Memorial Day

[steelslinger]

Let not the smell off the grill at the family cookout, or the fires from the campsites make us forget the true meaning of this holiday.

The day to honor our fallen HERO's who stood in the face of evil and gave everything they had. You and I and our families sleep in peace at night because of the brave. The ones who answered the call of "Who among you will stand up and protect us". The HERO's that paid for our FREEDOM, with their very own LIVES.

NEVER abuse the FREEDOM'S that were given to you, that were paid for with the BLOOD of HERO'S!!!!

NEVER forget the meaning of this day. Have your fun, the family gatherings, the camping out, the fishing, the day off work, and everything else we do on this day, but at the end of the day, SAY A PRAYER THANKING THE ONES WHO GAVE SO MUCH AND ASKED SO LITTLE, SAY A PRAYER FOR THOSE STILL STANDING IN THE FACE OF EVIL TO PROTECT US, SAY A PRAYER AND THANK GOD YOU LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN WERE WILLING TO STAND AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.

To those who have fallen and still standing up for you and I........

Thank you, GOD BLESS

[jerry]

Great post Steelslinger. We must not forget the TRUE HEROES... all the women and men of our military,past and present. Thanks to all our veterans!!!

[turk2di]

Very well put! Have a good one!

[raktrakr]

I was thinking about this last night, todays generation looks at it as a 3-day party weekend

[Art]

Amen! It's too bad that this holiday has lost some of it's meaning. It's known more for being a big bar-b-que, drinking, party at the lake day that kicks off summer. If it wern't for the sacrifices of others, we wouldn't have the freedom to do all these things.

[keith meador]

i watched jay leno one night. he was performing his jay walking routine. he was asking folks on the street about the american flag. he asked one girl the colors on the flag. she did not know. he asked another how many stars were on the flag. amazingly most who missed the correct answer of 50 answered with 52. must be top secret agents who know something the rest of us do not......lol

it is sad that most in america today do not know the pledge of allegience, star spangled banner, to get off the side of the road for a funeral, or even vote when they get the chance.

i know when i volunteered for the service i did not have those faults in mind. i just wanted to serve and fly. i got to do both. if your holiday is about bbq and beer, a trip to the lake, a 3 day weekend, or just yard work, so be it.

[trust me]

If you want to get real depressed, find someone age 25 or younger and ask these questions:

1. Who did the USA fight in WWI? (Name one country.)
2. Who did we fight in WWII? (Name one country.)
3. Name one battle that took place in each World War.
4. What is significant about a place called Auschwitz?
5. Pick one individual and explain why they are important:
A. Blackjack Pershing
B. George Patton
C. Douglas McArthur

6. Pick one individual and explain why they are important:
A. Mussolini
B. Yammamoto
C. Hermann Goering
D. Joseph Stalin
E. Joseph Goebbels
F. Joseph Mengele

7. On which continent are each of the following located?
A. Verdun
B. El Alamien
C. Normandy
D. Guadalcanal
E. Bastogne
F. Bataan
G. Attu

I am about to decide that the more vehemently a person opposes war or any act of violence, then the more ignorant of history that person is. Anybody with open eyes knows that evil is always present and we need rough, violent men walking the walls to protect us from that evil.

Secondarily, our recent high school graduates know shyt about geography. I went through public education less than 25 years ago and we at least could find our home on a globe. Not the case today.

[Docknboatlift]

Two of my most vivid memories to share on Memorial Day have to do with the veterans of World War One. My Grandfather, who died in 1970, was a veteran of the Great War.

When I went through confirmation class in the mid 70’s we had several people come in to tell us of their path to joining the Church. One was a very nice old man who came into the Church while a British soldier in WWI. He spoke very eloquently and descriptively of the Minister’s invitation to him and several fellow soldiers to join the Church and the process they went through while being on the continent in and out of the trenches. I can’t remember the exact details at this late date, but the man spoke calmly, clearly, and cheerfully about finding his path to the Lord while unimaginable hell was going on all about. Several of his friends, including some from his confirmation class, did not return from that War. Yet he regarded the tragedy of their loss with the same acceptance that you and I regard the adventure of a beautiful sunset. Perhaps it was the passing of 50 years that brought him peaceful acceptance, perhaps it was the comfort of knowing the separation from his past friends would soon end. I don’t know. At 14 years of age, it made an impression on me that I have not forgotten for 30 years, and I doubt I ever will.

