In Memorium

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Remember always, constant. Forever.

The look in your fathers or grandfathers face as he sees the mortar fire or the sniper shot or the blood on his hands.

The screams in the night of those who will always be fighting

The oppressive silence of those who can scream no more.

The sobs in the nights of the relatives of those men and women.

The bit of your own mind that remembers the warzone.

Always, remember. There is no glory. Only pain, but some men shouldered that pain when it was neccessary to shoulder and sacrificed everything.

Stop flipping the burgers, jumping in the swimming pool for a second and think, remember, really remember what war is, what they went through, what they died for and strive to ensure that their memory is never used, abused, or forgotten. War is not summer homes and ice cream and the grill, it is pain and some heroes went through that pain for us, not for glory, but because they had to. Had to see their brothers guts spill out on the ground, had to get shot and stabbed, had to die.

In Memorium, we stand always.


Okay, you can get back to your ####ing grill and beer now.

 

[Belegon]

I am the first man in my family not to serve in three generations. I went the college route, to my father's delight.

I'm with Luc. This day is for the friends of my Dad that never saw home after arriving in Viet Nam. For the men both my grandfather's knew who never saw loved ones they were fighting in the Pacific and in Europe to protect...

and regardless of political leanings, for the young men and women who are serving now. Come home safe. Your children need your example just like I needed my father's and grandfather's.

unfortunately, the real heroes never see their homes again.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Luc, You are truly a remarkable man and I thank you for reminding us of what this day is about here.
My Dad served in Korea, in a tank. I thank him for coming home and giving me life.

 

[shereads]

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

~ from To An Athlete Dying Young, A.E. Houseman, 1914



Faces of the Fallen:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/iraq/casualties/facesofthefallen.htm

 

[minsue]

Thank you.

 

[rgraham666]

I never forget, Luc. Not ever.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

To all who served.

 

[snooper]

Remembrance Day in the UK is in November, but we join with you in your thoughts on Memorial Day.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon For the Fallen

 

[McKenna]

*bump*