Thanks to those who served on Memorial Day 2009

[fullautovalmet76]

This topic is devoted to anyone wishing to give thanks for those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our God given freedoms in this country. If you have a special story about someone whose service means something to you or impacted you in a meaningful way, please share as I think all will benefit from it.

I, for one, want to express my gratitude to those on the forum who are vets and those who are serving or have served this nation. Please accept my thanks and please accept it on behalf of those who gave all.

When the movie "Saving Private Ryan" came out, I was at the theater with a bunch of vets. When the opening scenes were shown, I still remember some of the men in the audience being overcome with emotion, as if they were back on the beach, and they had to leave. For some it was too much. After the movie, I saw one old man, barely able to walk, leaving with tears in his eyes. I asked if he had been there and he told me yes. I just looked him in the eyes and told him I appreciated everything he had done and his sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who did not come back would never be in vain as long as I was able to do something about it. His wife choked up and he just looked at me and didn't say a word and they walked away. I knew he appreciated what I said and I think he got it that I "got it". That's what I remember most about Memorial Day.....

[fightingquaker13]

As I mentioned in a couple of earlier Memorial Day posts, I and many other GTU cadets went to the funeral of a young woman who graduated a couple of years ahead of me. She was in an accident shortly after being comissioned. We showed up in uniform in a small Maryland town for the funeral. Her folks were too out of it to notice if the sky was green.Her granddad, a Korean War vet though, was touched by the fact that there were about thirty of us in uniform to pay respects. It definately made the trip worthwhile just to provide a little solace to the family and show the flag and our appreciation of her service.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

 I'd like to take a few moments and reflect on the Troops who have died in "Non wars", like the Beirut Bombings, Somalia, The Balkans, and terrorist bombings like the "LeBelle Disco" in Germany and the Navy sailor named Stethem who was murdered by Muslim highjackers.
Also lets remember those killed and injured in non combat missions, training accidents, traffic accidents and "industrial accidents" don't stop when the fighting ends, but as the old saying goes, "They also serve who only stand and wait" and change the aircraft engines and drive the supply trucks etc. etc.

Military life is dangerous no matter the job, they are ALL important to the Mission of Protecting America.

[blackwolfe]

I want to thank all veterans and service men and women, past and present.  I especially admire those that have signed up since 911.  Those who have done so have known there was a good chance of being in harms way.

Thank You!

[twyacht]

Along the lines as all previous posts,  THANK YOU.

click on video

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/26/60minutes/rooney/main697964.shtml


My favorite Democrat. Rooney is an Army Veteran, and the same age as my father-in-law,(another army veteran.) 84. I may not agree with him politically, but he has earned my respect for his service to this country. Plus he's old enough to say whatever he d*** well pleases.

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on May 29, 2005.


The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.


Tomorrow is Memorial Day, the day we have set aside to honor by remembering all the Americans who have died fighting for the thing we like the most about our America: the freedom we have to live as we please.

No official day to remember is adequate for something like that. It's too formal. It gets to be just another day on the calendar. No one would know from Memorial Day that Richie M., who was shot through the forehead coming onto Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, wore different color socks on each foot because he thought it brought him good luck.

No one would remember on Memorial Day that Eddie G. had promised to marry Julie W. the day after he got home from the war, but didn’t marry Julie because he never came home from the war. Eddie was shot dead on an un-American desert island, Iwo Jima.

For too many Americans, Memorial Day has become just another day off. There's only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.

They died.

We use the phrase "gave their lives," but they didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them.

There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.

Because I was in the Army during World War II, I have more to remember on Memorial Day than most of you. I had good friends who were killed.

Charley Wood wrote poetry in high school. He was killed when his Piper Cub was shot down while he was flying as a spotter for the artillery.

Bob O'Connor went down in flames in his B-17.

Obie Slingerland and I were best friends and co-captains of our high school football team. Obie was killed on the deck of the Saratoga when a bomb that hadn’t dropped exploded as he landed.

