This is a day that the first thing I do is say a prayer for all of the men and women in our military. The people that pick up arms to protect us, and our way of life. Men and women that despite being hurt want to go back and help with their comrades.
When I get down on how our country is headed, these great people help pick me up.
I will fly the flag that my Grandfather (a veteran of Omaha beach) flew in front of our house in Virginia, with 48 stars on it.
I will spend a lot of time thinking about him (and my Grandmother) who fought and suffered so we could be free.
When I go sailing today, I will fly my flag that hung in front of my bar the day after 9/11.
A personal note to all past and current military: Thank you for your courage, your dedication, your sacrifices (as well as your families). A debt we will never be able to repay.
Duty, Honor, County.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
It may be a little different for me, but I worked at a cemetery for 5 years as a summer job and I always remember getting right out of school and being thrown into the fray of mowing and weedeating around the headstones to make it look good in time for Memorial Day. But it was always worth it to make the place look as good as possible for those remembering. It's been a few years since I've worked there and not to sound gothic or anything but it was my favorite job up until now. Well more so because of my boss.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
I make a point every Memorial day to call my friends and family who served and thank them. I always start with my dad who was drafted for Korea and shipped to Germany for his entire tour. He always says he did not do anything, but that does not matter. He wore the uniform. He took the oath. His promise made.
I also make it a point to thank anyone I see in uniform. I try to do it everyday, but I make an extra effort today.
God bless each of you that have served. Take the time to remember those that did not come home.
I am the son of a WW II/Pearl Harbor survivor - my father served aboard the USS Maryland battleship that was in battleship row on December 7, 1941. The Maryland was parked next to the USS Oklahoma which took a major hit in the attack and capsized, almost pulling down the Maryland had the lines between the two ships not been cut. I also have my father's name and, what's more, he went home to be with the Lord on my 53rd birthday in the fall of 2004. Each Memorial Day brings more significance to me in realizing how cherished our freedoms really are and our veterans are to thank for maintaining them.
Let's pray we keep those freedoms by doing what's right for America.
my gratitude and the respect I feel for all those who have served, will serve and are currently serving. I'm just not good enough with words. I have the same feelings for their families who make so many sacrifices too.
All I can say is thank you even though I mean so much more than that when I say it. Thank you all of you.
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say "Thank You." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
This day means a great deal to me. I live in Russia and yet I am American through and through. I know what it means to be free and i have seen others who are not by traveling the world and through many former and present day communist countries.
What our soldiers did for us can never be repaid, but must be respected.
I wrote a short blog at my blog site, if you want to read it:
i am getting ready to go to the VFW sponsered Memorial Service at the local graveyard. Flags will be placed on all the vets graves, there will be prayers, speeches, and an opportunity to give back some small bit. I do this every year, it gives a true perspective. It means others died so we might live.
It gave me an opportunity to sit on my back patio with a cup of coffee at sunrise and reflect on my former comrades who are not with us any more and have been lost in training accidents, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan as well as two from the Phillipines. Some just acquaintances, but a couple were good friends.
Their numbers are thankfully few in comparison to previous generations, but they are still missed. But it is not good to dwell on losses to long.
My little girl and I placed her little American Flag in a prominent place in the backyard, she does not truly understand since she is four years old, but perhaps it will someday have meaning as her family on her mothers side has a very long military history. My side does not as I am the first in many generations to wear the uniform
She is more excited in that later we get to use the pool for the first time as the water has warmed and we will get to have grilled hotdogs for dinner. Big stuff for a four year old.
We pray daily for our men and women in uniform and have a friends son who volunteered for 3 tours to Falujah, only to come home and die in a car crash. His younger brother in is the Army now, served in Iraq, but is headed to Korea.
The freedoms we have now may not last long with this bunch trying to get into the Oval office, as succinctly noted by Henry Lamb over at World Net Daily. Very disquieting, and unfortunately, spot on. How did we get this far so soon?
We drove into town for the celebration today to be moved by the words. A small parade, and we were subjected to some of Senator Snowe's apologetics. You know, she has urged Maliki to speed up the process so our troops can come home. She couldn't leave it alone, any more than the AP did in referencing Afghanistan.
The piece on Afghanistan on the pbs show last night was very moving and shows what a tough spot we are in over there. Not much msm coverage of that arena, only to blare out when "civilians" are killed. Who knows who is who?
Cancel subscriptions and unplug the cable. We do just fine with internet and rabbit ears.
I hardly ever miss the opportunity to say "Thank you" to those in uniform and even stopped in to a recruiting office one day to let them know I would go help if I were not so old. The fellow on duty was grateful for the thanks.
That takes so little time and effort and they appreciate it.
