Remembering Memorial Day

Dark Knight

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For many, Memorial Day brings to mind images of parades and picnics, of barbecues and baseball games. What's sometimes forgotten are the reasons for the holiday: The sacrifices made by American soldiers in times of conflict.


As the United States' death toll passes 1,000 in Afghanistan, Memorial Day takes on an especially poignant meaning this year. Here's a brief look at how the holiday got its start, and how people are searching for ways to honor the brave men and women who have lost their lives.


http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93711/remembering-memorial-day

memorial-day.jpg
 
Memorial Day for me is remembering all those who served in our armed forces.
Especially my own:
My dad, John A. WW2
FIL Keith M, Flying Ace WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Project Waterpump
1st hubby, Terry K Vietnam
Nephew Jason, Chaplin, serving in Kuwait.

God Bless them all!
 
God Bless all veterans living deceased and now serving!
May they always have a Memorial Day to remind people of the sacrifices.
Tell all vets "THANK YOU" for your service!
The men in my family are my heros, they served with pride!
 
The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).

To provide a time of Remembrance for America’s fallen and to make a commitment to give something back to our country in their memory. To have Americans participate in an act of national unity and demonstrate gratitude and respect for those who died for freedom since the founding of our Nation. To provide a sense of history to our citizens and ensure that younger generations understand the sacrifices made to preserve our liberties.

http://www.remember.gov/MomentofRemembrance/tabid/54/Default.aspx

:911: Remembering those killed by terrorist actions and honoring those who died and are dying in war for our freedom.
 
I placed my flags today.
--------------
My Dad ~ PFC.Leslie A.
45th Infantry Div.
Granvilliers France
Oct.1,1944~ KIA

My husband
-------------
CPL.Joseph S.
999th AFA.
Pork Chop Hill
Korea.
Thank God he made it back.
They all fought so hard,
I pray now for the
men in Afghanistan and Iraq.........BRING THEM HOME!!
 
A nice website with some beautiful Memorial Day poems, including the one below by Kelly Strong.

http://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/memorial-day-poems/index.html

Freedom Isn't Free

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
 
For many, Memorial Day brings to mind images of parades and picnics, of barbecues and baseball games. What's sometimes forgotten are the reasons for the holiday: The sacrifices made by American soldiers in times of conflict.


As the United States' death toll passes 1,000 in Afghanistan, Memorial Day takes on an especially poignant meaning this year. Here's a brief look at how the holiday got its start, and how people are searching for ways to honor the brave men and women who have lost their lives.


http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93711/remembering-memorial-day

memorial-day.jpg

As one who grew up without a father then to be abandoned by my mother and raised by a strict grandmother - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for pausing this weekend to point out this is not a "holiday" and for remembering that freedom is truly not free.
It always cuts me when people say, "Happy" Memorial Day -- I respond back, Reflective Memorial Day to you too.
My father is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, so your photo says it all for me.
 
My husband and I watched an HBO movie tonight,"Taking Chance". I urge everyone to watch it or rent it if you don't have HBO. Its very sad and moving,but very fitting for Memorial Day. Its based on a true story about a Marine escorting a fellow Marine's remains home. It made me rmember this is not just a holiday to have a barbeque.
Here's a link for more info.


http://www.hbo.com/movies/taking-chance/index.html
 
Just found out my son will be home on leave from Iraq today...how perfect is that!

armyson.jpg
 
As one who grew up without a father then to be abandoned by my mother and raised by a strict grandmother - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for pausing this weekend to point out this is not a "holiday" and for remembering that freedom is truly not free.
It always cuts me when people say, "Happy" Memorial Day -- I respond back, Reflective Memorial Day to you too.
My father is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, so your photo says it all for me.

(((News Junkie))) A Reflective Memory for you and your Father....:hug:

[video=youtube;wOih0MHNmZU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOih0MHNmZU[/video]
 
My husband and I watched an HBO movie tonight,"Taking Chance". I urge everyone to watch it or rent it if you don't have HBO. Its very sad and moving,but very fitting for Memorial Day. Its based on a true story about a Marine escorting a fellow Marine's remains home. It made me rmember this is not just a holiday to have a barbeque.
Here's a link for more info.


http://www.hbo.com/movies/taking-chance/index.html

I have to avoid movies as it stirs up so much emotion, but I will watch for this anyway as I know that healing is in the pain. Last time I tried to watch a movie on VN was a small film called In Country - thought I was going to make it through till the end, when they zoomed in the camera on the wall and there was my father's name - and his co-pilot - center screen. I think I cried for days.
 
I salute all military past and present on this Memorial Day!

My Father's Collection on The Veteran's History Project/The Library of Congress

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/50656

Dolly - this is a wonder tribute to your father! I was recently contacted by a gentleman who served with my father and he is coming to visit me this summer - said he has some things to tell me about my dad that are best done in person. I am hoping he will be able to explain some things to me that I have not figured out yet - but after that visit, I am going to see if I can get my father listed on here. Thank you for sharing this!

THANK YOU sooooooooo much for the beautiful video tribute to my father this morning. It brought tears of pride to my eyes but with love, not sorrow. I am sure you get what I mean. Thank you. I am honored.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hkGzqpGx1KU

for all the men and women soldiers that never got this opportunity.

Major tissue alert needed on this one!

Confession - as a small child, I used to daydream that there was a mistake and I would be just like the little girl at the beginning of the clip. I still go to that daydream when I see this type of clip but it also brings me unspeakable joy that it is not a daydream for these children.
 
Today I am remembering my Grandfather who served in WWII, and his friends he spoke of later in life after enough time had passed for him to do so. The friends of his that did not come back home.

Today I am remembering my own Father, and his cousins and family of friends that did not come back home with him.

Today I am remembering the friends that my Husband and I have had that did not come back home from Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am thinking of their families today, their wives and children that they left behind.

Today I am also thinking of my own Husband who will again be going in the fall to serve his country.

And today I am now thinking of our oldest son, who will be following my Husband to the middle east but to another country there in the fall.

God bless all Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marine, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves who defend our country and serve the citizens of the United States with Honor and pride.

(A hug to every military family member reading too).
 

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