MEMORIAL DAY - honor our Veterans

My heartfelt Thanks go out to all Veterans past, present, and future! It is because of your sacrafices and dedication that we as a Americans enjoy the freedoms and lives we do.

 

I Salute each and every one of you! Thank You!

Tex Steve and Strogey;

 

As one who served at a time when the military was looked down upon by the masses, I'd like to thank you for your comments for all us who served, especially those who are no longer with us.

I hope you guys have a great Memorial Day Holiday.

I also want to thank all the served our country, A BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Alex & Dina

texspecial: thank you for reminding us what this holiday should be about. its sad that the local cleveland tv stations have minimal coverage about local observances of our war dead,and yet sponser "rib burn offs" with party bands ,booze,ect:[yea theres 2of them going on right now].

  my thanks to all veterans that have served,past and present.-jim

Very well said TrainPop. I agree totally. I served USAF 1966-1970.

There are really no words to say thank you to those who gave their lives in the service of this great nation.  Attached are a couple of pix from Arlington National Cemetery this morning.  An unseasonably chilly windy day in your nation's capital, but very quiet and serene despite the crowds in one of the most sacred places in America.

I want to Thank all the Veterans that served our country

As a US Air Force Veteran (1966 - 1970) I appreciate the kind words of recognition. 

 

Somehow Memorial Day has morphed into a time of recognition of all who have served in the military.  While I am proud that I had the opportunity to serve my country, the true meaning of Memorial Day, is to recognize those that made the ultimate sacrifice and did not return.

 

There are times to better recognize all veterans such as Armed Forces Day and Veteran's Day.

 

I believe this weekend should first and foremost recognize those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and died protecting our freedoms.

 

God Bless you all.

As a Vietnam Vet I'll never forget all that served, those that never come home and those who presently serve.

 

To all my fellow Vietnam era vet I would like to say "welcome home brother". To all who served "thank you".

Brad

Don

 

The best way we can honor our LIVING veterans is to insure they receive PROMPT and effective medical care without unnecessary delays!

Best ****ed post I've seen so far! Thanks SouthernMike.

 

I remember not being able to wear my uniform in public back in 1965 & 1966, due to the hate from our own citizens. How times have changed.

 

Thank you all. 

Hot Water, I wore my uniform twice in public. The first time just coming home from boot (1965) and the second time when my best friend died (1968). Don

If you see a veteran this weekend soliciting poppies please give a little and say thanks. IN FLANDER'S FIELD by John McCrae 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.

Thank you to all who are/have served this great nation. POPSRR USN"63 TO 69"

 

 

Thanks to all who have served and who are serving today.

Mike

Nam'66'

Thanks Folks and Thank you to everyone who served.

 

Casey, U. S. Navy 1958-1962. 

Thanks to all who served before and who serve now.  And special thanks to all who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and to their families who bore the hurt of such a profound loss.

 

Allan

Vietnam--101st Airborne and USARV HQ

Remember, flag is at half-staff until noon.

 

One of the most rewarding, yet emotional, things I've done in life is participate in dignified transfer ceremonies (aka ramp ceremonies), where we send our fallen comrades home from the combat zone.

To our Veterans,  GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Bruce, SFC, USA RET. INFANTRY          

It is truly sad people in America do not understand the difference between Memorial day and Veterans Day.

Thank You to you all and all my fellow Veterans.

US Army Active Duty 1970-2007

Infantry Airborne Ranger NCO

UH-1H, UH-60 Test Pilot, Maintenance Officer

G4 Logistics, Pentagon

Carl Dovis Rogers Jr: July 12, 1922 - May 26, 2011. Proud Navy Veteran.

 

In honor of LST 581, my Father, Carl D. Rogers Jr. U.S.N. and his shipmates. 18 months of commissioned service: July 27, 1944 through January 28, 1946, in the South Pacific and Asian Theatres. At the end the ship was stripped down and turned over to the Japanese to serve repatriating their forces.

"Having served honorably and having done her part in defeating Japan, she held her stern anchor to the end, thanks to the skill of the crew and Captain O. F. Rapelyae. Thank God all hands survived to return home”

 

To all others who served thanks and I wish you all the respect you've long deserved. I was a little brother during the VietNam era. More than a few friends never came home. Supposedly it was all over by the time I came of age. But I've never believed that and never forget.

 

 

My DAD and his 4 brothers all went to war and all came back in one piece, from BEAVER MEADOWS, PA.  Only one of the 5 is still living.  He will be 93 this summer.  I salute all that have served our country.  Thank You.

