Memorial Day

[edjcox]

The tree of Liberty here in our Nation is fed by the Blood of Patriots....

Thanks to those who from the revolution onward have paid the price for the freedoms we enjoy...

My Flag is up out front, the light will stay lit till Tuesday dawns...

We lost another PA troop from Bucks county today.. So young..

I served my time in 1969 - 1973. I made it many freinds did not. I try to see them in my minds eye and reflect on teir innocence and how so many have because of them..

Thank you Veterans..

[UnSalted]

All who are near a VA Hospital should consider a phone call asking about their programs. In theses days of budget cuts, you'd be surprised how much something as simple as a donation of a magazine subscription or some used books means to those without.

[Lt. Cobra]

My dad served in the Korean conflict as a commander and was on the front lines in live combat for 9 months there. He didn’t talk much about it when he was alive because he just felt like that they didn’t really appreciate what we did for them then. My thanks and gratitude goes out to all of the brave men and women who have fought to defend our freedoms some of which never returned home to tell their story. May everyone remember those who gave all that they had. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

[GSpector]

A Seven hand salute to all those that have given their all for this Country.

And a to those that are still with us.

[Bear]

To all the men & women of all nations and history, who did their duty; who had no say so in the politics of their nations (remains true today). To the fighting men & women in uniform who served, died and still serve.

I salute and honor you.

To my friends who did not come back with me from Nam or came back too changed to be able to make it in peace as they did in war. I miss you.

[joea]

Originally Posted by heartc

I know, but times have changed, let me assure you. And not just since W. Bush. And sadly, I have to tell you that most of what your father was probably seeing back then was the phenomenon of there being not a single Nazi anymore after 1945. They all just miracously disappeared from the face of earth, and the Nazi party before just fell down from Mars and got their support by robbots which they brought with them. There were no Nazis to be found in defeated Germany of 1945. A miracle...

But I know old people today who tell "Oh, Hitler wasn't all that bad really" and I know young people who think the Americans stink and freedom is just a lie - and frightingly, for some of the same reasons which Goebbels put up in his propaganda material back in the 40s. "America as a perversion of European culture" anyone? This was original Goebbels and you can read similar **** along those lines in todays newspapers, not just in Germany, but accross Europe (funnily, mostly in those countries which were part of the Axis back then - and Vichy France...). I know why I plan to emigrate to the US. Maybe things will relax, but if the Europeans are going to doom themselves yet another time by their own stupidity, phobias, envy and ignorance, I'm not going to be part of it.

Well I've noticed some of that too.

[GT182]

Major J, I hope to see you in Reading at MAAM for the WWII Weekend show. I'll be working at the French Village Gate all weekend and I want to shake your hand. ~S!~

www.maam.org

[Chief of the Boat]

Just a gentle reminder, for the U.S. readers...'Decoration Day' was 30 May...

Memorial Day formerly occurred on May 30, and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), advocate returning to this fixed date, although the significance of the date is tenuous. The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."[1] Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye, a World War II veteran, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional day since 1998.

[hacksaw412]

Please join Americans everywhere in observance of the National Moment of Remembrance at 3PM local time on Memorial Day. It is a sad to know that so many children in America think of this day only as "the day the swimming pools open".

Pass the word! It's only one minute of your day, spent in quiet remembrance of those brave souls who served, and fought, and died in the service of our nation.

God Bless America, my home sweet home! God Bless all who call her friend!

Rich K

[Weather-guesser]

To all men and woman who have made the ultimate sacrafice for this great country.

[pocatellodave]

To my father and brother whom fought in WWI and WWII,to my buddies who fought with me in Viet Nam,to all service men who served,and espicially to those that gave thier all,and my buddies that didn't come home with me,I salute you all.God Bless the U.S.A.
Pocatellodave
USMC retired

[The Avon Lady]

Semper Fi.

[pj]

You will not be forgotten

[Bear]

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling, which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." – John Stuart Mill


In Memorium:

In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of all submariners who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my God: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./"

Least We Forget.

PS, Disclaimer: The above Memorium was found on a Submarine site listing lost subs and is not intended to be a statement of religion nor endorse any religious beliefs.

[MudMarine]

To All Men and Women Who Serve or have served,
To all those who have taken wounds and finally,
To those that have made the supreme scracrific and are remembered,

I take time today to bow my head and give thanks to my God for you. Your politices or faith is unimportant. What is important is that you have served or in service now to this country of ours, the United States of America.
I give my warmest thanks and I stand to attention and I salute you. Well done.

War is cruel and horrible and in these times certain men stand out, amoungs all others. During WWII, A troop transport, U.S.A.T. Dorchester, was torpedoed 150 miles from Greenland on Feb. 3rd, 1943 at 1 AM, in 20 minutes. Four men on this ill fated transport stood out as shining lights of brotherly love. They where Military Chaplains; Revernds Fox and Poling, Father Washington and Rabbi Goode. There story is of Humanity, love for others, courage and faith.

While the U.S.A.T was sinking they guided soliders and sailors to lifeboats, helped the wounded, distributed life jackets and when there where no more to distribute gave away thier own life jackets to others, thus sacrificing any chance of thier own survival. They where last seen near the stern at the rail, arm in arm, leading men in prayer and hyms. Out of 904 souls, 675 where lost.

The Military Chaplains of our services are the unsung Heros of this country, may they never be forgotten for thier service and sacrifice.

As you read this I ask that you come to attention as I do and give these special men and women of our Chaplain Service a Salute.

In thier Honor I make the following Links Available:

U.S.A.T. Dorchester
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAT_Dorchester

Four Chaplians
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Chaplains

Four Chaplains
http://www.homeofheroes.com/brotherhood/chaplains.html