While Memorial Day honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Veterans Day — November 11 — celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. The day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all who served — not only those who died — have sacrificed and done their duty.

The following is from USMemorialDay.org:

Memorial Day started off as a somber day of remembrance; a day when Americans went to cemeteries and placed flags or flowers on the graves of our war dead. It was a day to remember ancestors, family members, and loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

But now, too many people “celebrate” the day without more than a casual thought to the purpose and meaning of the day. How do we honor the 1.8 million that gave their life for America since 1775? How do we thank them for their sacrifice? We believe Memorial Day is one day to remember.

We can do so by:

• visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes
• visiting memorials
• flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon, then full staff until dusk
• flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act)
• participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played
• renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans

Boy scouts participate in placing flags at graves of veterans.

USMemorialDay .org has received many emails from people expressing their thanks for those who have served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. The following, received in 1999 and used with the author’s permission, sums up all the emails USMemorialDay .org has received very elegantly, and is true to the original spirit and meaning of Memorial Day:

This weekend I am going to do something different. I am going to buy some carnations each day and go to one of the nearby cemeteries and walk through the sections for soldiers. When I find a grave that has no flowers, I’ll leave one and say a prayer for the family of that person, who for some reason could not bring their soldier flowers. I will pray for our country and all who serve or have served. For their families, who also serve by losing precious days, weeks and months spent with their loved ones who are off serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. I’ll pray for the families who paid the ultimate price, who’s loved ones died, or were taken captive and never returned. I’ll pray for anyone who may still be held in captivity and thinks perhaps they are forgotten. I do NOT forget. I’ll say a prayer for every person on the Internet who takes a moment from their time to come to sites like yours and be reminded of what this holiday really means. And I’ll say a prayer of thanks and ask God’s richest blessings on you.

Thank you again…. and God bless!
Sylvia Mohr

Families brave the rain and visit the graves of their U.S. serviceman and women on Memorial Day at the Houston National Cemetery, Monday, May 26, 2014, in Houston.

In fact, wonderful people in other nations sometimes show more of the true spirit and mission of the U.S. Memorial Day than we do here. For example, a 2001 USMemorialDay .org Guestbook entry from a citizen of the Netherlands states:

Hi,

In 1999 I laid flowers at the grave of a young U.S. fighter pilot who was KIA in my village in 1945. In the Netherlands I know of schools ‘adopting’ graves of Allied servicemen, keeping those graves in excellent condition ! Does anybody know of adopting graves in the U.S. by schools?

Sincerely,
Paul Patist Castricum, The Netherlands – Tue May 15, 2001.

More schools in the U.S. could follow the lead of the Netherland schools. Let us take a few moments this Memorial Day to reflect on the meaning of the day, to observe the day and be mindful of the sacrifices of others before we go and enjoy the freedoms they bought for us.

Reprinted from usmemorialday.org/observe.htm. For educational purposes only.

A woman places a small American flag into a ceremonial boot before the annual Run, Honor, Remember 5K at Fort Bragg, N.C., May 16, 2026. The event is dedicated to honoring service members who gave their lives in defense of the nation. (Photo: Jason Ragucci, U.S. Army)

On a day like today, in 1902, the Cuban flag flew for the first time over an independent country. But I know that today, you, who call the island your home, are going through unimaginable hardships. Today I want to share with you the truth about the reason for your suffering. And I want to tell you what we, in the U.S., are offering to help you not only alleviate the current crisis, but also to build a better future.

The reason you are forced to survive 22 hours a day without electricity is not due to an oil “blockade” by the U.S. As you know, better than anyone, you have been suffering from blackouts for years.

The real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people.

Thirty years ago, Raúl Castro founded a company called GAESA. This company is owned and operated by the Armed Forces, and has revenues three times greater than your current government’s budget. Today, while you suffer, these businessmen have $18 billion dollars in assets and control 70% of Cuba’s economy. They profit from hotels, construction, banks, stores and even from the money your relatives send you from the U.S. everything, everything passes through their hands. From those remittances they retain a percentage, but from GAESA’s profits nothing reaches you.

Instead of using the money to buy oil, like all other countries in the world, they depended on free oil from Hugo Chávez and Maduro to keep the money. But now that the free oil has stopped coming, they buy fuel for their generators and their vehicles while the people are asked to sacrifice.

Instead of using the money to maintain and modernize the damaged power plants, they use the money to build more hotels for foreigners and to send their relatives to live in luxury in Madrid and even here in the United States.

Today, Cuba is not controlled by any “revolution.” Cuba is controlled by GAESA. A “state within the state” that is accountable to no one and hoards the profits from its businesses for the benefit of a small elite. And the only role played by the so-called “government” is to demand that you continue making “sacrifices” and repressing anyone who dares to complain.

President Trump is offering a new relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. But it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, not with GAESA.

First, we are offering $100 million dollars in food and medicine for you, the people. But they must be distributed directly to the Cuban people by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable groups. Not stolen by GAESA to sell in one of their stores.

But, the Cuban people are not interested in permanent charity. You want the opportunity to live in your own country the way your relatives live in the U.S. or in other countries of the world.