Thank you so much to all veterans.  God Bless all who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Matt

God bless those that have serviced and those that continue to protect our freedom

US Navy, 1970-1974, USS Morton DD948, Viet Nam vet. Hot Water & Scalerail: I also remember not wearing my uniform stateside. The kids coming home today can wear the uniform and get the praise they deserve, but still can't get the medical, psychological, and economic help a lot of them need. Some things still haven't changed. If you want to know why, count how many politicians have served in the military and how many of those that have been dishonored by those of their generation in office who dodged the draft.

Wouldn't it be a nice to send the politicos to fight wars for a change? 

God's Blessings and our thanks to all who served.

Apologize for typo I meant served My dad was a WWII vet and he passed away a few years ago he taught me to love and appreciate the things we have and to be thankful to those that have served Freedom is not free

You stated it exceptionally well, TexSpecial!  I, too, was a party to how we were treated when we returned from Vietnam, and have never really forgotten or forgiven.  However, I value this day and every day as a time to thank all veterans--living and dead--for what they were, and still are, willing to sacrifice for their country.

 

I just returned from viewing our local (Poland, OH) Memorial Day parade and ceremony.  I have made this an annual tradition since moving back to the area.  It's a typical small town affair, with crowds lining the flag-adorned sidewalks through scenic downtown Poland to watch veterans of all conflicts since WWII, the high school band, and groups of youngsters still too young and innocent to know the horror of war, march proudly through town.

 

Here's what a prominent psychiatrist wrote (in part), about what war does to the human mind:

 

"No one who goes to war ever comes home – not in the emotional, psychological sense.  No one.  Some make it back, mostly—which is an amazing and happy fact.  Most make it back far less—which is fully expected but still not acknowledged as widely as it must be.  And some return only physically, and are forever unrecognizable psychologically.

 

"This is the unspoken risk our warriors take when they leave us to fight.  We worry over their legs and their eyes, but we still don’t fully grasp the peril in which they place their psyches and their souls.

 

"That men and women take these risks, and willingly, is nothing short of miraculous. This is why, on Memorial Day – and every day – we should remember all fighting men and women, thank them and thank God for them."

 

The truth of the matter is that yes, people here in the states do thank the current generation Gulf War one and two, and Afghanistan. But the same undercurrent still exists. We need to do more for the wounded warriors, The current VA system is broke, you have congressman (Vietnam vets  willing to cut VA funding. Political patronage is more important the then fixing the current system. The best example I can give was at a HOA meeting when they were looking for volunteers for the community watch program and some one to run it. I had volunteered to run the program( I had been a Force Protection NCO) to other NCOs had also volunteered ( one was an Army MP and the other was an Airforce Security Forces senior NCO). We were told by the board no way that we would allow crazed afghan and Iraq combat vets be in the community watch let alone run it and thank you for volunteering. This was the same board the sent out letters reminding people of the policy about displaying flag prior to veterans and Memorial days about not flying the US flags. But it was ok to display the Mexican and Puerto Rican on their days Yes a little rant there but the point is the there are still issues out there.

TO ALL WHO SERVED; A HARDY "WELL DONE" FROM ME.

 

I, like a lot of Vets, are pleased and saddened on Memorial Day. Pleased to see all of the celebrations and Flags; saddened to see the "don't care" attitude. I and a few other neighbors have our flags out. (More than one flag) And two others are out cutting grass with some very noisey mowers. (Couldn't they wait till tomorrow?) By the way, they have no Flags out.

 

I'm giving our Congress some blame for this. Memorial Day/Decoration Day used to be on May 30th. Congress, in it's infinite wisdom, chose to move it to create long weeks.

It started down hill after that. Just another long weekend. It lost it's significance.

 

Best regards to all.

 

 

My neighbour is a vet and reminded me about the HOA policy about banning displaying of flags. Mine still went up and I told him to go to******* if he did not like it. 

suzukovich GOOD FOR YOU!!!! If any one does not like to see our flag they can leave this GREAT COUNTRY RIGHT NOW!!!

Fortunately, when the homes in my gated condo community were built, every garage was equipped with a flagpole holder.  I, and some others, fly the flag (only the American flag is permitted) day and night since there are lights near each of the poles.  Looked pretty good this morning since 90% of the homes had the flag proudly displayed.

You really need to move at the very earliest possibility!  You're living in a neighborhood that more properly should be located in some other country.

 

But, then, as I've said often enough:  Nothing surprises me all that much anymore.  We're a nation that is increasing losing its direction and, more importantly, our principles and values.  Can't really place all the blame on the nut cases in Washington, though, because we're the people--collectively--who put them there.

Your right about that. Bought the house before I found out about the HOA. By the way I like the new pic.