Remembrance, gratitude, fortitude
The Blue Angels’ missing man formation:
Honoring the fallen at Blackfive.
Memorial Day in Iraq from milblogger JD Johannes:
Words and men I’ll never forget:
“Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark.” - Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr.
“He knew what he was fighting for.” - father of Lt. Michael P. Murphy.
“He felt that what we were doing was just and right.” - Charles Cummings, father of fallen hero Army PFC Branden Cummings, who died in an IED attack in Diyala, Iraq.
“I genuinely believe the United States Army is a force of good in this world.” - 2LT Mark Daily.
Give thanks to all who have given their lives in service to our great nation.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Locomotive Breath 1901
- Memorial Day « Because No One Asked
- Amber » Blog Archive » Memorial Day, 2008
- Why We Remember « The Reluctant Optimist
- Memorial Day 2008 | The Sundries Shack
- Jules Crittenden » Memorial Day
- Macsmind
- Memorial Day « Axis of Right
- Memorial Day 2008 « Kevin’s Korner
- Solomonia
- Memorial Day: « Riggword Weblog
- Memorial Day–Silence remains appropriate « THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS
- The World According To Carl
- The DaleyGator » Blog Archive » The bloggers remember the heroes!
- Michelle Malkin » BDS alert: NYT and Huffpo get totally unhinged
Thank you Vets!
I used Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr’s words in my VA briefings.
“Where do we get men like these?”
From noble families who truly understand the cost of freedom.
God bless the soldiers and vets who protected us from the darkness. God bless america.
Thank you vets and families of our fallen heroes!
It is times like these I wish I had signed up in the Army so I could have flown those awesome A-10’s (the most beautiful ugly plane in the sky!).
To all who have served, to all who have fallen, Thank you for your service.
Sgt E5 (1961 - 1967)
My deepest respect and gratitude to those who have given the greatest sacrifice and to those who are serving to protect the United States and what she stands for. Words can not describe my appreciation.
A very special mention for my Grandfathers, Ralph Garrett and Steve Kendzura. WW II vets and two of the greatest Americans I have ever known.
May God rest thier souls.
God bless America and all of our Troops….wherever you may be.
May God the Almighty continue to Bless and Strengthen all those who serve.
A heart felt Thank You to all our veterans and their families. In the words of Gen. James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle, “May God Bless you all.”
It’s hard to imagine an America if it weren’t for the Bravery of our fallen heroes. Thank you Vets!
Thank you Michelle, for the tears of gratitude in my eyes this morning.
Too few people know who Memorial Day is to honor.
Our small neighborhood is having a block party today. As I made the flyer to anounce it I added, “Try to bring something related to Memorial Day so the kids know what it means. If not, bring a flag.”
Everyone should read the account of the account of the first unknown soldier from WWI on eyewitnesstohistory.com. It is a part of history we should all know about.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/unknown.htm
Also big thanks to my grandpas miguel ruiz and lloyd essex for serving i miss you both.
In 1961 my father was singing barbershop harmony in Fullerton, California. He and two other dads decided to put four sons together as a quartet, which resulted several months later in our debut on the stage at Fullerton High School Auditorium. My yonger brother, Tom, who was age nine at the time sang the high tenor part, Jimmy McCawley sang lead tenor, Randy Rhea sang the baritone part and I was the bass.
It was a great time.
Eight years later Randy Rhea was a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. I was just finishing my first college degree.
Randy was killed in combat in Viet Nam at age nineteen.
Tom and I re-united with Randy’s parents, Milt and Ruby Rhea a couple of months ago at a barbershoppers’ convention. Milt is a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. I read the book he wrote about his combat experiences in the Pacific Theatre.
Tom and I had a photo that was taken of our quartet in 1961 blown up, mounted and framed - and we gave it to Ruby and Milt one evening at dinner. Milt wept. I had to choke back tears, myself.
I thought it appropriate to remember Randy here and share this story with all of you.
Happy Memorial Day, and thanks, Randy, for what you did for all of us.
“If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained _ we must fight!” Patrick Henry
:salute:
I would like to pay tribute to a group of largely unknown men who died for their country. A group who labored in anonymity during the Cold War who were lost in accidents or shot down by a Communist country. Those who dared to fly and work on the planes involved in intelligence gathering. I’m sure that in the late 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s there were families that received notice that a family member had died in “a training accident and the body was not recovered” during this time because the govt could not reveal the true nature of their death. I salute them.
P.S. to On-my-soap-box - the A-10 belongs to the Air Force.
Our community will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 1000 hrs at the local cemetery like they do every year and on Veteran’s Day. A formation will be manned by the Airmen from Mountain Home AFB with members of the American Legion and veterans in attendance. We have a lot of veterans in this town and we always honor our active troops each and every day.
One Saturday each September we celebrate their service by holding Air Force Appreciation Day with the largest parade in the state of Idaho. Last year we had over 290 entrants from the base, local community, and other groups coming from miles away to participate. This is followed by a free barbeque for everyone that cares to partake.
We can never do enough to thank this generation of heroes that answered the call to duty in an all volunteer military because they knew it was the right think to do. As has been posted many times “All gave some, some gave all.” I am just glad I still have the honor to work with them each and every duty day. Salute!