A couple years later, in the late 70’s, a friend of mine who was a professional magician was called upon by our high school magic club to help put on a show for a veterans group. They always asked my friend to work these shows because he was very good (a peer of David Copperfield-they knew each other) and his performance would cover for some of the less experienced magicians. And my friend always agreed to such requests. Since I helped my friend as a roadie for these events, and didn’t have much else to do anyway, I was there that evening when the club performed for some 150-200 veterans of the Great War and their spouses (somewhere between 3-400 people total). I believe it was at the Oak Park Club in Oak Park, IL. Now all of these folks were at least in their late 70’s, and many were into their 90’s. A couple I recognized as semi-retired teachers from our high school. Nice old folks. Nice old folks who were now at a point in their lives that the horrors they may have experienced, the lives they had forged, the aspirations they had dreamed of were now set aside, past active concern. They were genuinely delighted that a group of young people might entertain them with meaningless fantasy. I will recall for the rest of my life the entire group rising to recall those who were no longer present, and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I can barely think about it without feeling dreadfully sad. But to each and every one of them, the evening was a joy-a pleasure.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the last Illinois veteran of the Great War had passed away. They are all gone now; my Grandfather, the gentleman in confirmation class, and every last one of those men at the magic performance. My friend the magician is gone too, taken too early in a snowmobile accident in 1979. I’m taking the occasion of this Memorial Day to read Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. I’m not sure why. I attended the same high school as Hemingway, and I have refused to read the book until now. I also refused to graduate, but all things change if given time I suppose. The book is supposed to be good, but so far has kind of dragged a bit. I will pay closer attention.

In my life, the wars of my country have been divided into two groups. There are the wars of history; The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and of course the Civil War, for which no live witness remains. All I know about them are the same things you know about them. Those are the things which we have chosen to remember by recording. That is the experience which we have chosen to remember regardless of what terrible traumas and strength of human spirit may have slipped by the attentions of the historian. These are the Wars for which we know the meaning, but for which any actual first hand feeling has now been lost.

The second group includes those Wars for whom we still have a witness. World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Viet Nam War, and the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan fall into this group. We can ask these participants what it was like, and what it has meant to them to be involved. And yet for every one I personally know, few choose to speak about it without prompting. All seem to be wondering about the meaning of their conflict that has been withheld from them. Most have come to terms with their personal experience, but the question “Why?” has not been fully answered, and certainly I am not able to offer any help. We won’t know. Not in my lifetime anyway. For the lucky ones, they will live to enjoy the experience of the audience at that magic performance-those for whom the matter no longer seems quite as important. God I hope so.

So I think about the Great War. It is now in a deprived state of remembrance. Not intentionally or disrespectfully I don’t think; it is just the nature of time passing. The total number of veterans of that war number but a few hundred world wide, and will likely disappear altogether in the next five years. It is sad to think of in that way. But it has to be also. We will concern ourselves with the more recent wars of personal experience, and with the past wars of historical evaluation. And in some generations the Great War, the War to End All Wars, will have completed its transformation from the first group to the latter. As all wars shall.

I also have a friend of mine from school who is commanding troops in Afghanistan. He asked his friends to remember his troops with simple gifts of thoughtfulness. It seemed the least I could do to help. I have gathered in my office at work several bags of junk food, cookies chips and such, to remind these lonely soldiers of home. My co-workers have felt it as important as I have to assist. Next week these items will be on their way, and hopefully in the hands of our troops by the 4th of July.

It seems the least we could do. Simple comfort while we wait for history to take its course.

God keep them all safe

[Lil Gsp]

If you want to get real depressed, find someone age 25 or younger and ask these questions:

1. Who did the USA fight in WWI? (Name one country.)
2. Who did we fight in WWII? (Name one country.)
3. Name one battle that took place in each World War.
4. What is significant about a place called Auschwitz?
5. Pick one individual and explain why they are important:
A. Blackjack Pershing
B. George Patton
C. Douglas McArthur

6. Pick one individual and explain why they are important:
A. Mussolini
B. Yammamoto
C. Hermann Goering
D. Joseph Stalin
E. Joseph Goebbels
F. Joseph Mengele

7. On which continent are each of the following located?
A. Verdun
B. El Alamien
C. Normandy
D. Guadalcanal
E. Bastogne
F. Bataan
G. Attu

I am about to decide that the more vehemently a person opposes war or any act of violence, then the more ignorant of history that person is. Anybody with open eyes knows that evil is always present and we need rough, violent men walking the walls to protect us from that evil.

Secondarily, our recent high school graduates know shyt about geography. I went through public education less than 25 years ago and we at least could find our home on a globe. Not the case today.



IMHO I think it has to do with were the students graduated and attended what schools. I mean Im in JROTC and I have to know this stuff geography was basically my whole final as was US History which is also a mandatory class in my high school.

[plowboy]

I think thats great Lil GSP, our history is a part of us. But, do you also know who your state representatives and senator are? How about your US Congressman?:)