Today, from media to entertainment, from the private sector to politics, and from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of virtually ALL industries, in all countries, except one… Cuba.

Today in Cuba, only those close to the GAESA elite or who are part of it can have profitable businesses.

But President Trump is offering a new path between the U.S. and a new Cuba.

A new Cuba where you, the ordinary Cuban, and not just GAESA, can own a gas station or a clothing store, or a restaurant.

A new Cuba where you, and not just GAESA, can open a bank or have a construction company.

A new Cuba where you, and not just the Communist Party of Cuba, can own a television station or a newspaper.

A new Cuba where you can complain about a failing system, without fear of going to jail or being forced to leave your island.

And a new Cuba where you have a real opportunity to choose who governs your country and vote to replace them if they are not doing a good job.

This is not impossible. All of this exists in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and even just 90 miles away, in Florida. If owning your own business and having the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why is it not possible for you in Cuba?

In the U.S. we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries.

And, currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.

(from state.gov)

In June, the FBI opened its new National Counter-UAS* Training Center  (*Unmanned Aircraft System) in Huntsville, Ala., where it teaches local law enforcement how to identify and track – as well as “mitigate” – drones, an FBI spokesperson [said]. That includes taking them out of the sky if necessary.

The two-week course has now [trained officers from] 60 local law enforcement agencies from each of the 11 U.S. World Cup host sites, [which will be held from June 11 to July 19].

That includes “hands-on training” and a “capstone field exercises” to build “coordinated counter-drone capability nationwide.”

NewsNation was allowed to walk through the FBI command center but not take cameras inside because some of the high-tech security plans are top secret. In the center, local and state law enforcement officials were working with the FBI to learn how to use drones to protect the airspace.

Each host city will have a command center, where law enforcement can use drones to search for other drones operated by bad actors who might try to enter protected airspace to launch an attack.

Local law enforcement will be joined by officials from FBI field offices and the Secret Service to safeguard the tournament action that stretches 39 days.

The FBI’s drones can be used to disable those drones and protect millions of…soccer fans who are coming to watch their favorite teams play.

The government has been doling out millions to protect against the rising threat. Texas just got another $3.2 million to “mitigate unauthorized or potentially dangerous drone activity” and guard crowds and critical infrastructure for matches in Dallas and Houston.

New York and New Jersey are getting $17 million in drone funds to shield MetLife Stadium – home to 8 matches including the July 19 final that will include performances by Madonna, Shakira and BTS –– plus fan events in the city.

The local law enforcement agencies in the 11 host cities have partnered with the FBI to get the critical training. They will work in teams to monitor the airspace and, if a drone pilot with dangerous intentions enters a no-fly zone, the FBI can hack its electronics, hijack that aircraft and take it away from the stadium.

At the same time, the FBI can deploy what they call good-guy drones, which will circle the pilot and command them to immediately stop what they’re doing before a ground team storms in and makes an arrest.

It is a federal crime to fly a drone in a restricted area, punishable with up to five years in prison for repeated offenses.

The main goal is discreet policing, so fans coming to see their favorite team play won’t notice anything that’s happening behind the scenes to monitor and mitigate threats.

The technology won’t just be used for the World Cup, either, with this kind of security becoming something Americans should expect to see at other major events coming soon, including the Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics.

Published at NewsNation by Alex Caprariello on May 14, 2026 with excerpts from NY Post by Geoff Earle on May 17. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.

White Waymo vehicles – fully autonomous cars operating without anyone behind the wheel – now offer around-the-clock ride-hailing services in dozens of major US cities as of this month.

But in a community nestled in northwest Atlanta, driverless cars have turned a once-quiet cul-de-sac into a Waymo hang out, circling the streets from morning to night.

“Our big concern is just the excessive traffic on the street,” one neighbor told Atlanta News First.

“You know, we’re families, we have small kids, we have animals and pets, we’ve got kids getting on the bus in the mornings, and it just doesn’t feel safe to have that traffic,” they added.

Another resident said they have witnessed at least two close calls, with empty cars waiting for riders nearly striking a neighborhood cat and a dog on a leash.

“I think yesterday morning we had 50 cars that came through between six and seven,” a third revealed.

Residents said they reached out to Waymo directly and have not yet received any response or explanation as to why their vehicles are habitually gathering on their block.

On Thursday, neighbors living…raised concerns about what they described as a dystopian scene unfolding outside their doorstep, which they said has escalated over the past two weeks.

In one video obtained by WSB-TV, a Waymo car enters the cul-de-sac as another departs, circling a tree in the center before exiting – only for the pattern to repeat again and again like a revolving door.

Other videos from neighbors showed a total of 13 driverless vehicles cruising through the community in just 10 minutes.

One resident put up a neon yellow ‘Step2Kid’ sign in the street, [which only caused a traffic jam of Waymos].

“We had, at one point, eight Waymos that were stuck trying to figure out how to turn around,” a neighbor told the outlet.

A clip showed dozens of identical white vehicles packed along a dead-end street, nearly bumper to bumper, seemingly waiting to decide their next move in or out of the neighborhood.

