Memorial Day ~ Remembering Our Heroes

[A-Jay]

 

On Memorial Day, the United States pauses to honor the fallen heroes who died in service to our Nation. With heavy hearts and a sense of profound gratitude, we mourn these women and men -- parents, children, loved ones, comrades-in-arms, friends, and all those known and unknown -- who believed so deeply in what our country could be they were willing to give their lives to protect its promise. Our hearts ache in their absence, but their spirit gives us strength to continue their work of securing and renewing the liberties that all Americans cherish and for which these heroes gave their last full measure of devotion.

In solemn reflection, we gather -- in small towns and big cities, on battlefields, in cemeteries, and at sacred places where blood has been shed for freedom's cause -- throughout our country and around the world to remember the unbroken chain of patriots who won independence, saved our Union, defeated fascism, and protected the Nation we love from emerging threats in a changing world. Today, their legacy is carried forward by a new generation of servicemen and women and all who strive to shape a more perfect America; and their enormous sacrifices continue to make our opportunity possible.

We owe all those who sacrifice in our name a tremendous debt, including our Nation's mothers and fathers who have given their daughters and sons to America, spouses and partners who shoulder the weight of unthinkable loss, and courageous children in whom the legacies of their parents live on. As a Nation, we must uphold our obligations to these Gold Star families. We have pledged to them that they will never walk alone -- that their country will be there for them always.

Our Nation will never forget the valor and distinction of the women and men who defend freedom, justice, and peace.

 

Not mine but still pretty good.

 

A-Jay

 

[greentrout]

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us

Freedom of the Press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us

Freedom of Speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the

Freedom to Demonstrate.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the

Right to a Fair Trial.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and

whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

[einscodek]

I wish to God in heaven noone especially the young men and women whom had yet tasted life had to lose their lives in wars they were told were for so and so but did not truely understand.

 

"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service as a member of our country's most agile military force -- the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent more of my time being a high--class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. "I suspected I was just a part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service. Thus I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-12. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that the Standard Oil went its way unmolested. During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals and promotion. Looking back on it, I feel I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. I operated on three continents." -- General Smedley Butler, former US Marine Corps Commandant,1935

[F14A-B]

Yes.. Amen to this posting.

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." - Nathan Hale

[slonezp]

Thanks

[gardnerjigman]

Amen, God Bless, and Thanks to all those who have fallen and are currently serving.

[greentrout]

[Choporoz]

Thanks for the topic, A-Jay and to the other posters.  I appreciate it.  My wife and I spent much of Sunday at Arlington National Cemetery.  We try to spend a day there each Memorial Day weekend (and/or Veterans Day weekend, as well.) 

 

There were bags full of roses stationed along the roads for people to place at the graves.  Nice touch.  I don't yet know who donated them, but it was appreciated. 

 

We were approached by a retired officer who asked us to join him for a few minutes to help honor and lay flowers at a particular grave.  Turns out it was Chic Burlingame, the pilot of the American Airlines jet that was flown into the Pentagon on 9/11.  Very moving.

[retiredbosn]

Thank you to all who served.

"All gave some, some gave all" Unknown

[Al Wolbach]

My heart bleeds at little every Memorial Day...so many friends