Senior Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, Retired (1975-2000)
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the armed Forces for fighting for my freedom to be able to come on here and thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those of you who are stationed over seas, just know that the people back home haven’t forgotten you; to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, a hearty thank you, and may The Good Lord wrap his arms around you.
TO A CELEBRATED HERO FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN
(i)
I see you, a fresh-faced boy
crowding into a tiny skiff at the dead of night,
juggling heavy kit and rifle to the jeers of mates:
“Off me lap, Jack – you ain’t me girlfriend!”
Did you know then the gratitude of a nation
was what hung in the air, lacing the stench
of sweat-soaked innocence with ideals
of foolhardy bravado and just cause?
That MY future comfort and ease
would be bought at the price of the fear
falling in curtains down your pack-bruised back,
the blood of comrades clotting beneath your
soul-scraping fingernails and tears of despair
washing your boots free of ignominy and madness?
(ii)
Sir, you do not know me, distanced in time and place
from the scenes of your victory and valour,
but I know you; I know you in the heart of your son
whose life is testimony to the hopes and visions
your brothers died to nurture and preserve.
His actions in a world still ill-at-ease with goodness
render your triumph complete; in him
is your standard a banner raised high
and those whom it shelters bask in your heritage.
(iii)
Your medals may gleam with a righteous pride;
your belt may still be buckled with nobility and courage.
But give me your boots, muddied and torn
for they have carried the burden of toil
and brought home the glory of a nation.
Leading Seaman John Turner, I am forever in your debt.
With untold thankfulness, I salute you.
Kate Burnside
May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather.
I fear no foreign army or country, because my fallen comrades have kept evil ones at bay.
Thank you all veterans, before me and after, who know that freedom will never be free, and are willing to pay the price.
Indeed!
SGT E-5 67-70 Military Intelligence
Well as a vet myself (Viet Nam 1966-67 and February - May 68) may I ask YOU for a favor? Fly the Flag. Way too many of our people have gotten into a bad habit of forgetting or just not doing it. Stop that.
Put it by the door tonight and you will remember in the morning. Don’t have one? Go buy one right after church this morning. Too busy, don’t want to offend neighbors? Too hot or cold or something? Tell it to the Infantry to borrow a phrase.
Come on good people, fly that flag Monday, please. We have Doggies, Marines, Airmen and sailors all over the world doing heroic duty. You have time to Fly that Flag.
God Bless you all, I know you will do the right thing.
This Memorial Day weekend holds a greater meaning for us here in New Mexico and surrounding areas.
Yesterday we remembered a great patriot who passed away May 20, 2008. His name was Jim “Norton” Rolfe and he was the state captain for the Patriot Guard Riders. He was a man who honored the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services on a daily basis, as should we all. He will be greatly missed who knew him and knew of him.
God bless our veterans, troops, and their families.
On Memorial Day, and everyday, we should remember those who have given their lives so that we may live free in this country.
Additionally, we must do all we can to support those veterans who have served and returned back home.
Thank you to all those in the armed forces who have served or continue to serve our country for the freedoms we have today.
“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”
~Dwight D. Eisenhower
God bless our troops, both past and present. May those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, rest safely in Gods’ loving arms.
And may those of us who are alive to make a choice this November, choose a POTUS who doesn’t throw their sacrifices under the bus.
I wish to echo Arizonaneanderthal to all of you. Fly the flag and fly it proudly! I enlisted in 1978 and am still serving. Show the world that America honors its service men and women.
My prayers go to SFC BD’s family. We lost him in 2006 in Afghanistan and he is with God.
Irish Rose,
Amen.
Thank you past, present, and future military serving our country. A thank you for the families of the military.
When we go to the VFW today and tomorrow, I thank and hug the older retired, some seem not to know how to reply and will have a tear someone will thank them. We will see each has an adult beverage to thank them from my husband, retired Navy, and myself. Our flag flies 24/7 with a light on it at night. God bless our wonderful Republic.
L
Does anyone want to place their bets on whether or not Google will a a special “Memorial Day” google graphic?
“I genuinely believe the United States Army is a force of good in this world.” - 2LT Mark Daily.
So do I. I believe that of all our military. Too bad a majority of the Democrats don’t.
God bless and keep our military and their families. We wouldn’t have our freedoms without them. Our family is truly grateful.
I want to
secondthird (Expat beat me to it) Irish Rose’s thoughtful post. God bless our troops, their families, and our nation during this politically pivotal time in her history.Oops! I forgot to say enjoy your barbecues everyone, and cherish the day by actively spending it with your families.
CPL Garcia: 1985-2006
KIA 27 May 2006, Baghdad
Never Forgotten
Many thanks to all soldiers past and present. You have made our country strong and free!
I wish to express my personal gratitude to the men and women, past and present, who have sacrificed so much in the protection and persevation of America’s ideals.
May they never be misused……
To all Vets serving over seas to protect us from Islamofacism, this old Teamster thanks you for your courage and dedication. Have a great weekend all……
If you want to do some real good,try checking with the assisted living facilities in your area. Good chance their is a Vet who has no family left or worse has been put there & forgotten. Visit with them, even volunteer to take them to a VFW meeting. I met our “Grandfather” 16 years ago when we moved to a new neighborhood. WWII Vet, his wife died & he went to a assisted living faility, continue to involve him in every holiday & take him & another old vet to VFW meetings. They love getting out & seeing their old buddies.
