Memorial Day Thanks

[Channahon]

I make it a point when travelling, if there is a National Cemetery, I will visit the gravesites. I personally don't know anyone who perished in a war, although, I know others who have suffered the pain of a loss one.

My respect, patriotism and prayers are with all who died fighting for this country.

 

[scratch]

I make it a point when travelling, if there is a National Cemetery, I will visit the gravesites.

This is the whole point of this thread, I am just reminding everyone to remember and respect what our veterans have done. It has nothing to do with politics. I have been to Arlington National Cemetery and watched the "Changing of the Guard" thats in the video that av8torntn posted. Back when I was a Scout Leader, we used to take the boys to put American Flags on the local veterans graves. I have been to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor a couple of times and watched the fuel oil still bubble up out of that tomb.

I can remember when the Viet Nam vets came home and were spit on and called "Baby killers". Last time I flew out of the Atlanta Airport, a group of Servicemen were changing planes and we all stopped and gave them a round of applause. So I think the public for the most part is doing a better job recognizing our military. I have a neighbor a couple of doors up that is in the Air National Guard full time. Once a year he goes out of town for a month or two on deployment. His grass was waist high and hasn't been touched by his 19 year old son who is supposed to come by and take care of it. So I cut it for him, and I am not going to tell him when he gets back.
I just respect these people, and appreciate what they have done.

 

[trplnkl]

There you go with the labels. Like Moreluck says "not everything requires a 'political' comment".
Liberals, conservative, libertarians.... who give a t what label you use. I personally now liberal Christians and conservative atheists. I personally know republicans who anti-war and democrats that are NRA members! How does that figure in to your vision of liberals and conservatives? Figure that one out.

Yeah you are right, how dare I to respond to someone that is tarnishing the concept of Memorial Day.

Anyhow, Memorial Day is about those who served, fought and paid the ultimate price who's loyalty is to the Country and the Commander-in-Chief, reguardless of any political affiliation. It's also about those who come home with physical and emotional scars and seeing to the well being of their own existance and their immediate family.

These men and women who give up years of their life to defend and protect the rest of us come back to society only to ill-treated, whether it be through medical care, psychological counseling, job placement, and financial assistance. It's wrong for any person, but it's only worse when it happens to any of our veterans.

So enjoy your extra day off. You probably deserve it. But just as with any holiday, take care to truly remember the reason behind the season. Take a moment to pause and reflect on those whose day it truly is and thank a veteran, not just on Monday, but on any day. We owe them more than we'll probably ever realize.
Now, see...here you are preaching to the choir, I've been saying these very things since our boys turned to men were coming home from Viet Nam. My reply to that DA does not suggest otherwise. I prefer to keep my method of remembering the ones that served our country to myself. I do however assure you that I personally am very thankful for each and every one of them that have given so much.

 

[tieguy]

would you kindly give me an example of how my freedom of speech has been enhanced by any war since the revolutionary war?

Would you please get the message and stop jacking this thread.

God bless and keep all the veterans.

 

[trplnkl]

I should have used different words than "liberal socialist propagandist", I suppose. I was not referring to a given political party, but to a mind set that harbors hate for the USA, the flag, and patriotism in any fashion.
Scratch, I apologize for my contribution to the hijacking of this very worthy thread and thank you for starting the ball rolling.
Most of all Thanks to all the people and their families that have sacrificed their personal futures so that we can continue to live and and enjoy our freedoms.

 

[av8torntn]

HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

Washington D.C. May 5, 1868

General Orders No. 11

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or other decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and comrades will, in their own way, arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, Comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead? We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and to assist those whom they have left among us as a sacred charge upon the Nation’s gratitude – the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

Department Commanders will use every effort to make this Order effective. By Command of:

N.P. Chipman John A. Logan
Adjutant General Commander-in-Chief
​

 

[bellesotico]

I am new here, but if I may, I would just like to point out that the Veterans we honor on Memorial Day were not politicians on the battlefield. They were American soldiers executing their orders.

This day is bigger than any political debate. It is a tribute to the WHOs not a forum for the WHYs and WHY NOTs.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

 

[UPS Lifer]

Amen Scratch,
My dad was a POW at the end of the Battle of the Bulge for 4 months.He never talked to us(4 kids) much about his experiences as a 20 year kid in a war.Latter in life, before he died,he would tell a few emotional stories.He was a water-cooled machine gun sargent on a hill that ran out of ammo.He saw soldiers on the left and right get killed...The Germans treated the POW 's OK at the end of the war as they were tired and hungary, too.But it was cold, not much clothes, shoes were warn out out(frozen feet) and stomach problems (disintary).My dad...my hero for life.
Thanks to all that are serving now and before.God Bbless all those hero's....Amen!

My Dad was 1 mile from the Battle of the Bulge in the Century Division when it erupted! It is a small world. He captured an American machine gun nest after it had been abandoned and taken over by the Germans. He got the Bronze Star for the effort! It is a small world. I am sorry to hear that your dad was captured. POWs are the real heroes. They live in a worse hell than any other soldier every day they remain captured! Continue to keep his spirit alive and thank you for sharing!

