My Memorial Day Salute to Those Who Serve

[hammett1]

I do hope this post is not out of bounds, but I just wanted to take a moment during this MEMORIAL DAY weekend to say "THANK YOU" to those members of the UMA ARMY who currently serve and those who have served in the ARMED FORCES to protect this great country of ours.

I thank you all!

Semper Fi

David








*title typo correction edit

[hammerfan]

You are welcome

[typhooforme]

Gr-gr-grandpa was in the Civil War (93rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry), my dad was in WWII (Air Force mechanic, China-Burma), and many other relatives and friends served the country as well.  We recognize all their service at this time of year.

[Wich2]

Expressed kinda that sentiment when I left our own Crazy Ivan & friend this afternoon.

Among others, my paternal Great Uncle took a mustard gas hit in the trenches in WWI; several Uncles served in or near Nam; and a few cousins have done recent service.

Thanks, all.
-Craig W.

[toysoldierman2001]

All I can say is I was very proud to have served my country and would do it again if ever called upon.
We must all remember that freedom is not free and must be fought for when ever threatened no matter where in the world it may be.God bless our troops and may they all return home very soon safe and sound.
GOD BLESS AMERICA,MAY HER FLAG ALWAYS WAVE PROUD!

[BlackLagoon]

Great thread. To everyone who serves, past or present... Thank You very much for all you do!!

[The Spangler]

 Thank you to all vets, past and present; and a special thank you here, to all the UMA vets.  God bless you guys and gals!

[BaronLatos35]

To all veterans, thank you for your service.

[monsterphile]

I do hope this post is not out of bounds, but I just wanted to take a moment during this MEMORIAL DAY weekend to say "THANK YOU" to those members of the UMA ARMY who currently serve and those who have served in the ARMED FORCES to protect this great country of ours.

I thank you all!
Semper Fi
David

No problem with it at all David.  Thanks for starting it.  My dad was stationed in Alaska during the Korean War.  I think it had to do with a radar station.  We apprciate all that have and continue to dedicate their lives in the armed forces.

Rob

[ChattyLMS]

No past military people in our family.  I don't know how my grandfathers didn't go, but my dad was 4F so he didn't go to Korea.  Oh wait!  My uncle was a Marine.  He has the language to prove it!     But I have lots of respect for those who fought died or came home and kept us safe.  God bless and many thanks to all of them! 

[HARRY HAMMOCK]

My dad was in Pearl Harbor when attacked.Although he didnt talk much about it unless proded,he was proud to have served.He passed away in June 08 at the age of 91. 

[Elizabeth]

The U.S. holiday Memorial Day has its roots in the old holiday called Decoration Day.  Decoration Day was the day that the graves of those who perished in the U.S. Civil War were decorated with flowers, and the fallen of that war remembered.  Over the years, the tradition expanded, and Memorial Day came to be a holiday for remembering ALL the men and woman who paid the highest price, and lost their lives in service to the United States.

Originally the day was May 30th, but it's come to be the last Monday in May. 

In other nations, such as neighboring Canada, November 11th is Remembrance Day-- a day for remembering those who served as well as those who lost their lives.  It is held on November 11th, which was the Armistice Day of WWI (when the cease fire took place, on the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918).  After WWII the name of this holiday was changed to Remembrance Day in some countries, Veterans Day in the U.S.

So... in the U.S. there are two dates connected to our service people-- Memorial Day (in May), which is set aside to remember those who lost their lives in service, and then Veterans Day (in November) for remembering and recognizing all our service people.

Some of the ways to observe Memorial Day:
-visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
-by visiting memorials.
-by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
-by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
-by participating in a  National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
-by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans. 

(These suggestion are from the web site: http://www.usmemorialday.org/observe.htm, and there is more history and information at the Veteran's website: http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/)


The tradition of the poppy flowers that our surviving veterans sell on Memorial Day comes to us from a veteran and fallen hero of Canada.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The poem, In Flanders Fields (first published in England's Punch magazine in December 1915), was written during World War I by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea, a doctor in the Canadian forces serving in the battlefields of France.  The poem was written the day after McCrea lost one of his closest friends in the fighting, and buried him in a simple grave in a field-- a field where poppies bloomed between the fresh graves.  McCrea's beautiful, haunting poem has given a lasting voice to soldiers' fallen comrades, and reminds us all to never forget their sacrifice.

On January 28, 1918, McCrea lost his life to pneumonia and meningitis, contracted while serving as a doctor in the battlefields of World War I.

The Canada Veterans Affairs bureau has a lovely tribute to Lieutenant Colonel McCrea: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/mccrae

And the U.S. Veteran's site has a segment on the tradition of the poppy, and the manufacture of the poppies that are sold each year to support disabled veterans, and the widows/widowers/children of those who lost their lives in service: http://www1.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp#poppy


From the U.S. Veteran's site:

To ensure the sacrifices of America 's fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law "The National Moment of Remembrance Act," P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission's charter is to "encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity" by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: "It's a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day."

[Unknown Primate]

Elizabeth, thanks for the Memorial Day info.  Interesting & nice.  My Dad served in WWII as a Navy Cook on an LST.  He passed away on March 20, 1980.  He had been reunited with his shipmates through an annual get-together the last few years before he died.  My Mom remarried in 1985... to a Navy man who had served on an LST in WWII!  Every year for the past 23 years, they have gone together to the reunion.  This year will probably be their last.  I salute my Dad & Stepfather, along with all others who have and currently serve.

[michblk]

Thank you to all who have served!

Brian

[The Creeper]

Thank you to all Veterans past and present!  If it wasn't for you we would not have the freedom we have now!