Memorial Day

 

 It's Memorial Day in the United States, when the country honors it's veterans who died in the line of duty from major conflicts such as the World Wars, the Civil War being the deadliest with over 600,000 dead in a nation of thirty million at the time, to training and smaller conflicts, including the War with Iran still going on today which has claimed thirteen American soldiers so far, and not long ago the Afghan War in which 2400 US servicemen died, and 4500 in the Iraq War. 

 

Second Life has some memorials to America's fallen. This includes it's replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located high in the Veterans Isle sim which was rebuilt here in 2022, and has all 58,000 names on the original. With one's avatar looking so small compared to that massive list of names, each one an American veteran who had their hopes and dreams and usually with family who would never see them alive again, it's a sobering reminder of the price of war. 

 

The Vietnam Wall is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/177/185/2485 

 

"We shall remember,"

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Memorial Day

 

 Today is Memorial Day, in which America takes a moment to remember its fallen veterans. For those who fell during the Vietnam War, a conflict that claimed over 58,000 American servicemen and women.

 

 

A replica of the memorial in Washington DC, the names of the fallen are etched on granite, the sheer number a sobering reminder of the huge number of casualties.

 

Vietnam wasn't our last war, America getting into wars about every generation, the years since seeing the Gulf War, the Afghan War, and the Iraq War. America always needs its veterans. And sadly some never come home alive.

 

We shall remember

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/177/185/2485

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Memorial Day

 

 

We at the Newser wish you an honored Memorial Day.

 

Taken at Veterans Isle's Vietnam Memorial

Memorial Day Weekend Veterans Isle Funsdraiser

 

 

On Memorial Day Weekend, from Saturday May 27 to Sunday May 28 there was a special fundraiser concert taking place. The event was organized by Kyle W. Forrester (KyleWForrester Resident). The music went on from 10 AM to 11 PM on both days.

 

There were a number of DJs and live performers taking part in the two day event. Among them were violinist Fly Kugin, "This woman plays a mean violin," and DJ Yuki Tolsen-Hiess. As the music played, people would donate to two house-shaped kiosks on either side of the stage. There were also some raffles people could enter, with prizes such as a pet eagle and a motorcycle, Kyle saying he used one of the same kind.

One man would say of the reason for the fundraiser, "I wanna say that helping a veteran get a home can cause a beautiful cascade of positive things for them. Mentally, emotionally and spiritually to help them get on their feet and enjoy what they served for. Every Veteran who does receive a home has a Support Specialist assigned to them to keep in touch for many years to make sure they are doing well and have access to any supplemental services they may need. HFOT provides a 3-year pro-bono financial planner to work with the Veteran to make sure they can handle the expenses that come with the home and are also set up for the future.  The last thing we want to do is to add a burden to these Veterans."

Kyle's goal was to raise at least 75,000 Linden dollars. Over the two day event, there were 79,250 Lindens donated. Kyle would tell me that on Saturday, 11,000 had bee raised through the raffles. So at least 90,250L had been raised. How much was raised in the raffles on Sunday is unknown to the Newser as of the writing of this article.

 

Frets Nirvana's HFOT fundraiser will be on Wednesday June 7 (the day after D-Day), from 4 to 7 PM SL time.

To learn more about Homes for Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Memorial Day

 

 

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, the day in which Americans honor those veterans who passed away. One noteable memorial to them here in Second Life is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial high above the Heavens Sunset sim.

"All gave some, some gave all."

Have an honored Memorial Day.

Memorial Day

 

Have an honored Memorial Day.

Pictures taken at the Vietnam Wall.

Heavens Sunset (65/106/953)
 

Announcement: Remembering Our Veterans With Re-Dedication and HFOT Event

 
(All DJ Events unless otherwise marked will be at USMV - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/171/66/3501)

10 a  Mavrick     (DJ
11 a Tom           (DJ)

12P RE- DEDICATION OF THE LEGACY VETERANS’ SIM  
               Waya Snowpaw (DJ - Veteran)
•    DRESS OF T HE DAY UNIFORMS ( IF AVAILABLE)  AND BUSINESS CASUAL-
•    LOCATION WILL BE AT - LEGACY VETERANS SIM
                  (back to usmv)
12p Cajun  Mikealson (cajuntease)       (DJ)

2p  MistyBlue McAuley (mistyblue.ghost)    (DJ)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heavens%20Sunset/127/188/23