My grandfather fought in WW1 and was awarded a purple heart. My father was born in 1924 and after high school enlisted himself in the war effort and became a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was a back-up in the Invasion of Normandy and was stationed in Dover. He was a WWII history buff and read volumes and volumes of books about the war. He never passed up an opportunity to talk war stories with friends. He even named our family dog “Blitzkrieg”. Sadly, in latter years he lamented how Canada’s military had become a joke and like so many other countries we “leached” off our American friends to provide us with our freedom. On this Memorial Day, I encourage all Americans to proudly wear the stars and stripes on their sleeve. I know my father would.
that most in our government and civilians have forgotten about. They served, did their time and gave us a boost to our freedoms. Those of us here do remember, and there are more out THERE who do, but for what ever reason don't speak up. I am the "glass if more than half full" guy, so I'm waiting for the day that the libs, demolibs and rhinos GET IT, and we can get along with the business of this great country and get back the freedoms mentioned in that non-living parchment called the Constitution.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dadV
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Comments Policy
A lot more today with one
May 26, 2008 - 11:00 ET by Noel SheppardA lot more today with one nephew in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Godspeed gentlemen...and thank you for your service.
This is a day that the first
May 26, 2008 - 11:21 ET by USA4freedomThis is a day that the first thing I do is say a prayer for all of the men and women in our military. The people that pick up arms to protect us, and our way of life. Men and women that despite being hurt want to go back and help with their comrades.
When I get down on how our country is headed, these great people help pick me up.
I will fly the flag that my Grandfather (a veteran of Omaha beach) flew in front of our house in Virginia, with 48 stars on it.
I will spend a lot of time thinking about him (and my Grandmother) who fought and suffered so we could be free.
When I go sailing today, I will fly my flag that hung in front of my bar the day after 9/11.
A personal note to all past and current military: Thank you for your courage, your dedication, your sacrifices (as well as your families). A debt we will never be able to repay.
Duty, Honor, County.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
I thank them for their
May 26, 2008 - 14:24 ET by ThisnThatI thank them for their service too, NS.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
It may be a little
May 26, 2008 - 11:08 ET by taterIt may be a little different for me, but I worked at a cemetery for 5 years as a summer job and I always remember getting right out of school and being thrown into the fray of mowing and weedeating around the headstones to make it look good in time for Memorial Day. But it was always worth it to make the place look as good as possible for those remembering. It's been a few years since I've worked there and not to sound gothic or anything but it was my favorite job up until now. Well more so because of my boss.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
Memorial Day
May 26, 2008 - 11:14 ET by ThisisMattI make a point every Memorial day to call my friends and family who served and thank them. I always start with my dad who was drafted for Korea and shipped to Germany for his entire tour. He always says he did not do anything, but that does not matter. He wore the uniform. He took the oath. His promise made.
I also make it a point to thank anyone I see in uniform. I try to do it everyday, but I make an extra effort today.
God bless each of you that have served. Take the time to remember those that did not come home.
Memorial Day and my Dad...
May 26, 2008 - 11:42 ET by goldenthroatI am the son of a WW II/Pearl Harbor survivor - my father served aboard the USS Maryland battleship that was in battleship row on December 7, 1941. The Maryland was parked next to the USS Oklahoma which took a major hit in the attack and capsized, almost pulling down the Maryland had the lines between the two ships not been cut. I also have my father's name and, what's more, he went home to be with the Lord on my 53rd birthday in the fall of 2004. Each Memorial Day brings more significance to me in realizing how cherished our freedoms really are and our veterans are to thank for maintaining them.
Let's pray we keep those freedoms by doing what's right for America.
I lack the abilty to adequetly express
May 26, 2008 - 12:02 ET by Dee Bunkmy gratitude and the respect I feel for all those who have served, will serve and are currently serving. I'm just not good enough with words. I have the same feelings for their families who make so many sacrifices too.
All I can say is thank you even though I mean so much more than that when I say it. Thank you all of you.
Service
May 26, 2008 - 12:20 ET by iveseenitallFor all who served and will serve, a million thank you's would never be enough. God bless you all!
My little tradition
May 26, 2008 - 12:14 ET by FastEdWHAT IS A VET?
Some veterans bear visible signs of their service a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg - or perhaps another sort of inner steel the soul's ally forged in the refinery of adversity. Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem. You can't tell a vet just by looking.
What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being - a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say "Thank You." That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU".
V
FastEd, You nailed
May 26, 2008 - 12:17 ET by expatriotFastEd,
You nailed it!
Bravo
May 26, 2008 - 15:18 ET by Emma GrumpFastEd - your post is so moving, and one of the best I have seen. Very appropriate for Memorial Day.
Fast Ed... You have tears
May 26, 2008 - 15:29 ET by bigtimerFast Ed...