Parents, pet owners and homeowners alike have noted that the cars, which they say begin cluttering the streets in the early hours of the morning, are consistently empty and not picking up passengers.

Residents said they are at a loss for what to do and described the vehicles’ constant presence as excessive and dangerous, saying their neighborhood has become saturated with driverless cars just waiting around for a task.

“We would like to just see them stay on main traffic roads,” a neighbor added. “I don’t think there’s any reason for them to be on small residential cul-de-sacs if they’re not picking up somebody.”

The unofficial Waymo meeting ground stretches beyond Battleview Drive’s cul-de-sac into nearby communities, including Fernleaf Circle and the area near the Glenridge Woods Townhomes – private property nearby.

“It’s almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it’s a problem,” a resident said.

Deborah Childers, who lives on nearby private property, told Atlanta News First she first began noticing the cars last week while out walking her dog Hazel.

“I’m just hoping that Waymo will only come in our neighborhood when they’re called, like an Uber, you know, not use our neighborhood as a holding area or a training ground,” Childers told the outlet. “It’s enough of them that it’s bothersome,” she added. …

After receiving no response from the company, residents turned to local representatives for help.

“They kind of passed the buck to the next person,” one Battleview neighbor told Atlanta News First.

“Then we’ve tried state representatives, haven’t heard back from them. We tried GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation), haven’t heard back from them,” they added. “We really just don’t know what to do about it.”

In a statement to the outlet, a Waymo spokesperson said:

“At Waymo, we are committed to being good neighbors. We take community feedback seriously and have already addressed this routing behavior. With over 500,000 weekly trips across the country, our service is proven to significantly reduce traffic injuries and improve road safety. We value our relationship with Atlanta residents and remain focused on providing a seamless, respectful, and safe experience for riders and residents alike.”

VIDEO #1 – Jesse Watters, May 14, 2026:

VIDEO #2 – Peter Schweizer, May 14, 2026:

The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty.

“Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences,” said Republican Sen. John Kennedy, the bill’s sponsor, in a floor speech Wednesday.

“This is about putting our money where our mouth is,” said Kennedy, R-La.

Two shutdowns in the past year created significant financial hardship for tens of thousands of federal workers, particularly at the Department of Homeland Security. The department reopened last month after a 76-day partial shutdown, the longest agency funding lapse in history.

The DHS shutdown came just a few months after a 43-day lapse of the entire federal government, which was the longest such closure on record.

The Constitution stipulates that lawmakers must be paid so they have received salaries during shutdowns even as federal workers went without paychecks. When the full government shutdown began in October amid a dispute over [government] subsidies for [Obamacare].  Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham proposed a constitutional amendment to require members to forfeit their paychecks when the government is closed.

“If members of Congress had to forfeit their pay during government shutdowns, there would be fewer shutdowns and they would end quicker,” Graham, R-S.C., said at the time.

Graham said his legislation was the most “constitutionally sound” way to deal with the problem, but the process would have been much more laborious as three-fourths of states must ratify an amendment.

Lawmakers in previous shutdowns have often pledged to forgo their paychecks while federal workers went unpaid.

Kennedy told reporters Wednesday that he pushed his measure to ensure there is “shared sacrifice” during shutdowns. He added that it does not go as far as he would like, but that it’s a start.

Asked why it does not extend to the other chamber of Congress, Kennedy said “the House’s business is the House’s business” while also touching on the tensions between the Senate and House.

“There’s a very strong undercurrent of animosity among some of my friends in the House. …” Kennedy said.

Published at 11Alive on May 14.  Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved.  Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced without permission.

“It’s actually quite revealing from a protocol perspective,” said Isabelle Vladoiu, founder of the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights.

“Xi Jinping did not personally greet Trump at the airport in 2017 either, but this time Beijing noticeably upgraded the reception by sending Vice President Han Zheng along with both ambassadors and senior foreign affairs officials.”

Trump’s arrival nine years ago — the most recent visit to China by an American president — featured a lower-level official appearing to welcome him, said Vladoiu, who has worked with many international organizations and authored the book “Business Etiquette Secrets.”

“In Chinese diplomatic protocol, rank is never accidental,” she said.

“In 2017, Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi who was a senior official and state councilor but not as high rank as the vice president. China is signaling therefore that this visit carries greater strategic and geopolitical weight than before.”

Trump arrived aboard Air Force One with an all-star entourage, including Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose AI chip-making business is the world’s largest company by market capitalization.

The president’s red-carpet welcome also featured a military band and honor guard, as well as 300 youths singing a welcome message and waving American and Chinese flags in time to the band’s music. …

As he departed Washington, the president said that he expects talks with Xi to focus on trade relations. Other expected topics include ending illicit fentanyl exports to the US and the American war with Iran, though Trump on Tuesday downplayed plans to discuss the conflict.

On Friday, there will be a “friendship photo” and handshake with Xi in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Garden – home to the Communist Party’s headquarters. For foreign dignitaries, invitations here are often viewed as a sign of closeness and recognition.

This will be followed by another bilateral meeting and tea with Xi. A working lunch is then scheduled.  President Trump will then head back to the airport for a departure ceremony.].

Published at NYPost on May 13. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.