*3 pm  - RE- DEDICATION OF THE USMV VETERANS SIM   --                    Waya Snowpaw (DJ - Veteran)
RE-DEDICATION OF THE USMV VETERANS’ SIM  
•    DRESS OF T HE DAY UNIFORMS ( IF AVAILABLE)  AND BUSINESS CASUAL-
•    LOCATION WILL BE AT USMV

4p Canuck Dismantled  (DJ)

5 p  Kate Bluebird (katherine.bowdit) (DJ)

6P Wednesdays Child
7p Xavier
8p Clay
9p Wes West
10 p Mav
 

Memorial Day: In Flanders Fields

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.  

Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

 

Two Memorial Day Events

On Memorial Day weekend, no doubt there were a number of salutes to the US military. Among them was a USO tribute show held by the Relay for Life's Second Life Cheerleading Squad. It was held at the Agrippa sim, starting at 9AM SL time, and went on for hours with performers such as Lyric Serendipity and Ronnie Artano. The event raised thousands of Linden dollars for the Relay team.

On Memorial Day itself, Club Cutlass would have it's own Memorial Day event, intended as a tribute to fallen veterans. Cynthia Farshore, a veteran herself, played a number of military songs, as well as some pop music associated with war movies and TV shows. People were encouraged to either dress in uniform, or in red, white, and blue, with a prizes of 1000L for the best male and female. The place was also decked out with a few national flags.

Liska Fuchs won the prize for the ladies with her red, white, and blue dress. The male prize was won by Zorro Wuramunga.

Veteran's Isle's monthly fundraising concert was not held this Sunday, but will happen on Sunday May  31.

Bixyl Shuftan

Memorial Day

Have an honored Memorial Day from the crew of the Second Life Newser.

Taken at Veterans Isle

SL Video: "Second Life Memorial Day 2009"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

From Cartmantal in May 2009, filmed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Second Life and Patriot Island.

Memorial Day

Have an honored Memorial Day, from the crew of the Second Life Newser

Announcement: Memorial Day USO Show at Veterans Isle Tonight

MEMORIAL DAY USO SHOW - OUTSIDERS @ US Military Veterans Center, Veterans Isle. Presented by Paul Woodrunner and the Outsiders

Mon. May 27th, 6PM SLT.
OUTSIDERS DANCE TROUPE Honors our Fallen Heroes @ BOB HOPE THEATER
HONORING Freedom and the American Way through powerful dance, music and its many moods! Hope to see you.

Supporting Homes for our Troops, HFOT kiosks on either side of stage.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/144/40/769

Memorial Day

Have a honored Memorial Day from the Second Life Newser

From Sacred Ground, Urban Style (190/200/22)

Veterans Isle Memorial Day Weekend Concert Raises 163,000 Lindens

Memorial Day Weekend saw a number of events across Second Life. But perhaps the most fitting was the benefit concert at Veterans Isle. Every month, usually on the last weekend, the sim hosts a live music event organized by Frets Nirvana to raise funds for the Homes For Our Troops charity. But this time it would be on the day just before the holiday for Americans to honor those who fell in defense of their country. It would be five hours of music on stage, from 4PM to 9PM SL time.

Tonight May 28, 2017 we are holding our Memorial Weekend Benefit in Second Life with all proceeds going to Homes For Our Troops.  And it is going to be a great night with several outstanding performers providing a great night of entertainment.  Come on out and support those who have sacrificed for our freedom and be entertained by some of Second Life's top performers.

DJ Waya Snowpaw opened up the event at 4PM. At 5, Agatha Nowles took to the stage. She was followed by ReggieSunset Rookswood at 6PM. At 7PM it was Zachh Cale's turn to perform. And last but not least, the masked guitarist Amforte Clarity was on stage, her instrument painted pink in places. Frets Nirvana normally performs at the montly events, but this time he was watching with those attending, telling people on occasion he would match the next big donation in one of the two home-shaped kiosks in either side of the stage, "This calls for us to dig deep, comeon folks, empty my pockets!! ... (laughter) Wifey won't mind, let's do it!"

Generations were generous, with the 150,000 Linden mark reached sometime around 7:45PM. The finaly tally was 163,000 Linden dollars, the equivalent of over $650 US dollars.

Homes For Our Troops describes themselves as "a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives." For more information, check their website at: https://www.hfotusa.org/ .

