Memorial Day…

Today is a day of remembrance. We remember those who did not come home from various ‘conflicts’ over generations. Who knows how many people we have truly lost in all of the wars?

An interesting sidenote is that memorial day is the only day the flag is taking to the top of the mast return to half-mast and then at noon taken back to the top of the mast.

As you enjoy your Memorial Day weekend please take a moment and remember our fallen the men and the women all colors I’ll let Misty’s that have died in the service of these United States

Comments

Memorial Day… — 8 Comments

  1. This is not new, but it is certainly ever fitting—

    The things they Carried….

    They carried P-38 can openers and heat tabs, watches and dog tags, insect repellent, gum, cigarettes, Zippo lighters, salt tablets, compress bandages, ponchos, Kool-Aid, two or three canteens of water, iodine tablets, sterno, LRRP- rations, and C-rations stuffed in socks. They carried standard fatigues, jungle boots, bush hats, flak jackets and steel pots. They carried the M-16 assault rifle. They carried trip flares and Claymore mines, M-60 machine guns, the M-70 grenade launcher, M-14’s, CAR-15’s, Stoners, Swedish K’s, 66mm Laws, shotguns, .45 caliber pistols, silencers, the sound of bullets, rockets, and choppers, and sometimes the sound of silence. They carried C-4 plastic explosives, an assortment of hand grenades, PRC-25 radios, knives and machetes. Some carried napalm, CBU’s and large bombs; some risked their lives to rescue others. Some escaped the fear, but dealt with the death and damage. Some made very hard decisions, and some just tried to survive. They carried malaria, dysentery, ringworm, jungle rot and leaches. They carried the land itself as it hardened on their boots.
    They carried stationery, pencils, and pictures of their loved ones – real and imagined. They carried love for people in the real world and love for one another. And sometimes they disguised that love: “Don’t mean nothin’! “They carried memories. For the most part, they carried themselves with poise and a kind of dignity. Now and then, there were times when panic set in, and people squealed or wanted to, but couldn’t; when they twitched and made moaning sounds and covered their heads and said “Dear God” and hugged the earth and fired their weapons blindly and cringed and begged for the noise to stop and went wild and made stupid promises to themselves and God and their parents, hoping not to die. They carried the traditions of the United States Military, and memories and images of those who served before them. They carried grief, terror, longing and their reputations. They carried the soldier’s greatest fear: the embarrassment of dishonor. They crawled into tunnels, walked point, and advanced under fire, so as not to die of embarrassment. They were afraid of dying, but too afraid to show it.They carried the emotional baggage of men and women who might die at any moment.They carried the weight of the world.

    THEY CARRIED EACH OTHER.

    And–what it sounds like to listen to a real American President—

  2. Thank you ALL for your service!

    I’ll be on the Iowa all day Monday to help with the visitors, and play a little radio.

    It’s going to be quite an event, with live bands, food trucks the usual politicians and talking heads, and of course, lots of veterans.

    I’ll be there to help the older vets, many of whom enjoy seeing the Com Center, and a few other semi off-limits areas we “sneak” them in to.

  3. You know what really irks me about this school district we now live in, is that Veterans Day and Memorial Day are not recognized as holidays. But by God MLK day is. No worries, the last day is the 29th and our boys have only missed one day all year…so we are keeping them home on Monday taking them to the cemetary to honor our fallen heros. Some time during this summer break we will be heading up to Wilimington to tour the “North Carolina” they can’t wait.

  4. Rick- Thank you!

    RHT- Well done sir! And thanks!

    drjim- Enjoy and thank them for me!

    JUGM- Yeah, that is screwed up! Enjoy the USS North Carolina!

  5. Indeed. It is a time to remember. Thank you for your service Sir!

    JUGM- I hope you enjoy visiting “The Showboat!” Warning, it will be really hot on board, take water.

  6. +1

    And for JUGM – here in our local Texas school district not only are Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays, but so is Texas Independence Day. Maybe you should think about relocating… 🙂