“In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
in Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”
I hung our flag on our porch this morning and thought of our dad not far away in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Thanks Dad. We will never forget you. Thanks to all the men and women that are buried at that hallowed site. Thanks to all who serve today. God Bless you and protect you.
I will never forget and I will never let anyone forget about Obama’s “buddy” Ayers wiping his feet on the American Flag with that stupid grin on his face. I will never do anything that could help in any way Barak Obama become the Commander in Chief of the United States Military. He will never be good enough.
God bless the soul of my uncle Dennis Walker who gave his life for his country in World War II and to my dear departed father who served in World War II and relatives who served in Vietnam and Iraq. God bless my dear husband who is active duty Air Force and all the brave men and women who willingly serve in peacetime and war because of their love of this country and their belief that we live free, or die.
Yahoo has one with a Purple Heart. Kinda surprised me.
Said Lincoln at Gettyburg, “… That from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
God bless the vets and God bless our great country! Thank you for your service vets!
A salute to all of those who have died in service for our country, military and non-military.
A special salute to all of my buddies who did not make it back from Vietnam. I’ll be at “The Wall” tomorrow.
Thank you.
Iwo Jima Memorial: My father, a WW2 vet drove the family by it on our way to Va. twice a year. He’d slow down in all that traffic just to be sure us kids noticed it - took it ALL in. He didn’t say much about it, it’s grandeur said it all and encouraged us to learn more.
In that and other things back then (like honking and waving at convoys), he sparked our interest and unwavering respect for our military and country. That will be one of the things that I thank him for this coming Father’s Day.
To the vets and those currently serving, where ever you are, Thank You, Thank You.
God Bless our troops.
May we as a nation never forget the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, as well as their families.
God Bless America.
I’d like to offer my warmest, heartfelt thank you to those who have given their all and to those that will, in their efforts to keep the greatest country in the history of mankind SAFE and FREE.
THANK YOU, ONE and ALL!
So much here to think about … so much here to respond to.
To all my brothers and sisters in the service I humbly thank you.
For those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, rest well for a man can die but once. Rest well knowing that those cowards who hide behind your sacrifice will die a thousand deaths.
The A-10? Sweeeeeeeet!
And Tennessee Dave?
Know this
E-5, 1983-1985 … (I went in a slick sleeve) Based in Panama, served in Ecuador, Columbia and Peru under Reagan. I was wounded in a training accident as were many of my brothers, some wounded, some paying the ultimate price. To think we did it for Noriega bothers me. To know we did it for our nation makes me willing to do it all again.
May God show his mercy to all those who have served knowing that they were at any moment, ready to lay down their lives for their brothers.
To those who hide, cowardly behind the freedom that was bought and paid for by these men (And women) … rest well now because you will be held to account when you answer to the almighty and these brothers and sisters who have sacrificed so much to pay for your freedom will be there for you to answer to.
Not only in memory should we celebrate however … if we let these socialists take over our nation, our brothers and sisters have died in vain and I refuse to accept that no matter the cost.
Sorry about the rant, a bottle of burgundy and some memories thrown in here … there is a cause to remember however.
“O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!”
I would like to salute my Father who is a MSgt in the US Air force and still serving after 34 year and my baby Brother who is a disabled US Marine. Also my Grandfathers who served in WWII and the Korean War…
God bless our troops — I’m so proud of them…how grateful I am to be free, to speak freely, and live freely…with all my heart I want to thank to our men and women in uniform.
God Bless our brave men and women in uniform!
Always in our hearts and prayers!
You are doing an amazing job!
You are indeed The USA’s finest!
A heart felt THANK YOU!
Hmmm.. why is it that we never see the Lefty trolls utter any gratitude for our soldiers on threads like these?
God bless our troops and their families and God bless America. God bless those who have fought and fallen in years before.
My thoughts and prayers for our fallen heroes and their families during this weekend of remembrance. They sacrificed the highest possible gift to our country so we may live free.
Also, my thoughts and prayers to those wounded and recovering, as they have the hard journey toward recovery. We can never express our appreciation for their sacrifice for our cause of freedom to keep our nation safe.
I love you all and your families and always will. Please never forget that ordinary Americans without service people in our immediate families always are thinking about the troups, the mission and what they sacrifice for us. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I came here especially today to thank all our troops for their bravery, their willingness to step into the middle of danger and for their love of our magnificent country.
Thank you. You hold the fort over there, and we’ll watch your backs over here. The majority of Americans appreciate you. Ignore the few fools who don’t.
Patriotism is alive and well in Oklahoma! We spend Saturday at Tinker AFB at the airshow and it was amazing! It was the first time my children were actually around military and on an air force base.
It was such a great experience for them. We talked about how great the US military is and what they do to protect us. The kids loved being able to see all the planes and the men in uniform.
When the airshow began, the parachuters jumped and one of the jumpers came right down in front of where we were sitting and talked to us and other kids around us while putting his chute back in its pack. He even let the kids help him and take pictures with him.
How awesome it was to see kids clamoring for autographs of our servicemen and women - the true heroes.
There were so many people at this event - showing their pride in their country.
