Memorial day

[Dirk Williams]

My family just got home from the local Memorial day parade. Nothing big but well done. I visited with some WW II troops, "older then dirt but awesome men to shake hands with and thank for their contribution.

Korean war vets and Nam vets. I was looking for some of the more recent troops to thank for their service to America and found none.

While reading the Sunday paper I came across a Reporter "On the Street", where the reported stops random citizens and asks them what Memorial day means, and how it came to be.

Two stated that it was another 3 day holiday and they were looking forward to their college kids get to come home.

Two stated some nonsense about BBQ's and walking their dogs.

One guy said this day for for those who had served protecting big business and their interest in 3rd world locations.

One man " with obvious tears in his eyes" humbly stated the real reason for this important holiday. Thank you sir.

After reading these butt plugs responses I am truly disgusted. Sometimes it's hard to keep in mind that we who served, did, so these ****ing retards can have an oppinion and not get bitch slapped for their obvious stupidity and selfishness.

Happy Memorial Day to you all.

DW

[3 AE]

Dirk, Don't be so hard on yourself. Many times I've had this sentiment.

http://openbah.com/archives/20070228/america-is-at-the-mall

Then I realize that this country has survived and prospered due to the gallant few. There will always be those gallant few who answer the call. They will know that what they did has and will matter. That same character trait of serving and sacrifice manifests itself every day even in the civilian world. Yes the media and the general public tends to turn a blind eye to the obvious, but that doesn't mask the fact that each generation of Americans have and will produce great American citizens. I truly believe we are a blessed and righteous nation. Don't let the sheep get to you, and thank you for your service to this great nation.

[mallowpufft]

So slightly off from your post, D.W. but I didn't want to start a new thread and as today is Memorial Day this seems an appropriate place to post this.

This past winter my grandmother gave me all the letters that her older brother had written to the family during WWII as well as all the letters that were in his effects upon his death.

I've slowly been reading them with my wife and we've decided to now transcribe them as well as scan them. After I put the kids to bed tonight I started organizing them by date and stumbled across two neat items. One was a bulletin/program from Memorial Day 1945 from his church. It had his photograph and how he died along with the same info from seven other brave young men from that congregation.

The other item I found was a letter to my Great Grandparents from the President of Colt, Graham Anthony. It was written to them upon hearing the death of my grand uncle. He had worked for Colt for a short while before he joined the Army and Mr. Anthony had also lost a son in the war.

According to a letter written to his other sister by his commanding officer of Company A-2nd medical Battalion, my grand Uncle was a 2nd Lt and the commands/orders for his promotion to 1st Lt along with a Bronze Star came the day after he was KIA going to check on the litter bearers that he had command of and a German artillery barrage hit battalion aid station where he was checking on his men as he had command of the company's litter bearer platoon. He died in Normandy on July 27th 1944 and was buried there.

Here are links to photos I took (on cell phone, camera battery was dead) of those two documents.

http://instagr.am/p/LMRY0jP_2J (http://instagr.am/p/LMRY0jP_2J/)/

http://instagr.am/p/LMQj4LP_1h/
(http://instagr.am/p/LMQj4LP_1h/)

I'm not a veteran but my Grandfather fought in the battle of the Bulge. One of my Uncle's fought in Korea and his son is now in the Navy. While I may not agree with how long our current overseas conflicts have been going on or the fact that they now seem more geared towards other than their stated goal, I have nothing but respect and admiration for the men and women who do what I cannot. My daughter is 5 1/2 and she asked me why I came home from work early today. I told her that it is Memorial Day. She asked what it is. I told her it's a day that we remember, thank and honor the soldiers who have fought for our freedom and the freedom of those who can't fight for it themselves. She ran inside to tell my wife that I was home and then told her I was home early for Memorial Day. When my wife asked her what Memorial Day is my daughter replied: "It's a day we thank soldiers for protecting us... Can we call Grampy and thank him?"

I'll be honest, my eyes watered up a good bit and my grandmother told me that when my daughter was on the phone with my grandfather that he said thank you and got all choked up and couldn't talk any more for a bit after my daughter thanked him. I couldn't be prouder of my daughter and I couldn't be more thankful for those who are willing to make sacrifices beyond my comprehension.

[Dirk Williams]

PUFFT, WOW!. I teared up over this. I seem to get emotional every Vets Day and Memorial Day as I get older.

The cost of freedom is huge.

Regarding those I mentioned who failed to grasp the true meaning of Memorial day. With 10 years of ongoing conflict I would have guess that everybody would be greatful for those amoung us who served and more importantly those who layed down their lives so that our nation could remain free.

Thank you for sharing.

DW

[SeriousStudent]

Dirk, there is good news. Not everyone spent this weekend fighting over discounted Nintendo's.

900 volunteers plant flags at DFW National Cemetery:

http://m.nbcdfw.com/nbcdfw/db_276865/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=tmRsvbgG

Man raises $12,000 to pay for Memorial Day flags:

http://m.nbcdfw.com/nbcdfw/pm_108123/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Jtfium6D

One of the volunteers was a young Cub Scout that planted a flag at my father's grave. He wishes nothing more than to be a Marine pilot when he grows up.

The Republic is not dead yet, and not all young people have abandoned the service of liberty. There is still excellence, you just have to look a little harder.

I hope this brings a smile to your face as it did to mine.

[deadlyfire]

I get a tad emotional too on memorial day. Especially intolerant of the ignorant people I can usually sluff off.
Memorial day I found out two people from my old unit were killed in combat.

[Smuckatelli]

We began Monday at the Quantico National Cemertery.