When my dad passed in 2000, my son was an active US Marine at the time and led the Honor Guard in a 21 gun salute.... I will never forget that!

 

[feeder53]

Thank You to all those that served in all the conflicts.....My heart goes out to the families of those that never returned.....They have paid the ultimate price........SALUTE...

 

[Bad Gas!]

My Dad was 1 mile from the Battle of the Bulge in the Century Division when it erupted! It is a small world. He captured an American machine gun nest after it had been abandoned and taken over by the Germans. He got the Bronze Star for the effort! It is a small world. I am sorry to hear that your dad was captured. POWs are the real heroes. They live in a worse hell than any other soldier every day they remain captured! Continue to keep his spirit alive and thank you for sharing!

When my dad passed in 2000, my son was an active US Marine at the time and led the Honor Guard in a 21 gun salute.... I will never forget that!

Thanks for your reply.My Dad also got the Bronze Star.They were all hero's in WWII .We lost many Americans....That's cool with the salute.My Dad passed in 2002 and I got chills with the salute..

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I won't even neg. rep. you....you're not worth my effort!!

More, I will take care of that for you after I post my reply.

Newworker, I don't know who or what you think you are, but you need to grow up in a hurry. This was a thread intended to honor those veterans who served our country and those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. If you couldn't find the words in your you tube vocabulary to respond to this thread in a mature, intelligent manner, than you should have passed and gone on to soil the next thread that you visited.

In case you haven't figured it out, I am a vet and proud of the 8 years that I spent in the Air Force

 

[UPS Lifer]

newworker....way to screw up a tribute.......not everything requires a 'political' comment. I don't know you, but I am ashamed of you.

I won't even neg. rep. you....you're not worth my effort!!

Ditto!

 

[Hillboy]

Coming home from RVN in 1969, I sat by an apparently nice lady. She seemed like a grandmotherly type. After takeoff, she got up and requested a different seat. Sure was a quiet flight.

 

[toonertoo]

hillboy, sorry you were treated badly. Our Iraq soldiers and Afghanistan are being treated when they come home much better than Vietnam vets were. I HOPE. Then there will be those, well you know. Sorry to be late on the thread.
Thanks for your service then.
Thanks to those serving now.
We have the freedom to be idiots, or get up and walk away because of you.
We also have the freedom to ignore those types, and thank you all for the freedoms we enjoy today.

 

[feeder53]

I to have felt the anger of people who were there when we returned from RVN. I see the treatment our Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers are treated and I working in the ARNGHQ, I see all aspects of the returns and deployments. I get to deal with the families left behind....They give up a great deal and there are many struggles.....

 

[Draft Dodger]

Every war after the revolutionary war had nothing to do with preserving our freedom. just Lining the pockets of those in control.

The revolutionary war was unpopular at the time and was used by rich, white landowners to create a country that favored rich, white landowners. As they say, when the rich wage war, it's the poor that die. But sure, let's thank the vets. I honestly do have a lot of respect for people that put something noble and true ahead of their own lives. Unfortunately, that noble and true thing is a lie. Ask GW how much his Halliburton and Bechtel stock has gone up since taxpayer dollars have been used first to bomb a country (based on a lie) and then rebuild it. Hooray for Blackwater! And hooray for Newworker for having the stones to say something "unpatriotic" and "unpopular."

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[Hillboy]

My son served in USMC in Iraq, a combat marine. He was welcomed home in a most remarkable way. It brought tears to watch people appreciate him. Those that serve will always have a bond. My sons welcome home was my welcome home.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

... And hooray for Newworker for having the stones to say something "unpatriotic" and "unpopular."

There is a time and place for everything and this was neither. It is not his point of view that upset most of the posters--it is the fact that he chose to offer his opinion in a thread which simply asked that we honor those who chose to serve and especially to those who paid the ultimate price in making that choice.

Perhaps newworker would like to start his own thread based upon his opinions but to offer his opinion on this thread was simply a poor decision.

 

[Channahon]

But sure, let's thank the vets. I honestly do have a lot of respect for people that put something noble and true ahead of their own lives. ! And hooray for Newworker for having the stones to say something "unpatriotic" and "unpopular."

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I'm betting draft dodger is not a veteran, and further bet that he and newworker are one and the same based on the last comment. Any takers?

 

[UPS Lifer]

I'm betting draft dodger is not a veteran, and further bet that he and newworker are one and the same based on the last comment. Any takers?

I think it is someone else. This poster actually knows sentence structure. Most of new poster's posts start off with no capital letters (unless starting with "I"). Then he/she follows with an incomplete sentence!

The anonymous poster does not understand what the concepts of honor and respect are. This poster wouldn't know what Patriotism is or what it implies if it smacked him/her between the eyes!

I was able to get a better understanding of some concepts such as meaning of the words coward, contempt, disgrace, shameless and unscrupulousness!