristwatch went from "fashion item" to "standard issue." Do you often wear a watch, or do you depend on your phone for the time? I wear a watch at work or if I'm en route to meet someone. The rest of the time I use my phone. Unless I'm at the keyboard. Then I refer to the display on the upper right side of my laptop.

 

5) Jeeps were originated by the US Army during WWII. Back then they were specifically for soldiers deployed to the European Theater, today there are more than 18 million Jeep-branded vehicles on the road all over the world. Have you ever driven a Jeep? Nope. My friend Barb only drove Jeeps, though, and she loved them.

 

6) While Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses are a timeless symbol of cool, they were designed during WWII for a specific purpose: to give American flyers relief from glare at high altitudes. Tell us about your sunglasses. My sunglasses are my prescription glasses. They transition and darken in sunlight. The frames are cat's eyes by Ralph Lauren.

7) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? Potato salad. 

8) This marks the weekend when Americans traditionally step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the cold winter months. For example, when is the last time you worked in the garden or tended the lawn? 50 years ago. I'm not kidding. I haven't done yardwork since I left my parents' home.

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? The fan was on earlier today, but it got chillier after the sun went down, so no. No a/c and no fan.