The cutest thing was watching my 3 yr son take off his ball cap and put his hand on his heard during the national anthem!
We just got back from Arlington and I took the kids to visit with some of those who are no longer here. My son will be 4 on Tuesday and my daughter as you know will probably never understand but she understood enough to stop her tantrum while we went to the 7 graves to leave flowers and little bottles of their favorite drink. Heard from hubby this morning and he asked that I go in today as he obviously couldn’t do it. I really didn’t want to fight the traffic, etc but I am so glad I did.
I also pray Irish Rose that a certain POTUS nominee doesn’t make it, although I don’t take a lot of comfort in the lesser of the two evils but I do know he has at least one of his sons there now and he won’t through them under the bus.
#53, I usually mention that as well. They Keyboard Warrior Brigade is always missing in action on these type of threads. They don’t support the troops.
#53 atheling…….Thats because all cowards quake in the face of true heroes.
I would like to thank my uncle, at Pearl Harbor on the Utah on 12/7 (thankfully he survied), any thousands didn’t, his brother who was beheaded by the Japanees, my dad in the Pacific in WWII, my uncles, cousins, brothers, and my husband in Viet Nam for their service. Every person here has numerous hero’s in their family, and to each and every one, my heart felt thank you. We each need to search our hearts on our votes in Nov. This wonderful country has gone through horrible times in the past and seems to be now, but we American’s have always done the ‘right’ thing for us all. Tomorrow, we honor each and every person that keeps us free, I honor them daily and ask God to keep them in His arms.
L
May this Memorial Day Weekend remind us all of the sacrifices of our fellow citizens who have served and are currently serving in our military to defend this great country and to protect the freedoms too many today take for granted.
Thanks to all, especially for those who gave their lives defending our way of life.
DesertLover
SSGT, USMC, 1964-1974
ArizonaNeandrethal, thanks for the reiminder about the flag. I will make sure it is out tomorrow.
I want all veterans who read this to know how much those of us who never served greatly appreciate those of you who did. Thank you.
God bless America, Veterans, all Military personnel and those who have died to protect our freedom and in the service of this great country. May we never allow their sacrifice to have been in vain.
God Bless this Marine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080525/ap_on_re_us/memorial_day__miracle__marine
So, according to your fellow member atheling, I have been labeled a ‘coward’ because I refuse to post something about American Troops in this seciton of the website.
Now, being of alternate political alliance than the bulk of people here, I am obviously in the minority - a standpoint which I am not entirely unfamiliar with.
My point to the faceless detractor was this: that simply posting that you ’support the troops’ or typing out the phrase “God Bless America” is not tantamount to supporting or blessing anything. It simply means that you can type a comment.
This is something that far too many in the conservative movement have fallen victim to - the false notion that being part of the bumper-sticker culture of Americans that continally espouse patriotism without even considering what other ‘real’ patriots have done means that you are a patriot too.
Now, do I honestly expect my words to hold sway within any of you long enough for you to understand them? No, but I’m quite certain that there are a handful of you that at least have the intellectual honesty to know that it takes more than just a comment to define a person, more than just the off-hand claim of ‘patriotism’ to show who a person truly is.
So, there you have it. Though my judgement has told me to act otherwise, I have actually given-in to the ego-inflated whim of a peson that I will never meet, will never speak with, will never hear from again, just to prove my point that a person whom is foolishly labeled a ‘liberal’ will make an honest comment in this thread.
You know, folks, I posted a comment here about the absence of the lefty trolls when it comes to expressing gratitude to our troops.
In the Rachael Ray scarf thread, a leftard has left his droppings, sneering that conservatives are phony patriots, etc… Funny, though, when I asked him to come to this thread and say it to everyone’s face, he disappeared after making another snide insult.
and…
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/23/of-donuts-and-dumb-celebrities/#comments
Those leftards sure are courageous.
Oh there you are…
I did you the service of cutting and pasting your turd droppings, since you failed to repeat them.
Oh, btw, it’s spelled “p-e-r-s-o-n”, not peson.
Whew, correcting libtards is a full time job.
well, thank you - saves me the trouble of having to repeat myself.
Though those comments were directed at you in reference to people here like you, my reply in this thread - though with less colorful language - hold the same meaning.
predictable reply #274 - look for any minor mistake in a person’s post in the hope that it will make you look intellectually superior.
Uh, no they don’t. You toned down your rhetoric quite a bit. I just wanted to ensure that they got the full picture, since I was sure you would attempt to do this.
well, your attempt at this silly game of ‘gotcha’ isn’t working. I freely admit those are my words and stand by them 100%.
You can attempt to spin this any way you like and I’m sure that there will be the eager commentor that will take the bait, but that doesn’t remove the fact that I called you on your bluff - I stated my honest opinion. I don’t really see what your point is anymore - if in fact you had one.
May God bless our troops in harms way today, all living veterans, and the families of those brave men and women who gave their lives for our country.
Well aironlater taking your “bait” after reading your comments. Let me take a stab at this. You support the troops because you don’t support them or don’t support what they do, you’re the true patriot just like B. Hussein Obama. Those of us who have and who are married to, or have children who do, etc. are really just yellow magnet patriots. Is that what you really wanted to say? You are the true patriot because you fight against the military industrial complex. Do I have that correct?
