Memorial Day Weekend

[xtarheel]

Last Memorial Day my wife and I visited the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery here in the Chicago area. We don't have any relatives there; my father, a WW-II veteran, is buried down in North Carolina.
Anyway, is that not what Memorial Day is supposed to be about? Honoring those that fought and sometimes gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country? Walking along the rows of identical stones, and reading each one, men that I never heard of, not Patton or McArthur, but Jones, Kowalski, and Goldberg. Stones with WW-II, Korea, and Viet Vam inscribed on them, side by side. Men with one thing in common. They did what was asked of them so we could live free. Some of them will always be 20 years of age, others who were born in 1912 hadn’t been there very long.
There are such veterans cemeteries all over the country. Before you go out and cook hamburgers, watch the Coca-Cola 600, and play volley ball, consider stopping at one of these hallowed places in your home town; stand in front of a few of these stones, introduce yourself and say a heart felt "Thank You".

 

[Sisco]

The little town I was raised in and still call "home" hoists close to 400 flags in the cemetery on Memorial Day. Actually pretty impressive for a town of only 1200 or so people. Families can buy a flag pole with a bronze plaque with the name of a vet on it for a couple hundred dollars.
They are running into a problem finding enough volunteers to raise & lower the flags though.

 

[sonny]

A pet peeve of mine is to look at the headlines of newspapers on that day .....they never seem to mention anything about the brave soldiers

 

[Lennyjoe]

I plan on visiting the Korean War Memorial in Seoul on Memorial day. Been here almost a year and havent visited it yet.

Sisco, how do you paste them little smilie doods on your post? I got a bunch of them saved on my puter but cant figure out how to put them on my replies.

 

[Sisco]

Lennyjoe: I use a program called EmotiPad, you can dowload a trail version at http://www.emotipad.com/epoverview.php

I've been to the memorial at Seoul, very inspiring. It's been over 20 years since I saw it last, post some pics if you get any.

 

[Betty]

I'd like to take a moment to remember our fallen heroes, and thank our armed forces for their dedication to our country.



Here's an old photo of grandpa and dad in '68. Dad had two tours in the Army during Viet Nam and grandpa was a career Air Force man, serving in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam.

We all miss you grandpa.

 

[45Badger]

This really hit home for me last Memorial Day. My son's cub scout pack was in our town's (Walworth, WI) parade.

The parade route ended in the town cemetery, with a salute to honor veterans buried there. Several veterans spoke about their experiences and memeories of fallen friends.

It was very moving, and a huge reminder that it's more than a nice three day weekend. We've moved, but plan on visiting a local cemetery this year to quietly thank those who served our nation.

 

[dakotasin]

i always remember what memorial day is about... my dad was a ww2 and korean vet and instilled in us at a young age a healthy amount of patriotism. both my brothers and myself went into the navy, and my youngest brother will probably make a career out of it.

while in the navy i made real sure to visit pearl harbor. the whole place is a very moving, emotional memorial.

 

[blades67]

I will never forget.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

With both my Grand Dad and my Father serving in our armed forces I grew up learning to honor those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. When I was a boy my grandfather would take all of the kids out and we would put flags at all of the graves of the vets in his home town of Hobart, OK. I will do the same thing this year only with my kids and their Grandpa (My Dad). On monday night we go and collect the flags up and return home.
Its really a great tradition and shows/teaches respect for the men and women who gave their lives for our country.
May god bless them all, past and present. SALUTE !

 

[Sisco]

Speaking of Cub Scouts, I remember when I was a cub we would sell "Buddy Poppys" Memorial day weekend. Not the plastic ones they have now, they were made of paper. We would also go out to the cemetery and place small flags on the graves of the vets. Do the Cubs still do that?

 

[CZ 75 BD]

From The Federalist

Patriots and Friends,

It is no wonder that many Americans no longer observe Memorial
Day with reverence. Schools no longer teach civics, the courts
exclude God (officially) from the public square, and the media
and malls "celebrate" Memorial Day for commercial sales. Indeed,
Memorial Day has been sold out.

