Memorial Day

[iwmggw]

The day designated to remember those who have died in the service of their country.........our country. Many of us have someone that we can directly relate to in our remembrance. A friend, family member, a loved one. Someone who will remain forever young in our memories...............We'll probably think of them as smarter, funnier, braver, more noble,.........................better, than what they actually were. Death and selective memory have a tendancy to cause those reactions........but, in reality, how good the individual actually was, is of little importance. The sacrifice was made.......a life was cut short. Not every one of them would've gone on to do something important in life, but they never got the chance. Instead, they gave the chances to us. So lets honor them all, the known and unknown.........the few...the many. Honor them with pride..with humility.................lets give thanks.

 

[iwmggw]

and personally speaking

For those of us who served and survived, we maintain that "brotherhood of war", and have our own unique remembrances. Of honor and fear, bravery and cowardice,mind numbing despair and mind dazzling happiness (sometimes at the smallest of joys), of life......and of death. Some of us, many of us ,have also felt the hauntings of guilt..........."maybe if I'd of..." or in that instant after someone else bought it, "thank God, its not me". For some of us, every day is memorial day. Now I'd like to take the time for my own personal memorium: Junior (who died on his birthday),Lonnie, Pape (died drinking a beer),James g. and JV, Marco (who saved so many), Alvarez (could always make me laugh), Paul and Big and Little Daddy........I can close my eyes, and see you.....I hear a chopper and I'm with you, a sight, a sound....there are so many triggers to a memory. The feelings I hold because I served with and because of, you. The pride, and the sadness of loss...........so my memorial weekend rituals continue........I'll get a little drunk, a little maudlin.........and there'll be that happiness too. Because of what we shared...of our lives together, and our lives back in the "world". I MISS YOU ALL AND I SALUTE YOU...YOU BROGHT OUT THE BEST IN ME. I hope I did a little of the same for you>gw "sarge"

 

[paganangel]

i logged on to post the same type of thread. i did it last vteran's day and felt good about what people had tosay. this isa great weekend. bar b ques, friends, ball games, whatever. let's remember why, while we are enjoying all things american, that we can. this weekend i'll go down and see the boats in the harbor. i'll wonder how many never came back off of them.

a big thanks to all who made the ultimate sacrafice for me.

a thankyou to the family who was told their kid died in a training accident when he really died on a mission they can't know of.

my gratitude for the woman killed in an accident on the base.

for all those maimed.

for all those whose scars cannot be seen.

for those who risk their lives and those who back them as unsung cogs in a machiene.

for the cooks who feed them.

for all who wear the uniform of the united states military.

thankyou.

 

[Linedrive]

I'll be remembering my dad's uncle:

United States Army
101st Airborne, 56th PIR
Killed in action on 23 June 1944 near St. Mere-Eglise, France
by small arms fire. 22 years old.

 

[paganangel]

oh yeah

thank you, iwmggw.

 

[iwmggw]

thanks for sharing, guys.

 

[Guest]

I do feel quite honored and thankful to those that have fought and died for my country.

 

[koalabear]

Re: and personally speaking

For those of us who served and survived, we maintain that "brotherhood of war", and have our own unique remembrances. Of honor and fear, bravery and cowardice,mind numbing despair and mind dazzling happiness (sometimes at the smallest of joys), of life......and of death. Some of us, many of us ,have also felt the hauntings of guilt..........."maybe if I'd of..." or in that instant after someone else bought it, "thank God, its not me". For some of us, every day is memorial day. Now I'd like to take the time for my own personal memorium: Junior (who died on his birthday),Lonnie, Pape (died drinking a beer),James g. and JV, Marco (who saved so many), Alvarez (could always make me laugh), Paul and Big and Little Daddy........I can close my eyes, and see you.....I hear a chopper and I'm with you, a sight, a sound....there are so many triggers to a memory. The feelings I hold because I served with and because of, you. The pride, and the sadness of loss...........so my memorial weekend rituals continue........I'll get a little drunk, a little maudlin.........and there'll be that happiness too. Because of what we shared...of our lives together, and our lives back in the "world". I MISS YOU ALL AND I SALUTE YOU...YOU BROGHT OUT THE BEST IN ME. I hope I did a little of the same for you>gw "sarge"

It was my pleasure to have known you all, and I am to the better for having met you.
Sixteen Draftees who did not want to go but did.

Chuck, Bob, Tallman and Head Hunter never set foot on USA soil again, but became a part of it.

Rat, Johnny Walker, Tom died within three years of returning.

Shorty, Yoyo, Sam, Lawman, Preacher, Fish, Leon, Chuckie all died off over the years from various cancers. Last Thursday December 20, 2001, Soul Man danced his last step.

And then there was one, I owed my life to these Gentlemen more then once. We laughed, loved, lived and died with each other, yet those were some of the most glorious times of my life. Each one of these soldiers was killed in Viet Nam, some just didn't realize it till the cancer set in.

To you Gentlemen I lift this glass in a final toast. I loved you all and you are sorely missed, God Rest their souls, they spent their time in Hell.


"Here I am send me"

 

[RhumbRunner13]

And please......

.....let me give thanks to all our friends, Ozzys and Kiwis, Canadians, Brits, German, French....all who have stood with us and lost "sons and brothers". We celebrate this holiday in America, but it is not uniquely ours. We remember you all!

Rhumb

 

[KinkyKat]

This is a very special day for all Americans, but especially for those of us who have had the honor of serving in our nation's armed forces or who have lost friends and loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us.