You liberal toads talk about the conservatives who serve and support the military as we’re creatures of the black lagoon. Liberals seem to have a complex about those who do raise their right hands, not sure why that is. You like the freedoms this country affords but leave to the “trash” in most liberals view to actually do the heavy lifting.
You define yourself as a patriot, I don’t but that’s okay. That’s what makes the world go round.
Happy Memorial Day and thank a vet instead of insulting one tomorrow.
Alright, let’s address this one piece at a time.
Naturally, you have every right to question my patriotism because it is your right to do so.
Now, that being said, you rant in a sort of circular-illogic that is in keeping with your preconcieved notions of what a ‘liberal’ is and who I may or may not be. It’s easy to do, so I can understand if it’s part of your reflexive nature.
As to your use envoking of Barack Obama ( though using the popular neo-con fear-version of his name ) in context with my patriotism - or lack thereof - you reveal yourself to be a person that is more akin to repeating talking-points that are spoon-fed to you rather than actually exercising the slightest bit of brainpower.
As you stammered on about ‘yellow-magnets’ and the ‘military industrial complex’, it became clearer to me that you can’t seem to grasp the words of mine that are easily typed out for you - and anyone - to read. Feel free to re-read them if you like.
But, since you seem to miss a clear point, I’ll attempt to make it clearer for you.
I never insulted a vet with my words here. Never had cause to and never will. What I did say and did mean is that far too many people use the word ‘patriotism’ without really understanding what it means. They think their words are given more validity when they invoke the American military, when they cry “I support the troops”. Far too many people use the military as their own personal shield, their own metaphorical stick with which to beat anyone that ma have a difference of opinion from them.
To my Army and Navy boys, Thanks! To all that have served, my sincere Thanks! To all the family’s that paid the full price, THANK YOU! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
Let’s try this again. This young Marine deserves a lot more than the diatribe that appeared following my previous posting (# 66) of this link.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080525/ap_on_re_us/memorial_day__miracle__marine
He is not alone. Let our prayers go with him and remember his valiant effort to survive. Our trials and tribulations are so insignificant compared to what this young Marine went through because he loved his country. Semper Fi. THIS is what Memorial Day is all about. Remembering those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom and those who continue to fight for it.
Thank you to all who have served this great country and I want to thank their families also.
To all the ones who did not come home
I think of you everyday and pray for your families.
You maybe gone but you will never be forgotten. We will all be together soon in the land of milk and honey where there is no saddness or tears.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Remembering.
Happy Memorial Day!!!
God Bless our soldiers and God Bless America!
From the bottom of my heart, I thank the hostess and her wonderful readership / registered commenters for their prayers and well-wishes of all of us currently deployed in support of OEF and OIF. MM, you have kept our accomplishments as well as our mis-steps in the public eye in a true example of journalistic professionalism. For all other veterans, I pray for you and your families to know peace. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for all Americans and our way of life. God bless America!
What will Google do?
Each Memorial Day I think of the millions of souls who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving those words undeniable significance. As Veterans we don’t think of ourselves as special, but it takes a special person to volunteer to go into harms way so that others may go on about their daily lives without fear of oppression.
Americans in particular, take a lot for granted. Compared to many other countries, we are very fortunate to have prosperity, guaranteed freedom of speech, worship, education, and choice of employment. Grocery stores are plentiful. The average household has at least 3 television sets. The standard of living in this country rates in the world’s top 15%. Outstanding emergency medical care is available regardless of economic status. Even the lowest per capita income in the United States is enough to support entire villages in Africa.
Our position as the world’s leading superpower has been earned through hard work, determination, guts, and ingenuity. It’s maintained and preserved by those sworn to protect and defend it.
Their contributions were and are immeasurable. From Valley Forge to the war against Islamofascist terrorism, Americans can sleep well knowing that their Soldiers are at the frontlines.
My Grandfather fought in World War II. I enlisted in the United States Army the year he officially retired—1976. It was a symbolic changing of the guard and I was proud to follow in the footsteps of his combat boots. I have had the privilege of knowing some of the finest people ever to wear the uniform, and I will never forget them.
While you’re enjoying your bar-b-que and beer, take a moment to remember those who sacrificed so that you can enjoy this day in peace.
Say what you want aironlater, and call me whatever you want. You are what you are. Have a nice day and take a moment to be quiet at 3 p.m. today for the National Moment of Silence. Hope you fly your flag today or at least put a little one in a window if you live in an apartment.
Hadsil, just checked google, yahoo & at & t, nothing, absoultely nothing about Memorial Day. Sad isn’t it?
aironlater,
This comment of yours sticks out in particular:
I was in the U.S. Army for 30 years total. I’ve been the recipient of your type of ‘difference of opinion’, and I will use my service as a cluebat to beat sense into a liberal any day of the week. I’m also an Iraq War veteran, and I’ve had enough of you liberal’s version of ‘patriotism’.
A sample of the daily parade of Democratic Party wackjobs and their churlish cohorts who pop up like jack-in-the-boxes in front of the nearest T.V. camera: Charles Rangel: “George Bush is our Bull Connor” , Cynthia McKinney: “The entire ‘Saving Private Lynch in Iraq’ episode was staged by the US military”, Patty Murray: “bin Laden builds day-care facilities…we haven’t done that”, Nancy Pelosi: “Bush guilty of Katrina cover-up”, Sheila Jackson-Lee: “Names like Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Sam and Hurricane Wanda are just too white and, all racial groups should be represented.”, Al Sharpton: “Fidel Castro is a great leader.”, and Louis Farrakhan: “The New Orleans levees were blown up by the government”.
