Memorial Day

[2HOW]

We Honor our Nation’s Heroes this Memorial Day

On Monday, our nation will pause in remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of our free Republic. Following a tradition that began in 1868, Memorial Day is an important day in our history where we commemorate the U.S. men and women who died while in the military service.

Fond mourners and friends will set flowers and flags on graves of the fallen.  Flags will fly at half staff from sunrise until noon, and then be raised high.  A bugle will sound Taps, and those gathered will pledge allegiance.  Today we renew another pledge: to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our heroic dead, and our disabled veterans.
 
Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer.  While we stop to pay tribute to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coasties who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation – we cannot help but think of the men and women who are currently deployed and who are in harm’s way.

It is the duty of our nation to honor and support our service members and veterans.  As a veteran, Member of the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and top Republican on the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring quality care for our veterans. I am pleased that this Congress passed H.R. 5145, Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act – a bill that will ensure better health care by helping our VA medical professionals stay on the cutting edge of training and education.  The importance of taking care of our nation’s heroes is great, and as a nation, we must ensure our service members receive the quality care they deserve.
 
As we remember our fallen heroes, many of us are filled with emotion – whether it is sadness for a loved one who was lost in combat, peace because of the safety our soldiers provide, or pride because of the sacrifices our veterans made for us in order to ensure our freedom.  Whatever that emotion may be, our hearts are all filled with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness.

Not all who serve perish fulfilling their duty.  They return to us as veterans and deserve our thanks and a commitment to serve them.  As you and your families remember Memorial Day, I encourage all of you to commemorate the U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country.  Please, also keep our active duty soldiers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

I take no credit for this writing, I do not know the author.

[shooter32]

+1 2HOW

These heroes are dead.  They died for liberty - they died for us.  They are at rest.  They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines.  They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest.  Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace.  In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death.  I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead:  cheers for the living; tears for the dead.  ~Robert G. Ingersoll

[ericire12]

God bless our troops

[Ping]

Excellent read 2How