Memorial Day

http://www.washingtonpost.com/grid/local/military-service/

Memorial Day isn't really just an excuse for a long weekend and a Barbecue, The tributes posted in todays Washington Post remind us of what it really is all about including these:

It was my fault that day. More than seven years ago now. No treasure is worth the blood that was lost. So I suffer in silence. #mytribute

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and this:

“My son Rick, he was killed in action in Kabul Afghanistan on the 18th of May 2010... I buried him in Arlington National Cemetery and I miss him so much.....”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGoSWn1tHeo

bruno,

+ infinity. Though we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the reach of these individuals to family, friends, and community --- who have the responsibility of carrying their loved one's legacy forward --- is best exampled in some of the tributes posted to various outlets (like WP), blogs, and social media sites.

It is my hope that we always remember the REASON for this holiday --- which has ties all the way back to the Civil War era.

Yes, we must always remember. My late brother Stan was a Marine. I remember the day like it was yesterday, when he left for Paris Island right after Christmas, 1967. I balded like a baby, the day he left. I was so proud of him wrote him everyday. Once he was in for awhile he got into trouble, and put into the brig and could wait to get out. Once out and married, I went to visit him one. He was about complete his 4 years of inactive service time. He told that he made a mistake, while in the Corps and decided to enter the US Army Reserve. He evenually rose through the ranks to an E-8. Where taught a some sort of school, I can't remember. He went to his SGM and told him, he wanted and was ready to the Middle-East. His SGM told him, no that he was needed here to help train guys who where going over. Just after that he got very sick and died a few months later. He was buried as a Marine. It was the hardest have ever experienced. A Marine Major prsented my sister-in-law with the flag, with the spent casings inside the flag. I love him and miss him very much, in about an hour. I will go to pay my respects to him. He told how much he loved our country That's why he continued to serve.

Thanks to all of you who serve or have served and have paid the price.
God Bless and God Speed to include my brother Buddy,

RGK

God bless rkrosnar and TPG and to all those that have served and especially the fallen.

Going to visit some ancestors graves tomorrow. Pretty bad neighborhood in Newark NJ along the Garden State Parkway. We dont go there very often - too dangerous. At least five years for me. A Civil War Vet and his son, DS#1 namesake, a Spanish American War Vet. Just a quick prayer and I will leave two small American Flags.

God Bless all the fallen and the forgotten.

Please allow me a personal moment here...I normally don't do this.

Jeffrey Lund Stevens....USAFA Class of 1983...KIFA 1987...

My BCT/Airborne/Classmate "Buddy/Friend/Comrade..."

A toast Jeff...I miss you!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

A small toast as well, to the 14 members of the USMA Class of 2004 who have given their lives in the service of their nation.

For Country and Corps.

tpg said:

On Tuesday, my wife and I will be traveling to Arlington, with my parents and two youngest, to visit the graves of a few fellow Marines. 62 of them in total. One is a the grave of a L/CPL who will forever be 19 years, 8 months and 16 days old. He was my driver and was KIA the day I was wounded.

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We will be at Arlington today also taking the new 2LT to visit. We have a dear family friend whose father is buried in Section 60 that we hope we can find. LTC in the Air Force who served during in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

We saw the Iwo Jima Memorial last night. Flowers surrounded the base that were left for Memorial Day. We also visited the Korean War Memorial which was a different experience seeing it at night. It too was surrounded by flowers with personal notes of thanks and pictures of family members that fought in Korea.

1LT William H. Henderson, II
KIA, IRAQ, April 2004

His death has made me a better Father, Husband and Man.

My Father died last month. Born July 4th 1918. Bombardier Navigator on B-25. He told some stories but not many. They were always with a joke. never anything bad. He was Pilot training but with football injury (knee) . He was washed out from pilot school (couldn't put full force on the rudder). My Son has a pin given to him at the Jefferson Memorial by one of the Korean war Veterans (South Korean Army) when we were there on the day of the dedication. He took it off his cap and presented it to my son. Moving scene. He will know some day how much that ment.

Then again my son at four ran across the Eternal Flame At JFK. I was trying to get a good shot without sun or shadow at the eternal FLAME at JFK grave. Son got away from mom and jumped the ropes and ran directly accross to see dad! He doesn't remember but we do.

AF6872 said:

My Father died last month. Born July 4th 1918. Bombardier Navigator on B-25. He told some stories but not many. They were always with a joke. never anything bad. He was Pilot training but with football injury (knee) . He was washed out from pilot school (couldn't put full force on the rudder). My Son has a pin given to him at the Jefferson Memorial by one of the Korean war Veterans (South Korean Army) when we were there on the day of the dedication. He took it off his cap and presented it to my son. Moving scene. He will know some day how much that ment.

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God Bless your dad and judging from your last post your son definately knows how much that pin means!

tpg said:

If you saw a short haired, graying, middle aged man with a bold spot and two metal legs (I was wearing shorts) being escorted by the most beautiful woman (at least in my eyes)...that was probably me.

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If I had seen a man of that description, I would have stopped and introduced myself to you.

We did find the grave of our friend's father in Section 60 and took a picture of it for them. Like many graves that day, it had a white rose on top.

In the next section over, a funeral was starting. The casket was on a cart. A military band was playing. There were several mounted horses. A large number were paying their last respects. We watched for a moment but felt intrusive so we continued on. It was a moving sight though.
We were told that there are about 10 funerals every day at Arlington.

Bruno:

I see that you have gone over to your poetic side.

"Thin red line of 'eroes when the drums begin to roll."

I always loved Kipling and Tommy was one of his best.