Dick Durbin, Harry Reid and Howard Dean don’t often pass up the chance to enlighten us with their perspectives, either. They’re frustrated; reduced to hurling playground taunts from the sidelines when the adults are in charge of running the country.
If this fine collection of politicians is indicative of the “leadership” embraced by the Democratic Party, they can expect continued disgust from veterans.
The egotistical incompetents of the left would never dare to praise the U.S. or show gratitude for what they’ve got when bizarre, obscene, unappreciative behavior will do.
The left’s “love” for this country orbits around the guaranteed right to spew all the things they hate. Here’s just some of what they hate: The country, (“It’s not worth fighting for”) American history, democracy, President Bush, SUVs, President Bush, people who question their opinions, and oh, did I forget to mention President Bush?
Then there’s the special hate category they’ve reserved for the military; denigrating the sacrifices of those sworn to protect them and reap the benefits without having to put their own lives on the line. The convenience of it all is mind-boggling. Newsflash: Marching with anti-American/pro-Islamofascist signs and screaming the usual recitations in a free country doesn’t take a lot of guts.
For all of the bluster, they would never, for one minute, live under the system they advocate. Their identity is mired in the anti-American neurosis part and parcel to the lunatic fringe. If their intention is to reflect their “patriotism”, the method could use some work.
Nah, you don’t insult veterans, you just jump on every anti-war/anti-miltary bandwagon that passes by.
Aren’t you late for a protest?
I’m no fan of Yahoo but they’ve prominently displayed the Purple Heart in their banner for three days now.
I’m going to let someone better than I say it:
Amen
I find it quite saddening that you claim to know - beyond any shadow of doubt - that I support, defend, and even encourage the activities of people like Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Cynthia McKinney, or any of the common cast characters that you and many others believe represent the whole of the Democratic party.
Your claim that anyone that holds any level of liberal philosophy and loves their country is only a form of ‘hate’ is rather strange.
You draw this bizarre equation out that if I - or anyone outside your realm of socio-political understanding - sees George W. Bush as a poor leader that THAT must mean that they hate their country.
In my opinion and experience, it is the conservative movement that is grounded more in the arena of ‘against’ than any other. I see and hear statements from people within the conservative movement against people coming into the country from another country out of ‘fear’ of what they may or may not do. I see statements about being against public schools, against religions that they refuse to understand, against people of different creed, or color, or educational and social background. This is the party of the alleged ‘values voter’.
I will never begin to comprehend or understand why it is that so many in the conservative movement can’t seem to understand the difference between disliking a policy, an administration, or a peron and actually ‘hating’ a country.
What system to you think that I advocate? I would really like to know, becasue you seem to feel that you know me well enough to malign me with people within the Democratic party - and several fringe characters - that are nothing more than straw-men for you to punch, scream at, and burn in order to make yourself and your party seem superior.
Google is a disgrace, they could very easily do something similar to what Yahoo does, but they choose not to.
God bless our troops.
sfcmac Well said and thanks for your service.
Just wanted to advise you of the new disease that’s come around though. It’s called Hearing AIDS and you get it from listening to a$$holes like aironlater.
Yeah, just like the jihadists don’t represent Islam? Read the Koran sometime. Aside from that, your party was hijacked by leftwingnut moonbats and not a peep out of you liberals. Tacit disapproval does not count.
Liberals have a hellofa way of showing their “love”. It consists of nothing but visceral animosity. I’ve encountered nothing but abject hatred from liberals who supposedly love this country. Try supporting the war we’re fighting against the Islamofascist elements who would like to turn the planet into a Caliphate, instead of criticizing, or worse, being a mouthpiece for Al Qaeda. Iraq and Afghanistan are just two batlefields in this war.
MY realm of understanding? I understand more than you ever will sweetpea. I know all abaout socio-political concepts, especially having been an intelligence analyst, war veteran, and world-traveled Soldier. You want a definiton of a poor leader?
Bubba Clinton. There were FIVE attacks on his watch and he was too busy getting Chinese cash and Monika’s mouth-to-crotch recuscitation to respond. Want me to name them? Khobar Towers, the American Embassy attacks in Tanzania and Kenya, the USS Cole, and the FIRST World Trade Center attack in 1993. What did he do? Not. A. Damned. Thing. Oh, wait a minute: he wagged the dog in Mogadishu and Bosnia. By the way, there were Army SF personnel who had Bin Laden in the crosshairs, and Slick Willie said “No”.
Bush, although way too restrained, in my opinion, has at least picked up the gauntlet and gone after the bastards. That’s what leaders do.
I would have leveled several countries in the Middle East on 12 September 2001, but I’m a former Soldier, not a politician.
You’ve got to be kidding. That’s the ‘culture war’ bill of goods you sold to the poor and working class because it got good reveiews. I come from a working class background, and I’m as hyphenated, ethnically, as you can get.
