6:30 am Mon, May 31, 2021
Cloudy, 50 degrees, dry. 7 Pax: Aviator, Mountie, ScarU, Brisket, Risky Business, Dos Equis, and Dick Clark on Q.
This workout brought us together on the traditional, informal first day of summer—so informal that the summer weather fartsacked us and stayed in bed. Dick Clark laid it out so we would do the points of the star, in honor of those who have fallen in the military service of the nation. We also spelled out “Memorial Day”.
Warm Up
- Run in place 30 seconds
- SSH x 10
- Circle Arms and Arm Circles x 10
- Imperial Walkers x 10
Thang
We moseyed to the first point of the star at the upper parking lot, and began learning about Memorial Day—which is now observed on the last Monday of May. However, until 1970, the holiday was observed on May 30.
M = 13th letter of the alphabet, so … 13 Forward lunges
E = 5th letter, so, 5 Navy SEALs.
Then 13 side straddle hops, and 5 restaurant-quality merkins.
Then we moseyed to the top of the soccer penalty box, and learned: In 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans group, called for a “Decoration Day”, which came out of Civil War traditions of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. So we did:
M – 13 Bobby Hurleys,
O – 15 Carolina Dry docks,
13 Hillbilly Rockettes, and 15 American Hammers.
Then we moseyed to the dugout (though it should have been the bleachers, if DC could read a map–good job, colonel), and learned that: By 1890 every Northern state had adopted Decoration Day as a holiday. The World Wars turned it into a generalized day of remembrance, instead of just for the Civil War.
R – 18 Apollo Onos
I – 9 Dips,
Then 18 Toy Soldiers, and 9 Mike Tysons.
THEN we went to the bleachers (though it should have been the dugout), and learned that: In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as “Memorial Day” and changed its observance to the last Monday in May (so the 31st is the latest it can be).
A – 11 Bonnie Blairs,
L – 12 Hand-release Merkins,
Then 11 Mountie Climbers, and 12 Peter Parkers
Finally, we moseyed to the parking lot warm-up spot for the “Grand Mary of the Republic” –see what I did there? Memorial Day is distinct from Veterans Day (Nov 11), in that Memorial Day is to remember those who died in the service, and Veterans Day is for those who served whether in war or in peace (and are still alive).
For the word “Day” at the end of “Memorial Day, we honored the 31st, with: 31 LBC, 31 Flutter, and 31 Rosalitas. Then we ended with our Boat-Canoes, and our coo-down stretch.
When all was said and done, Dick Clark tightened up the shot group, and updated the Strava Art for the day—the star of gold for the Fallen.
COT: We did a moment of Silence for the Fallen, and thanked each other for Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith. Enjoy the summer!
