Memorial Day

[rice paddy daddy]

Memorial Day is set aside each year to remember and honor America's war dead. For many people it's just a day off from work, but for many families and veterans it holds a somber meaning.
Living veterans have their own day, November 11th.
There will be ceremonies on Monday in towns and cities large and small for those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I urge all who can, to attend a ceremony near you. If you cannot, please take just a moment to reflect on all we have as Americans and say a prayer for those who gave their lives for us.
Our small town's Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post will have the observance at the town cemetary. I will be there, will you please make plans to attend one near you?
Thank you.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I will be attending a small town ceremony being held this weekend and then having BBQ lunch with some other veterans and some currently serving members where we will discuss and tell the tales of those we are to remember and were lost in battle. Be joyful for all that we have, be sorrowful for those who paid with their lives and remember what it takes to keep it. It is a difficult time of the year for myself and others but one of celebration as well.
This day is in honor of those who didn't make it!

[EX121]

I won't be able to attend the cermonies this year. My heart goes out to all of the vetrans living & dead who served our country. Especially those I served with. Keep them in mind always.

[Tofu]

Last year I took the family to Washington DC for memorial day. Arlington is always breathtaking, especially this one day a year.

The most moving event happened as we were walking down the hill from watching the changing of the guard. Two women and a young man all dressed very nicely. Just three people in a sea of people. Just as I glanced over the young man produced a trumpet from beneath his suit jacket. This young person belted out one of the most moving version of Taps that I have ever heard. The whole cemetery came to a stop, hats came off and a quiet and respectful hush came over the crowd as we were mesmerized by the tune.

And that was at the end of day one of our 6 day DC adventure. Viewing the Constitution, touring the Capital building or several Smithsonian museums could touch that single trumpet player amongst the honored dead.

[rockriver]

i'm not a veteran. maybe not qualified to speak in this thread...
dad was. primarily a radio man in a bomber in ww2. atlantic and pacific.
i honor all who served and serve now.
--
he was in hawaii at a large cemetary there.
i wasn't there. but..
mom kept talking about how dad just stood there and looked at names and headstones.
how he got emotional. it happened several times at military cemetaries. especially as he got older.
God bless these men and women.

those who gave their lives for others, and those who lived through it.
God bless those who will in the future.

[ComputerGuy]

I will be participating in getting over 30 volunteers to put out over 800 flags on the graves of our fallen in all the local ceremonies.

I do this every year for my friends and comrades who did not make it

[rice paddy daddy]

i'm not a veteran. maybe not qualified to speak in this thread...
dad was. primarily a radio man in a bomber in ww2. atlantic and pacific.
i honor all who served and serve now.
--
he was in hawaii at a large cemetary there.
i wasn't there. but..
mom kept talking about how dad just stood there and looked at names and headstones.
how he got emotional. it happened several times at military cemetaries. especially as he got older.
God bless these men and women.

those who gave their lives for others, and those who lived through it.
God bless those who will in the future.

Rockriver, sir, of course you are qualified to speak in this thread!
I know exactly how your Dad felt.

[rice paddy daddy]

I will be participating in getting over 30 volunteers to put out over 800 flags on the graves of our fallen in all the local ceremonies.

I do this every year for my friends and comrades who did not make it

Thank you, sir.
There are two towns on our side of the County, both are small, and each has a cemetary. On Sunday morning just after sunrise, as a member of AMVETS, one other member and myself will place 87 flags on vet's graves in our cemetary. Three other AMVETS members will be at the other cemetary doing the same for over one hundred.
On Memorial Day the local VFW post will do a ceremony at each of the cemetaries, and as a member of VFW I will change hats and participate.
Not a day goes by that I don't think back to times that some say are best forgotten. I don't do it on purpose, it just happens.

[monkeybird]

My Father was a Veteran of WWII. I've enjoyed great freedom and a standard of living that has never been achieved before because of men like my father and all the other men who proudly serve their country.

You have my upmost RESPECT and sincere THANKS!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Some plans changed due to the tornandoe damages and my daughter and i were able to go to an IPSC shoot today. It was awesome and they had a moment of silence in rememberance. Shooting with Patriots who know what the cost was for them to be there and enjoy what we have, thats good stuff.
MB thats awesome!
RPD you hang in there Brother, them times and faces are being remembered for a reason!

[barfife]

We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion and all our other constitutional rights because of our military men and women who have made noble sacrafices. These rights were not legislated into existance, they were fought for, time, and time again. God bless our service men and women. I am proud to be an American veteran.