Don’t try to put that hackneyed crap about zenophobia over on me. I’ve seen the results of our lax illegal immigration practices, and there’s alot to be concerned about. I’ll tell you what I’m afraid of: 25 million ILLEGAL aliens who commit even MORE felonies once they cross the border. Our welfare, health care system, and economy being eviscerated at taxpayer’s expense.
Rapists, pedophiles, murderers, and and assortment of other felons traipse across the border everyday, not to mention terrorists from the ME who use false passports. The law (Title 8 of the U.S. Code) is finally being enforced. Better late than never.
I’ve also seen your ideas of ‘diversity’ taken to obscene levels in the public schools and colleges. Academic intelligentsia is chock full of left-over aging communists and neo-Islamofascists hell bent on using the educational system to push their agenda.
READ:
http://sfcmac.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/creeping-islamofascism-in-american-education/
http://sfcmac.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/dhimmified-meditation-room-at-minnesota-campus/
Democrats love pointing out how much the world “hates us” for our foreign policy, and have neve hesitated to put their two cents in.
Which system would the likes of you advocate? Oh, lesseee..socialism or a government that vacillates in the face of Islamic theocracy, at the very least. Look who you offered up as candidates. Barak Hussein Obama so far, as accumulated Louis Farrakhan, Daniel Ortega, Jeremiah Wright, Hamas, and William Ayers among his admirers. He’s a human bug light for despots, terrorists, and hate spewers. His radical socialist ideas should really appeal to the dems desperate for “a change they can believe in”.
The Hildabeast is no better. She’s a slimeball who’s still taking illicit donations from criminals. She was part of Bubba’s eight years of manipulating, lying, corruption, and felonious acts during his regime. She once stated:
Didn’t Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx have the same idea?
Nothing pleases you lefties. You don’t like the way the war is being fought, but you offer no military plan of your own, let alone which (pick one) terrorist states you think we should attack. Come to think of it, you don’t want us in Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else in the ME. Hell, most of you wienies blamed America for 9/11 to begin with. Al-Zawahiri loves you.
You mouth “we care about the poor” platitudes, and all you’ve done is perpetuate their poverty through welfare traps, and feed off of the victimization you helped invent.
Straw men, indeed.
zenophobia=xenophobia
With all my heart, thank you.
Good aironlater you state a defense that many of us have heard before and thus have come to reject. We reject the arugument as in “thou protest too much” to steal a phrase.
Said and said again and still we do not believe you good aironlater. Many of us on the Right disagree with President Bush on many issues, perhaps most issues. But we do not advocate that our military people are Nazis or thugs as do MOST Democratic members of the US Senate and House. We good aironlater do not advocate more State control while bewailing government intrusion. That is mostly a leftist, socialist push.
But the biggest issue is there IS NO middle ground between Left and Right, there IS NO isle honest folk can reach across. We really DO NO have common problems that can be solved with common solutions. But the Left will resort to emotional, indignant arguments to insist that Yes We Can Work Together!
Sorry but you are wrong. And those of us who would consider ourselves conservatives and patriots best be very careful of the MiddleWay argument of the Left. It always means we lose. Compromising on Core Principals is damn near pimping. Let us be care to not let the Left lull us into bad solutions.
I know you will never agree with me aironlater, but then I will never agree with you. See how that works? Call me dirty names if you must, but why ANYONE over 14 would care about that does escape me.
Enjoy the holiday good people, I hope many of you rememberd to put out the flag. And yes, that DOES make me a better patriot. I reject ALL the Left’s emotional arguments.
Soap the A-10 is in the Air Force arsenal, Army aircraft are normally choppers, apache, blackhawk etc…
THANK YOU, TO ALL WHOM HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING FREE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY. YOU HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, YOU GAVE YOUR LIVES SELFLESSLY IN THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM, GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Your point is well taken and thank you for pointing out this Marine’s story. I watched some specials on him last night and could not keep a dry eye.
God Bless you Merlin and may He take away your pain and deliver you the bliss and happiness you deserve.
Anyone know a better search engine? How about a different one that is reliable?
Last World War I Veteran Honored at Liberty Memorial Kansas City, Missouri (The only WWI memorial in the country)
Jungleheart, I haven’t seen it on my page but I just checked and saw it. I guess I was thinking something bigger? But it’s good to see it up there, I stand corrected.
thanks!
Today, I think of my dad. He was a WWII vet who never saw combat. He did though see the ravages of combat. Being partially blind, he served as a medical orderly in a hospital unit that followed the advance across northern Europe. Understandably, he never talked about what he witnessed and took it to his grave. I miss him.
May God Bless those who have lost a loved one in the defense of our great country. May God’s Grace give those who have fallen the Peace they deserve.
And thanks to those who are serving now and to their families.
And thanks to our host, Mrs. Malkin, for allowing us to post a comment.
Hey Soap, since you mentioned the A-10, here is an article pubished in the latest issue of the Air & Space mag. It’s pretty interesting.
http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The_Bridge_that_Did_Not_Fall.html
I would like to add that although the A-10 was built for this kind of mission, it has also distiquished itself as a pretty good SAR CAP. It has given the Warthog a new lease on life.