You have tears coming down my cheeks...beautiful.
You said it all...thank you.
I have always and will continue to do so... say thank you for those who have served...which seems inadequate at times.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
I can't imagine a more
May 26, 2008 - 17:15 ET by JerI can't imagine a more eloquent or poignant Memorial Day tribute than this one, FastEd. Thank you!
Jer
Thanks!
May 26, 2008 - 19:44 ET by okiehawk44Fast Ed -- I'm copying this off for my wife. We remember and evidently so do you. Again, thanks!
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Memorial Day to me
May 26, 2008 - 12:41 ET by Mr. TerryThis day means a great deal to me. I live in Russia and yet I am American through and through. I know what it means to be free and i have seen others who are not by traveling the world and through many former and present day communist countries.
What our soldiers did for us can never be repaid, but must be respected.
I wrote a short blog at my blog site, if you want to read it:
http://www.terryruss...
good job there
May 27, 2008 - 01:57 ET by USA4freedomgood job there Terry.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendil 2012 (if,we survive)
i am getting ready to go to
May 26, 2008 - 13:05 ET by botgi am getting ready to go to the VFW sponsered Memorial Service at the local graveyard. Flags will be placed on all the vets graves, there will be prayers, speeches, and an opportunity to give back some small bit. I do this every year, it gives a true perspective. It means others died so we might live.
Support our Troops
What does Memorial Day mean
May 26, 2008 - 13:13 ET by BDWhat does Memorial Day mean to me?
It gave me an opportunity to sit on my back patio with a cup of coffee at sunrise and reflect on my former comrades who are not with us any more and have been lost in training accidents, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan as well as two from the Phillipines. Some just acquaintances, but a couple were good friends.
Their numbers are thankfully few in comparison to previous generations, but they are still missed. But it is not good to dwell on losses to long.
My little girl and I placed her little American Flag in a prominent place in the backyard, she does not truly understand since she is four years old, but perhaps it will someday have meaning as her family on her mothers side has a very long military history. My side does not as I am the first in many generations to wear the uniform
She is more excited in that later we get to use the pool for the first time as the water has warmed and we will get to have grilled hotdogs for dinner. Big stuff for a four year old.
Every day is Memorial Day
May 26, 2008 - 13:45 ET by NortoWe pray daily for our men and women in uniform and have a friends son who volunteered for 3 tours to Falujah, only to come home and die in a car crash. His younger brother in is the Army now, served in Iraq, but is headed to Korea.
The freedoms we have now may not last long with this bunch trying to get into the Oval office, as succinctly noted by Henry Lamb over at World Net Daily. Very disquieting, and unfortunately, spot on. How did we get this far so soon?
We drove into town for the celebration today to be moved by the words. A small parade, and we were subjected to some of Senator Snowe's apologetics. You know, she has urged Maliki to speed up the process so our troops can come home. She couldn't leave it alone, any more than the AP did in referencing Afghanistan.
The piece on Afghanistan on the pbs show last night was very moving and shows what a tough spot we are in over there. Not much msm coverage of that arena, only to blare out when "civilians" are killed. Who knows who is who?
Cancel subscriptions and unplug the cable. We do just fine with internet and rabbit ears.
Thanks!
May 26, 2008 - 13:50 ET by NortoI hardly ever miss the opportunity to say "Thank you" to those in uniform and even stopped in to a recruiting office one day to let them know I would go help if I were not so old. The fellow on duty was grateful for the thanks.
That takes so little time and effort and they appreciate it.
Thank You
May 26, 2008 - 16:45 ET by dboMy grandfather fought in WW1 and was awarded a purple heart. My father was born in 1924 and after high school enlisted himself in the war effort and became a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was a back-up in the Invasion of Normandy and was stationed in Dover. He was a WWII history buff and read volumes and volumes of books about the war. He never passed up an opportunity to talk war stories with friends. He even named our family dog “Blitzkrieg”. Sadly, in latter years he lamented how Canada’s military had become a joke and like so many other countries we “leached” off our American friends to provide us with our freedom. On this Memorial Day, I encourage all Americans to proudly wear the stars and stripes on their sleeve. I know my father would.
I want to thank men like
May 26, 2008 - 17:22 ET by bigtimerI want to thank men like this humble 93 year old WWll Vet today also...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
These are the folks
May 26, 2008 - 21:46 ET by FastEdthat most in our government and civilians have forgotten about. They served, did their time and gave us a boost to our freedoms. Those of us here do remember, and there are more out THERE who do, but for what ever reason don't speak up. I am the "glass if more than half full" guy, so I'm waiting for the day that the libs, demolibs and rhinos GET IT, and we can get along with the business of this great country and get back the freedoms mentioned in that non-living parchment called the Constitution.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V