I won’t think of them anymore tomorrow, Memorial Day, than I think of them any other day of my life.

Remembering doesn’t do the remembered any good, of course. It's for ourselves, the living. I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day, not to the memory of those who have died at war, but to the idea of saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don’t find some new way - some new religion maybe - that takes war out of our lives.

That would be a Memorial Day worth celebrating.

[Sponsor]

[2HOW]

First I want to thank all who served. Second I was continually amazed when after being at a duty station for a time and getting to know all the NCOs and such and getting to be friends when we had occasion to have to fall out in dress greens for IG or whatever. I would stand by the billits door and watch these friends step out and observe the ribbons and medals they wore. Regular guys with CIBs , PHs, silver stars and clusters to match. I continue to be extremely proud of them and to be counted as a small part of the honor that goes with it. You men and women are Honor , Duty , country.  TOUJOURS PRET

[PegLeg45]

This topic is devoted to anyone wishing to give thanks for those who sacrificed their lives in defense of our God given freedoms in this country. If you have a special story about someone whose service means something to you or impacted you in a meaningful way, please share as I think all will benefit from it.

I, for one, want to express my gratitude to those on the forum who are vets and those who are serving or have served this nation. Please accept my thanks and please accept it on behalf of those who gave all.

When the movie "Saving Private Ryan" came out, I was at the theater with a bunch of vets. When the opening scenes were shown, I still remember some of the men in the audience being overcome with emotion, as if they were back on the beach, and they had to leave. For some it was too much. After the movie, I saw one old man, barely able to walk, leaving with tears in his eyes. I asked if he had been there and he told me yes. I just looked him in the eyes and told him I appreciated everything he had done and his sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who did not come back would never be in vain as long as I was able to do something about it. His wife choked up and he just looked at me and didn't say a word and they walked away. I knew he appreciated what I said and I think he got it that I "got it". That's what I remember most about Memorial Day.....

Had a nearly identical experience myself. I was overwhelmed at the raw emotion that flowed out of a man that could only come from someone who'd been there.

I'd like to take a few moments and reflect on the Troops who have died in "Non wars", like the Beirut Bombings, Somalia, The Balkans, and terrorist bombings like the "LeBelle Disco" in Germany and the Navy sailor named Stethem who was murdered by Muslim highjackers.
Also lets remember those killed and injured in non combat missions, training accidents, traffic accidents and "industrial accidents" don't stop when the fighting ends, but as the old saying goes, "They also serve who only stand and wait" and change the aircraft engines and drive the supply trucks etc. etc.

Military life is dangerous no matter the job, they are ALL important to the Mission of Protecting America.

+100 on that too, Tom...thanks for putting that in.


My hats off to all service related personnel and their families....past and present....here and gone.

We can never forget.

[D-Man]

As a vet, the opening 1/2 hour of Saving Private Ryan in the theater gave me flashbacks.  My dad has always said that every high school student should be required to watch that movie so they understand the sacrifice paid by our military.  It is always hard to watch that movie. 

Memorial day is always tough remembering buddies who gave their lives for the rest of us to be free.  Especially when they demeaned by others they fought to protect.  As a vet and former Marine, all vets living and dead have my utmost respect.

Semper Fidelis!

[Teresa Heilevang]

I got this from a Marine friend of mine..
 he writes:

Marines don't have an annual Memorial Day.  They have memorial days more often.  We do not forget those with whom we served and have passed on to heaven's scenes.  Never!!!.
 
http://00f2630.netsolhost.com/farewellmarine.html
 
Semper Fidelis

[Teresa Heilevang]

Watching this reminds me of a time gone by when unselfishness outranked self-centeredness among the general population.

I hope you enjoy these various clips. Perhaps they will elicit your own memories of watching the Bob Hope Specials. Or, perhaps you were in the audience, one of the proud that served. Bless You if you were.