Aironlater, I’m not sure if it your supposed moral or intellectual superiority you think you have, but why would you criticize anyone for posting a thank you or “God Bless America,” when the purpose of this thread was to say thank you. I didn’t think we had to provide a resume of our qualifications to prove we were “qualified” to do more than “type a comment.”
Get over yourself.
But I digress, the purpose of this post was to say thank you. I apologize to all our veterans if I forgot this.
I, for one, am thankful for all American troops, both past and present who have served this country. On March 31st, my father-in-law passed away. He was a Marine in the Pacific Theater during World War II and stationed in Guam. He didn’t like to talk about the experiences he had there. At his funeral a Marine honor guard presented my Mother-in-law with the flag that draped his coffin. It was an extremely moving ceremony. So this Memorial Day is a little more poignant for my wife and myself.
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day. I invite you and your readers to my blog to see my Memorial Day tribute.
Done, and proudly, AN!! Flying the flag is a small gesture of thanks to those who gave their lives that I might live mine in peace. Thanks also to you and other Viet Nam era vets (including my DH) for your service!
Sorry, but this is simply incorrect. Surely you know that human beings are communal by nature, and words and gestures matter in building and/or destroying community. Flying our nation’s flag, invoking God’s blessing on our nation, attending a service for those who gave their lives for you, thanking a service member - all these are acts of national community-building.
Surely you also know that children fundamentally believe that the world began the day they were born. Without adults taking these acts and speaking these words, our children don’t have much chance of learning their nation’s history, or that anything matters outside of their own narrow perspective on life; that their lives, lived in such privilege compared to the rest of the world, are a gift from those who went before them.
You’re right when you say that not participating in Memorial Day doesn’t mean that you aren’t patriotic, but it’s a bit like asking your wife to continue believing that you love her when you steadfastly refuse to ever say the words or take any public or private act that demonstrates it.
May God bless you today, with the blessings bought for our country by those who went before you.
I stand fully with the majority of other commenters here, in thankfulness and in respectful awe at the men and women who died to keep our nation free, the shining city upon the hill.
Nothing I do in the course of my workday is anywhere as important, as thanking a serviceman or woman in uniform for their service to us, to me.
They stand as constant reminder, that freedom isn’t free; in fact, it is the most costly commodity we cherish here in America, since it is constantly paid for with our finest and bravest.
Thank all of you who have served America, for your sacrifices; and know that I stand in awe of you.
I teach our preschool class at our church. Yesterday, our lesson included the meaning of Memorial Day, and tribute to the God Whose grace and strength has made our military the mightiest in the world. The children, ages 3-6, made a wreath of red, white and blue, and went out back to the church cemetery to place it on the grave of Army Sgt. David Operacz. We helped the children to salute as they laid the wreath. May Sgt. Operacz, and all those who gave their lives defending our country Rest in Peace.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
preacher,
who has
given us freedom of religion.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is
the
VETERAN, not the
politician,
who has given us the right to vote.
God Bless our armed forces, and our Vets.
My nephew turned 25 yesterday. In Iraq.
I hope he got my care package.
You bring up an excellent point here. Humans are, in fact, communal by their very nature. And our ‘communities’ are built up by the actions and words of others. That being said, when those words and/or actions are are more reflexive, more theatrical in nature than they are grounded in honesty and love, then the structure of the community becomes weak. Not in-so-much as it will fall apart easily, but that it has used, as part of it’s foundation, deception.
I also agree with what you have written here. This also goes back to the point of how community is built on words and actions. It’s not only important for your children, the children of the community, to see and hear these actions but to be told why it is that these are done. It becomes a far easier teaching tool for parents to simply have their children mimic what they do without providing any sort of explaination - the answer to the ‘why’ that you hear children ask so often.
A commentor earlier in the page stated - foolishly I might add - that “liberals” hate American history. I find this statement to be not only ridiculous by its very nature, but it also makes the commentor appear excesively uninformed.
One of the most important pillars of any progressive / liberal movement is knowing your history, how it truly happened, and how it can be built on ( if it made your country better ) and how it can be avoided ( if it did nothing to better your country ). That history also includes Memorial Day and learning about what these men and women have went through ( both on and off the field of battle ). So, to say that any liberal ‘hates’ American history is one of the most unfortunate beliefs of the conservative movement.
Aironlater, your condescending remarks are the epitomy and the hallmark of the liberal movement as well. You mock those us who feel it is important to serve ourselves or who have relatives (spouses, sons, daughters, siblings) and say “we hide behind the military shield”. Well, what did you do for Memorial Day besides have a bbq or a few beers? Did you bother to thank a vet, Lord knows you insulted enough of us here yesterday.
I’m glad you’re so proud of yourself and your liberal views. As I said, many of us here have put on a uniform so you can be as nasty as you want to be to us. Get over yourself. If Obama wins it will be Carter redux. You are probably not old enough to remember that since most liberals are pretty young. It is my hope that you can see past your own self importance and understand that you don’t own partriotism by not showing it.
If you are public school educated the History you are taught is not what was taught 25-50 years ago. It’s your brand of “history” that was sneaking into my curriculum when I was a senior in high school where a teacher said that the US was terrible for dropping bombs on Japan. Boy there was a lot of discussion about that but you probably would agree being a “progressive”. But this incident happened in a private school. I taught for sometime in public school and found it sickening the “history” the kids were being taught. Your “how it ca