The next concert should be at June 25.

Bixyl Shuftan

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, take a moment to reflect on those who gave their lives in defense of their homes.

Taken at Veterans Isle.

The Memorial Day Dance at Cutlass

Taken last night at Club Cutlass' Memorial Day dance. Several of the attendees, mostly veterans, showed up in uniform. One however came decked all out in red, white, and blue.

Memorial Day Tribute at Veterans Isle Raises Over 124K Lindens

On Sunday May 29, Veterans Isle held their monthly benefit concert. From 5 PM to 9 PM SL time (Midnight EST), four musicians, TerryLynn Melody, Shannon Oherlihy, David Csiszer, and Frets Nirvana, the guitarist who helped organize the event, played for the crowd. Over the course of the four hour event, 124,600 Lindens had been raised for the "Homes For Our Troops" charity, the money going into two kiosks on either side of the performers, or as Frets called them, "the little houses on the stage."

I am excited to announce that we had a great month for our efforts for Homes for Our Troops in Second Life.  Due to some extra efforts this month we have sent HFOT around $1550 for the month of May, 2016.  What a great Memorial effort!  Special thanks goes to Jardasius Ecksol, Checkers Firelight and all of the folks with every MC that helped with their events.  And of course thank you to all of the performers at our monthly benefit.  Thank you TerryLynn Melody, Shannon Oherlihy and David Csiszer.  A special shout out to Gjackie Winkler and Serina Galaxy for all your help.  This is the way to honor and help our wounded vets!  

When yours truly dropped by when David and then Frets were on stage, there was a good-sized crowd present. Some were in uniform, others were in outfits from Medieval to anime robot. There was also a short military drill done at the end by several of the Veterans Isle community.

The next benefit by Frets Nirvana at Veterans Isle should be on Sunday June 26.

Bixyl Shuftan.

Places to Visit on Memorial Day in Second Life

This Memorial Day in in the United States, there are a number of places on the Grid an American can visit if one wants to take a moment or two to honor those veterans who fell in service to the country.

Sadly some memorials to Veterans are no longer online. One of the best was a reproduction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was up from 2007 to sometime in 20011 when it vanished.

Veterans Isle is the home location to a group of veterans, and friends of. Every month, they hold a fundraiser to raise funds for the "Homes For Our Troops" charity. Pictured here is their Tomb of the Unknown Solider.

Veterans Isle (176/195/22)

Another location is the Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial, the inworld memorial to the ongoing fight against terrorism. Owned by Theremes Langdon, it is at Arena (75, 96, 45)

At the Biker Veterans Administration HQ are a few memorials, including a POW*MIA memorial.

The BVA is at Paintoy (152/224/25). The sim is rated adult, so it may be blocked to some residents.

One memorial which has been moved around a few times is the Iraqi War Memorial. Originally in Epimetheus, it was moved to Ganymede, then Galactica. The memorial's displays change every several seconds to show a new name and picture of American soldiers whom lost their lives in the conflict.

The memorial's current home is Minoa (149, 23, 110)

Memorial Day

You have been my friend for such a long time
I am going to miss you, in every way
Feelings can not express my loss
My life has changed today
All of the things we used to do
All of the things we had planned
All of the childhood dreams
Have all gone away
I am going to miss you, in every way
My life has changed today
The laughs, the tears, the beautiful smiles
The times we spent together, miles and miles

All of the things I have ever thought
All of the things I have ever forgot
Come to mind now, like a dream from the past
They race through my mind way to fast
When I think of you, when I wish of you
I remember the things we used to do
My fondest memories, my childish dreams
All bring back my love for you

What is left for me to say
What is left for me to do
You left me way too soon
A void like an empty room
I wish I could change the past
Make some things different
Make some things last
I am going to miss you in every way
Feelings do not express my loss
My life has changed today
If I could change some things
If I could change my life
I would make sure to say
I love you, I do, I do, I do

You are such a part of my life
And now you are gone
Taken away like a whisper
Taken away in a breath
Taken away for eternal life
Never to die
But forever to live
In a place of happiness
In a place of love
In a place to rest
A new place called home above

May you find peace
In all of your days
And comfort in all of your ways
I will miss you so very much so
I am going to miss you in every way
My life has changed today

"Miss You", Megz Xevious. 2004
Picture taken at Veterans Isle