To all veterans or those who will spend this day remembering a special someone: Thank You for your service and sacrifice, and God Bless The USA.



http://mathweb.mathsci.usna.edu/faculty/ranzmc/WavingFlag.gif

 

[iwmggw]

I need to mention my Uncle Bob.......he made it thru WWII, but didn't survive Korea. Dad still talks about how you and he met up on Iwo............and he still thinks if he'd of gone back in and over with you to Korea.............you'd somehow have made it back. Oh well..............you know Dad. SEMPER FI , Uncle Bob. >from you nephew GW < USMC 66 - 70.

 

[KinkyKat]

Re: And please......

.....let me give thanks to all our friends, Ozzys and Kiwis, Canadians, Brits, German, French....all who have stood with us and lost "sons and brothers". We celebrate this holiday in America, but it is not uniquely ours. We remember you all!

Rhumb

Well said as alwasy, Rhumb

 

[RhumbRunner13]

Bump.

For those who deserve it.

 

[Cheyenne]

In memory of all those who gave their life for us...

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up ... and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little bit truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am cherished - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every
war for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg,
Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam.
Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon,
Vietnam know me,
I was there.
I led my troops,
I was dirty, battle-worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -
it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted
frontiers of space from my vantage point
on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.


MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE



"In the beginning, all the world was America."
-John Locke, 17th Century

 

[RhumbRunner13]

"....all who have stood with us and lost "sons and brothers"

I must not forget the mothers who sacrifice so much or our "daughters and sisters" who have given so much and served so well.

Rhumb

 

[His_kitty]

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and I'll proudly stand next to him to defend her still today, cuz there aint no doubt I love this land, god bless the usa
--Lee Greenwood

To all of our servicemen and their families ...... those lost to us and those who are still with us.

 

[OpposingBalance]

I will be spending this memorial day mourning the deaths of personal friends of mine who died in service to our country.
I will never forget them.

 

[Linedrive]

I remember being just a little boy,
And always once a year,
We'd get dressed up...go on a drive,
To a special place so near,

The car would stop and we would walk,
amongst the flowers and stone,
Listening as my father told,
Tales already sewn,

He was my grandpa's youngest brother,
Twenty one when he left that summer day,
The tears flowed freely, he would be missed,
"I'll be fine" he looked at them to say,

He wasn't worried or even scared,
His demeanor touched the soul,
Sometimes things happen in our lives,
That we cannot control,

So on that fateful day in June,
When so many people knew,
America sent it's bravest men,
To die for me and you,

He wouldn't be coming home,
To a girl, apple pie or his mother,
He paid his sacrifice to our cause,
just like so many others,

And on that field in Western France,
his soul was released above,
His body now a token of war,
His memory held in love,

The women wept and children cried,
The men sat quietly by,
A son to them, a brother to many,
War's brutal game of lies,

So as I stood and stared wide eyed,
At his name etched in stone,
I learned the meaning of loving your country,
Through your flesh and into your bone,

So every year we'd make that trip,
We never would forget him,
We'd gather around his stone out there,
and sing a peaceful hymn,

An unknown hero who gave his life,
For him and her and you and me,
He paid in blood, a painful lost,
But worth it you must see,

So through my life, I hold the memory,
Of one family's tragic day,
A story that I tell my kids,
The sacrifice he paid,

I remember being just a little boy,
And always once a year,
We'd get dressed up...go on a drive,
To a special place so near.

- Gunner Dailey
In memory of my great-uncle, 101st US Airborne, 56th PIR
Killed in action on 23 June 1944 in France

 

[Lost Cause]

BTW, C-Span will carry Sunday morning at seven am, the live coverage of Rolling Thunder to the wall. Remember, if you're at a party to drop a few sips to the ground..for our Brothers and Sisters who cannot be there to have a brew with us. As long as we remember they will live forever. A tear never forgets!
**It still doesn't make the PTSD any easier**

 

[zantac666]

I will be honoring my father who died feb. 28, 1968 in veit nam and my mother for putting her life on hold so my brother and i would have food and clothing and other things.

She took a job that was a dead end job but because it was close to home that way if we were sick she could get home fast.

 

[riff]

My dad's mom's brother.

Shrapnel in the back on Utah Beach, Normandy, Fr. June 6, 1944.

Died 3 days later.

My dad's dad's brother. Somewhere in the South Pacific. 1944.

Neither of my grandfather's were in the military because they were needed at home. They did their part too. And they are dead now, but of non-military causes.

Both of them served faithfully. One was a county agent and the other a cotton farmer.

 

[Cheyenne]

*bump*

 

[Ladybird]

I had posted this in the other Memorial Day thread, and would like it posted here as well, in honour of all of the men and women of the allied forces who served for their country in many different capacities...



In Australia our day to remember is in April, and is called Anzac Day.

Each state starts the day with a dawn service, where a wreath is laid at foot of a war memorial.

Then about 10.00am a parade goes thru the streets of each city. It is lead by army jeeps carrying old solders now unable to march. The crowd cheers them as they wave back.

Next come marchers from different batallions that have served during wartime.

Nurses also parade... they are honoured for all that they have done to help our men.

Then come the Vietnam veterans. The cheer goes to a roar, and flags are waved furiously by all. Many people, myself included, wipe away tears, as we watch the people who fought so hard in such a dirty war, and who look so much older than they should.
Again, nurses and suport staff march side by side the solders they helped.

For those at home who can't attend, the parade is televised.

Perhaps the best part of all, is that each year more and more people attend the dawn service and the march. And it's young people who are making up the numbers.

The Anzac spirit lives. Lest we forget.

 

[miles]

v

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[miles]

Re: In memory of my Dad

He joined the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday before graduating high school and served as a gunner on A-20 and A-26 attack bombers in Europe. It's hard to imagine now how young Americans like him so willingly went to war while they were teenagers. Fortunately he survived, but it wasn't until he passed away did I learn about his experiences in combat. Thanks to him and the millions of other Americans who literally helped save the world.