Memorial Day: It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark the beginning of summer, the beginning of family vacations, a day off from work. For me, I want to extend my sincere...

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark the beginning of summer, the beginning of family vacations, a day off from work.

For me, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our veterans, in particular those that stood up and said yes, I will go. I believe in America. I will fight for freedom. I am not talking about how just the wars were, if they were fought for good cause or in the right way.

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and f**gs the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or 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." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten. However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.

"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays." -- F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February 26, 2000

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

This is an invitation to everyone, tell us your stories. Tell us about the one(s) that did not come home. And even if you are not a veteran, I bet you knew one or had one in your family.

rumitoid

ginnyt wrote:

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark the beginning of summer, the beginning of family vacations, a day off from work.

For me, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our veterans, in particular those that stood up and said yes, I will go. I believe in America. I will fight for freedom. I am not talking about how just the wars were, if they were fought for good cause or in the right way.

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and f**gs the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or 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." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten. However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.

"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays." -- F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February 26, 2000

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

This is an invitation to everyone, tell us your stories. Tell us about the one(s) that did not come home. And even if you are not a veteran, I bet you knew one or had one in your family.

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark... (show quote)

Thank you for appreciating my service as I do yours. We are steadily losing our values in this country, becoming disconnected from what made us a true voice of what is best for mankind, liberty, and what is often first to go is that respect for the sacrifices that created this great republic and gave the greatest act of love, giving all they were or ever would be to protect the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of liberty," the basics rights of humanity. No other nation has stood for this cause.

Bravo! Honestly, this needs to be somehow driven home to all who wish to live free. Maybe this is a good start.

I made a great friend in Orientation and we went through Basic, AIT, and then assignment to Viet Nam. We were amazed at our good fortune of remaining together. After return from an early patrol in country, maybe a few weeks there, I got called into the CO: I was reassigned to be a crypto-clerk in Saigon. I had no clue how to tell Mark what happened. We felt that only together could we survive. Beer was the only way (yes, a bit of cowardice on my part). When I told him, three sheets to the wind as he was, it seemed we both got instantly sober. He had that look. "What?" I asked, not really wanting to hear but more afraid of not knowing.

"Do you remember that time in AIT in Georgia I wanted to wade through the creek instead of risk crossing that log? and you said just one word, 'Look!''' I remembered. Water snakes were clearly visible. "I am not going to survive without our being together." Terrible thing is, I sort of felt that when I accepted the re-assignment. Of course, I did not know this for certain and my "Yes" was not agreement but being resigned to orders, yet....

A few moths later I got word that Mark was k**led in action, fell into a trap of punji stakes and never recovered, lingered about two days from the wounds. Meanwhile, I was in air-conditioning, eating extremely well, and never under direct threat;the only time I fired my weapon, in nine months, a forty-five, was to qualify.

ilenefree

I must ask, how many lives have been saved because we let our young men and women fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan for over 10 years? How many innocent lives were also taken from Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 10 years? Is this something we celebrate? no. Well, some do celebrate, the ones in power with the most money.

I'm with you, it is a day of mourning. I mourn for the idiocy of our country waging these wars for no reason at all. Oh, except it brought money into our country by America selling more weapons to Iraq and Afghanistan. We fight and k**l our young and their innocents for no other reason than money and power.

That is the reason I mourn.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

As I stated, I do not want to turn this into a debate on the saneness, e******y, or even if we were right in entering into wars. I want to see us honor our dead, those brave people that fought and lost their lives. Honor of the fallen. Sure there is shame in the history. Our leaders have led us into bad situations, but do not let their mistakes tarnish the memory of the brave. I do appreciate your comments, always have and I will continue to respect your perspective in the future, but for this one topic; let it be about our sailors, airmen, soldiers and even our contractors who died. Let ego go, the right or wrong of the war. Think about the men/women who died, think about the families of the fallen and yes, even those who are still considered POWs from Nam.

ilenefree wrote:

I must ask, how many lives have been saved because... (show quote)

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

rumitoid wrote:

Thank you for appreciating my service as I do yours. We are steadily losing our values in this country, becoming disconnected from what made us a true voice of what is best for mankind, liberty, and what is often first to go is that respect for the sacrifices that created this great republic and gave the greatest act of love, giving all they were or ever would be to protect the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of liberty," the basics rights of humanity. No other nation has stood for this cause.

Bravo! Honestly, this needs to be somehow driven home to all who wish to live free. Maybe this is a good start.

I made a great friend in Orientation and we went through Basic, AIT, and then assignment to Viet Nam. We were amazed at our good fortune of remaining together. After return from an early patrol in country, maybe a few weeks there, I got called into the CO: I was reassigned to be a crypto-clerk in Saigon. I had no clue how to tell Mark what happened. We felt that only together could we survive. Beer was the only way (yes, a bit of cowardice on my part). When I told him, three sheets to the wind as he was, it seemed we both got instantly sober. He had that look. "What?" I asked, not really wanting to hear but more afraid of not knowing.

"Do you remember that time in AIT in Georgia I wanted to wade through the creek instead of risk crossing that log? and you said just one word, 'Look!''' I remembered. Water snakes were clearly visible. "I am not going to survive without our being together." Terrible thing is, I sort of felt that when I accepted the re-assignment. Of course, I did not know this for certain and my "Yes" was not agreement but being resigned to orders, yet....

