Memorial Day

[antiquus]

Too much to tell, Pop was a GI who landed on Leyte, Mindinao, and Okinawa. He ended up in the occupation of Japan.

One funny story I do want to tell here, about how cocky those WWII veterans were, was my Pop and a Japanese pimp stealing a deuce and a half, and sneaking into Hiroshima the back way since the MP's wouldn't let anyone within 20 miles of the place.

The not funny thing was what he saw.

Spent yesterday at Shiloh. Walked the Bloody Lane/Hornet's Nest. I was in awe. My guide was the local chairman of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I live in George Custer's hometown. My ancestor, John A Logan, founded Memorial Day.

 

[HD_Ride]

 

[61chalk]

To my Great Uncle Cambell that I never met, who died fighting in the South Pacific in WWII.....Thank You, I will never forget your sacrifice.

 

[zeek96]

Please thank him for his service

 

[shootingthebreeze]

This Memorial Day, as a veteran with 20 years of service want to honor all the men and women who died in combat and thank those who are injured recovering from their wounds or totally disabled for life due to their injuries.
As Soldiers, we go where our policy makers tell us to go. We don't make policy; we may gripe, but we do our job, defending the United States of America.

 

[hso]

In memory of the 1,572 who have died in OEF, the 4,439 who died in OIF and the 2 who died in Operation New Dawn.

 

[DWC]

In armed defense of the United States of America, more than 1,343,812 of our citizens have died.

In armed defense of the United States of America, more than 1,529,230 of our citizens suffered wounds but survived carrying those physical scars for the rest of their lives.

In the history of the United States of America, approximately 30,000,000 citizens have taken the oath to defend under arms this Nation and its Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

Today, approximately 2,200,000 citizens are serving on active or reserve duty in armed defense of this Nation and its Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic

Today, approximately 23,500,000 military veterans are alive with intensive training in the use of arms and who continue to honor their oath to defend this Nation and its Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I am one of them.

We veterans have all returned to the status of “civilian” but we have not forgotten who we are; what we have done; and the Rights for which we have fought. One of those is the Right of armed self defense.

Nearly 3 million of our forefathers and Brothers-In-Arms have suffered death or wounds in defense of our Unalienable Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I can think of no greater way to dishonor their memory and their sacrifice than to allow any of those Rights to be violated by domestic criminals in the name of cowardice or political correctness.

As we have defended our Nation under arms, so shall we defend ourselves.

Semper Fi,

 

[infuriatednoodle]

God Bless

 

[shootingthebreeze]

Too many people forget.
I don't. I fly the flag not only on Memorial Day or the 4th of July but every day-and, sadly, I'm one of two people on our block who fly the flag.
We can put flags on the tomb stones of the war dead-yet, many others are suffering silently in hospitals and recovery centers suffering from combat wounds.
Many will be on permanent, life long disability.
My serious concern is to not forget our wounded veterans after the conflict is past and forgotten. Too many times that happens, veterans who go homeless, or turn to alcohol or drugs.
Destitute and forgotten.
We have to remember all dead combat veterans AND our wounded combat veterans as well. Too often, the wounded become "dead" because they become an "inconvenience", someone everyone wants to "forget" because they are associated with an unpopular conflict.
Never ignore, never forget, all year round, don't just remember on Memorial Day.

 

[Tomcat47]

In Memory of Those Who gave All!

I am trying to get my Uncles and grandpas info and pictures! If I recieve it all before thread closes I will post it!

My mothers brother served many years on the USS America
My Dads Brother served several years in Germany and His last years at Shaw AFB in SC. He was Aircraft Mechanic
My wifes Grandfather served in Germany During WW2...I can only Imagine what he had seen in those years.

Anyway This is to ALL who Served or Still Serve!

Some Gave All! The Song and Video Says it All
http://youtu.be/ydWhRObVxrM

Hope you Like it! God Bless America

 

[EddieNFL]

Drove around Hurlburt Field and said a prayer at each street sign.

 

[1stmarine]

Amen!

 

[Tomcat47]

Memorial Day-Flag Ettiquette

We have 2 business facilities and we Proudly Fly the Flag all year and follow Flag Ettiquette on each observed holiday.

Today was no exception for sure!

Half Mast Till Noon.........Then To The Top!

And as above noted..It is disheartening to see the lack of patriotism today...not enough flags! Hardly no flag ettiquette even when they are flown.

But then we stopped directing our children to Pledge Allegience years ago...and to teach them in youth what it represents!
I still think it should be done in school! (My Opinion!)

My children are grown, and starting to have their own children, they all know how to fly the flag and when to fly it! I took my 3 sons through BSA and I think it stuck! Im Glad!

 

[alsaqr]

The fact that Memorial Day has been misremembered by almost everyone in this country is not completely our fault. Holidays have been twisted from their original purpose into marketing opportunities and the marketeers have twisted that even further to remove any solemnity so that the holiday is as "happy" as possible. Happy holidays sell more junk to people.

It's as effective a form of propaganda as any ever devised and it changes all our memory/view of those holidays.

This is very true. The real purpose of Memorial Day has been lost to the vast majority of US citizens.

The old name for Memorial Day was Decoration Day. My Dad always called it Decoration Day.

 

[Tomcat47]

You know I noticed something this memorial day!

I just turned 45 and have heard comments in the past and this year as some people got a 3 day weekend...Have a Happy Memorial Day!

I could not in retrospect put these words together!

I honored this day and kept my known family that are not with us anymore that served in the military, and others that were friends or family of my friends that did not come home.

I explained to a younger man today that this was not a weekend to party, but a weekend to remember those that died for your freedom!

 

[FROGO207]

All the family here made it back each war but they always make sure that we Never Forget who the real heros were, those that gave all. I too fly a flag and am sadly in the minority around here. Prayers for those that gave all so that we here are still safe and free.

 

[1stmarine]

Thanks to Grandpa the Army surgeon for being there on D day operating on the wounded.
Thanks to Grandma the Army nurse for being there on D day assisting the wounded.
Thanks to my Dad and my Brother for serving.
Thanks to my buddy J.E. for being my wing man through the good and the bad.
Thanks to all veterans, our troops, allies and defenders of freedom whetever they might be around the world.
Thanks those who posted those nice pictures.

 

[bgtusker]

I'd like to honor All that have died, were wounded or survived for what they have done to keep us free. I have just lost a neighbor Thursday May 26, 2011 along with another soldier with him. Tech. Sgt. Kristoff M. Solesbee died doing what he loved: saving lives. Solesbee, 32, from Hill Air Force Base, died Thursday in the Shorabak district of Kandahar Province, Afganistan. He died of wounds he suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff SGT. Joseph J. Hamski, 28 of Ottumwa, Iowa, also was killed. Solesbee's task as a member of the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Flight, was to detect and disarm such weapons, a duty he carried out faithfully every day he served his country, his comrades in uniform said of him at a news conferance Friday evening. "He was a good guy, and will be missed." Solesbee wanted to be a 30-year career man and become a chief master sergeant. His supervisor, Master Sgt. Hallenback was very, very saddened. It was his second deployment and his unit was responding to clear a weapons cache when they were attacked. He was scheduled to come home in two or three months. Col Patrick Higby said he had one of the most dangerous jobs of all deployed units. Solesbee leaves behind a wife. " His sacrifice and service are not forgotten, and he will be greatly missed." Solesbee will be buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetary in Washington D.C. May he rest in peace.