A big THANK YOU to all our military, both past and present, and their familes for all they endure. Jack
Its really hard to thank them enough, and some have really paid dearly. My Dad lives with us, WW2 era disabled. The trips to the VA since I was young have left an indelible impression. Some of our guys have been so injured and disfigured it brings tears to your eyes, and they generally arent the ones we see out having fun on Memorial Day and the Fourth, because they simply dont come outside, or physically cant.
A stop at an area VA hospital to say Hi is possibly the best way to show we care.
Tomorrow is the day, as it should be every day, to remember those that went before us for the sacrifice, dedication to duty and professionalism.
My HEROES plain and simple
good luck
Alan Silva, Bobby Couto, Tom Brian, Grampa Eddie, Roger Woodhouse, Rest in peace.
Dad is buried at Mountain Home Cemetary in Johnson City, TN. I stop by from time to time for a visit. Some of the best times I have is there with him. He was Navy, WWII, the captain let him steer the boat on day...an LST...he steered right into one of Great Britains minfields! Last time the captain let him steer the boat!
Mom used to volunteer at the VA Hospital there, she would push Veterans in wheelchairs throughout the many tunnels that run between buildings. Right after she went into a nursing home we went and she was pushing this lady all over the place...and the lady did not want to be pushed!
Mom worked for Holston Valley Defense...they made bombs and bullets better. She would put some dynamite and other 'stuff' on a metal plate...walk behind a curtain...detonate it...then write down how loud and how much force was felt! The US knew that to go into Berlin we would need the biggest and baddest bombs we could make. The day we went into Berlin the supervisors ran throughout the plants screaming..."We just went into Belin...and we helped!" Toward the end of the war they started working on 'something big'...they did not know exactly what. When the first atomic bomb hit Japan...all the supervisors ran through the plant screaming, "We just hit Japan with an A-Bomb...and we helped!"
Thanks to all VETS and RIP gramps.
The Minneapolis VA had all those tunnels too, I think they really lost something when they modernised. There used to be this blind snack food vender there, Harry, he was quite a character. He couldnt tell a one from a five but nothing else slipped past him, including people. Ones he didnt see for years could simply sat "hi Harry", and he would say their name, he said he never forgot a face, lol.
Here is a wonderful video on the Unknown Soldier. May God bless all those who have given their lives for our freedoms we enjoy.
Memorial Day Message 2009 courtesy USBA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zYX4XfujZvk#)
Memorial day is to remember those who died in service. We have other days to remember those who served and those who currently serve. It doesn't mean we can't think about those who served and thankfully came home.
I started marching in the local Memorial Day parade in the mid 80s when I was a young Boy Scout. I am a Boy Scout adult leader now and I will be there tomorrow morning. I have only missed a few years over the past 25+ years. The parade ends at a local cemetery where there is a ceremony to honor those who died in service. The local Eagles club offers a free lunch afterward for all who participate.
What Belfert said.
I send books to the vets hospital and the home. If you or yours reads much that is a nice way to get another few miles out of your discards.
And I vote. I once heard a politician say to the cameras when asked about VA funding...."We are cutting the VA funding because we all have to sacrifice". Vote? You bet'cha.
I also am active in the annual Poppy Drive. Life member of the VFW and a Past Post Commander. And I fly our flag off my front porch.
And I visit the Vets cemetery on Memorial day to place flowers. Used to place flags but my knees gave out and I couldn't walk far enough to make a difference.
Thanks to all,
John
When i can, i donate to the Paralyzed Veterans Of America and the Disabled Veterans Of America.
"Thank you" is insufficient to express the appreciation that goes out to those who have served. Especially to those who paid for liberty with their life and those suffered great injury, but also to all those who have served and by the grace of God came home safe. May those who are still serving be safe. May peace come to those who returned having seen too much of the horrors of war for their mind to bear.
Unfortunately, our memorial day observance was rained out. The marching band, Scouts, VFW, and American Legion along with the public were gathered at city hall near the war memorials when a thunderstorm moved in. The march to the cemetery was canceled and they decided to cancel the ceremony at the cemetery due to heavy rain approaching. It started raining hard right after I got in the car.
The only consolation is they still had the lunch at the Eagles club though it was more like brunch since it was a good hour earlier than planned.
God Bless our Vets! There is not enough we can do for those that serve and ultimately payed the price. We are so blessed to live in a country that has folk who protect us.
There are 22,700 living Veterans in the US. Sorry, but I couldn't find the number of Veterans that gave their all for this great country, Will
22700. You must have missed a zero or two I think. Proud father of a vet. mike
Three zeroes actually. According to 2011 Census estimates there were 22.8 million living American Veterans. Often times data in that magnitude is reported in thousands. So 22,700 thousands would be 22.7 Million.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/national_security_veterans_affairs/veterans.html (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/national_security_veterans_affairs/veterans.html)
My apologies, I missed a zero. My keyboard screws up all the time. It's one of these cordless things. :( It is 22 MILLION 700 Thousand living vets. Thanks for the correction. I'm glad somebody was paying attention. And yes, my holiday comes up in November with 22,700,000 other vets LOL Will ;D
Nothing to be said, just read and pass on this incredible story. So important that we don't forget, and do truly remember who the real heroes are in this world. This one is special to me.
Joe Laird
24 year Vet
101st Airborne Vietnam 1966
"Shifty" By Chuck Yeager
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st
Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the
History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10
episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was
at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of
the 101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne
or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the
101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served,
and how many jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 ..." at which point my heart
skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training
jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . do you know
where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.
I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what
D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into
Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero ...
and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of
D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said
"Yes... And it 's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are
left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart
was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to
get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have
it, that I'd take his in coach.
He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are
still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to
make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it.
And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on Jan. l7 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall-to-wall, back-to-back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right!
Let's give Shifty his own memorial service, online, in our own quiet way.
Please forward this to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
Chuck Yeager, Maj. General [ret.]
P.S. I think that it is amazing how the "media" chooses our "heroes" these days...
actors, singers, athletes & the like!
I spent memorial day with my boy scout troop. We attended a service at a near by town in a cemetery that had hero's from every war from civil to world war two. Each grave marked with either a confederate or us flag. Good work good remembrance and patriotic experience.
Brice