A few moths later I got word that Mark was k**led in action, fell into a trap of punji stakes and never recovered, lingered about two days from the wounds. Meanwhile, I was in air-conditioning, eating extremely well, and never under direct threat;the only time I fired my weapon, in nine months, a forty-five, was to qualify.

Thank you for appreciating my service as I do your... (show quote)

I agree with you in thanking Ginnyt for her service, as she did ours with her very thoughful post! Memorial Day is truly a day of mourning for many of us who lost friends and fellow Americans to conflicts in service to country. May they never be forgotten...and may they rest in peace.

Your memories of Mark speak to survivor's guilt...often associated with those who lost close friends, but survived themselves. It is important, Rumi, to remember and realize that almost everyone who served did what they were told. You must let go of any guilt or regret for something you had no control over. You answered the call, as did many others, and served honorably.

I say these things to you as I, too...for years, have carried my own angst over surviving when others didn't. It has proven...oftentimes, to be a heavy burden. I am proud to call you my 'Brother' from our war. Again, thank you for your service, Rumi. To my other Brothers & Sisters from all conflicts: I salute your service. :thumbup:

SEMPER FI!

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

ginnyt wrote:

As I stated, I do not want to turn this into a deb... (show quote)

:thumbup: Indeed, Ginnyt. Thank you.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

You are most welcome. Thank you for your earlier comment.

slatten49 wrote:

:thumbup: Indeed, Ginnyt. Thank you.

She Wolf Loc: Currently Georgia

My husband did not die in combat. He died from agent orange.
Every memorial day we go place flowers on his grave. I look at the child he never got to know and the grand children he never saw and I remind them Dad was our hero.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

She Wolf wrote:

My husband did not die in combat. He died from agent orange.
Every memorial day we go place flowers on his grave. I look at the child he never got to know and the grand children he never saw and I remind them Dad was our hero.

You are to be commended for doing so, SheWolf. :thumbup: Thank you.

I cry, sometimes, knowing the joy I find in my children and grandchildren...and knowing so many didn't get the chance to share in that joy.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

He was a causality of that war. Thank you for being a wife of a military man. It is not an easy life and you had to make many sacrifices. Thank you for being there for him and our nation. Yes, your husband is a hero!

She Wolf wrote:

My husband did not die in combat. He died from agent orange.
Every memorial day we go place flowers on his grave. I look at the child he never got to know and the grand children he never saw and I remind them Dad was our hero.

Alicia Loc: NYC

ginnyt wrote:

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark the beginning of summer, the beginning of family vacations, a day off from work.

For me, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our veterans, in particular those that stood up and said yes, I will go. I believe in America. I will fight for freedom. I am not talking about how just the wars were, if they were fought for good cause or in the right way.

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and f**gs the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or 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." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten. However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.

"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays." -- F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February 26, 2000

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

This is an invitation to everyone, tell us your stories. Tell us about the one(s) that did not come home. And even if you are not a veteran, I bet you knew one or had one in your family.

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark... (show quote)

**************
I agree, it should be a day of remembering. So why are the stores having sales on that day?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Alicia wrote:

**************
I agree, it should be a day of remembering. So why are the stores having sales on that day?

Unbridled capitalism.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Alicia,

Why, well I guess it is for the same reason that Christmas Shopping has moved from Black Friday to Thanksgiving Day, why what is under the tree is more important than the celebration of the birth, why sales for Easter clothing is more important than Sunrise Services, and each holiday is marked with a "hot sale." But, because the people owing stores do what they do for profit, does not mean that we the people must forget the reason for these specific days. But, I do get your point.

Alicia wrote:

**************
I agree, it should be a day of remembering. So why are the stores having sales on that day?

bahmer

ginnyt wrote:

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark the beginning of summer, the beginning of family vacations, a day off from work.

For me, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to all of our veterans, in particular those that stood up and said yes, I will go. I believe in America. I will fight for freedom. I am not talking about how just the wars were, if they were fought for good cause or in the right way.

Memorial Day used to be a solemn day of mourning, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were given and prayers offered up. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and f**gs the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or 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." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868

We need to remember with sincere respect those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to keep in sacred remembrance those who died serving their country. We need to never let them be forgotten. However, over the years the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.

"If it is considered a holiday, why is it so? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. This is how we observe this day in our home. Because of what that day represents the rest of the days of the year are our holidays." -- F L Lloyd West Chester, Pa USA - February 26, 2000

On Memorial Day we need to stop and pay with sincere conviction our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for we owe those honored dead more than we can ever repay.

This is an invitation to everyone, tell us your stories. Tell us about the one(s) that did not come home. And even if you are not a veteran, I bet you knew one or had one in your family.

It is quickly approaching, that day when most mark... (show quote)

ginnyt I want to thank and all of the others on OPP who fought for this country and our freedoms as well as the many others out in America that have served this country. May God bless each and every one of you who have gave of your lives so selflessly for us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Bahmer, I assure you that the honor was mine. I know that many have served, many have not come home. The cemeteries have more than they should, I believe that each that fought were brave and heroes. Many of our vets are wounded, disabled, and should be honored; but Memorial Day was set aside to honor the fallen. Not just those that fell on battlegrounds, but those that came home and died from complications of war. My thoughts, May God always bless the USA~!!!

Thank you my friend!!

bahmer wrote:

ginnyt I want to thank and all of the others on OPP who fought for this country and our freedoms as well as the many others out in America that have served this country. May God bless each and every one of you who have gave of your lives so selflessly for us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.