Fortunately, Memorial Day is still reserved by American Patriots
as a day to honor the service and sacrifice of fallen men and
women who donned our Armed Forces uniforms with honor.

When contemplating this Memorial Day, consider these tender
words from 3-year-old Taylor Pokorney at the funeral service
for his father, Marine Corps 1st Lt. Frederick Pokorney, killed
in action recently in Iraqi: "My daddy, my hero, I will take
care of Mommy for you as you asked. We will be best friends.
I will take her to SeaWorld for my birthday like you planned.
I love you. I need you. I miss you."

We invite you to forward this e-mail with young Taylor's
words along to others, as a solemn reminder of who we honor on
Memorial Day. One appropriate way to recognize fallen veterans
and their families is to join with others and help place flags on
the graves of fallen Patriots at your nearest National Cemetery
(generally done the Saturday before Memorial Day).

Founding Patriot John Adams said: "I am well aware of the toil and
blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration,
and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom
I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that
the end is worth more than all the means...." Indeed it is!

(Circulation of this message is being sponsored by The Federalist,
the most widely read e-journal on the Internet. Have The
Federalist digest of news, policy and opinion delivered FREE by
e-mail to your inbox each week.
Link to -- http://www.federalist.com/subscribe/memorial.asp
or if you don't have Web access, send a blank e-mail to:
<[email protected]>)

 

[4v50 Gary]

I may spend my in Vincennes where I think there is a Rendezvous. Thank you to all Vets & all those who are serving.

 

[foghornl]

Granddad on Dad's side...WW1 "Doughboy", but don't know what branch.
Dad...WWII Army Infantryman, Pacific Theatre Silver Star recipient.
Oldest brother...Vitenam Era Air Force, although never left the US
Nephew is now a Lance Corporal Marine, somewhere in Okinawa.

My Prayer for Memorial Day Holiday:

To those that served, those that gave all, and those that returned physically lesser, I honor your sacrifices and salute you. For without your service, we would not know the freedoms we have. Freedom is not free; Liberty is not without great cost, paid for by you.

Let us not forget how many gave all to guard Lady Liberty and defend Freedom.

And for those that sacrificed to give freedom to the Iraqi People, let their tithes placed on the Altar of Liberty never be in vain.

Amen and Amen

 

[Greg L]

Sisco,

Yes they do still do that. I'll be out there this Saturday morning with my Den as the rest of the Pack is scattered around to other local cemetaries.

Monday our town has a parade that we will also be walking in (trying to get 7-9 year olds to march in step would try the patience of Job so we don't even try ). Luckily the primaries were held this past Tuesday so we won't have the usual plethora of politicians trying to sound patriotic as they promise to take even more of our money.

Greg

 

[jmbg29]

Saturday: Work party at our Sportsmen's club. We are adjacent to the local cemetary, and we want the place to look good for folks coming to pay their respects.

Sunday: Work party with the Scouts. We are going to put out a few hundred flags, and clean up some of the gravesites. We will be doing rifle team, and color guard practice as well.

Monday: Putting up the flags in the center of town with fellow vets, and some non-vets that love our country, two of whom are immigrants to this country BTW (one from the U.K., the other from Madras, India). Then back to working with the scouts putting out the chairs for our local Memorial Day ceremony. Presenting a wreath on behalf of our Sportsmen's club as president of that organization, and then speaking on behalf of American Legion Post 159 as 1st Vice Commander.

Rest of my life: Doing whatever I can to protect and preserve this, the greatest nation the world has ever known.

Have a great weekend, have fun, but also keep the memory of those who gave all (sometimes many years after the guns went silent) in your hearts, and in your minds.


GOD BLESS AMERICA!

and

GO NAVY!

 

[Safety First]

Well said XTARHEEL, We should all enjoy the holiday but lets not forget those who sacrificed the Ultimate for all of us...By the way I to am an x tarheel...

 

[Frohickey]

Human shield

 

[BowStreetRunner]

i love that cartoon frohickey