Put things in perspective....

[Yeagermeister]

One of my dad's friends, who is this sorta weeble looking guy, short and pudgy...named, of all things, "Thor" was on a PT boat in WWII along with 58 other guys.

The boat was hit by a torpedo...58 died. Thor was thrown from the boat and recounts flying through the air and landing some 50 feet from the boat. He floated in the water for hours before being rescued.

Thanks to Thor and thousands like him, we are able to do dopey things like post on this board.

My ROTC instructor in HS, yes I was one of those ROTC geeks, joined the Navy at 16 and was in the battle of midway and went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam. He retired as a 1SG but had been given a battlefield commission once or twice.

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

Thanx to all those who have served.

 

[followthestar]

I have the highest degree of reverence for those who have given so much to guarantee our freedom. members of my family (self included) have served, though none i know have given that final measure of sacrifice for his country - except one. and his fate is worth telling here, i think.
my grandfather's unit had been part of an effort to capture an important town, thought to be lightly defended. logistically, the operation had been poorly plannned and supplies ran low so they took up defensive positions and waited for support. that support never came.
the eventual number of men who gave their lives in hellish conditions for what they believed was the honor of their country, on both sides of the battle, is too staggering to fully grasp. my grandfather was never seen again - his final fate is unknown, though we can guess... the name of the town was Stalingrad.
War itself, and the hate that breeds it, and the apathy that allows it to survive - these are our enemies. to honor the memory of the fallen, deprive yourself of hatred, or else our children suffer the same fate...
there is no known defense against love.

In Memory...

 

[Tobal]

Yes thank you soldiers. God bless you and your families for your services.

Quick note to kiheikiwi

The vietnam returning soldiers were treated badly by some, I'm from a small community and we had a very large group of guys over there. When I was a kid I asked my dad about it and he said they had parades here in the Panhandle for the returning guys. So while many were not treated with the respect and honor they deserved many others were shown are appreciated and admiration.

Bravo,
Being originally from N.Z. and my father fought in Vietnam,2 tours.I have found it incredible to see how returning Vets. were treated here.Thankfully that is no longer the case.Living on Maui, I have a freind in the 411th combat engineers who have just returned from an 18 mth. tour in Iraq.They have all been treated like the returning patriots that they are.The term "Hero's" gets thrown around far too much,But to all our service men and women,you really are this countrys HERO'S.Thank-you for all you do,home and abroard to make this country the great nation that it is....Mahalo to all..

 

[The30YardSlant]

On this memorial day, I would like to thank you for your service. May God bless our soldiers past, present and future. :bravo:

 

[TheKey]

Great response guys, :clap2: :crossed:

 

[Wolverine]

Special thanks to all those who have served and also those who have died to make this country stay free. If it werent for them the U.S.A. would not exist and we wouldnt be able to talk about all the things we do and do all the things we do. Those who have served and are serving are Americas real heros.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

A Stream of Blood

In 1776 America Declared it’s independence. And a stream of Blood would soon begin to flow. From Bunker Hill to Baghdad, and from Manassas to Normandy, the river has flowed. The American way of life has been under attack for over 200 years. Some from within it’s own borders but most from without. When we fought on the fields of freedom we felt the sincere human desire to take the oppression that would certainly come with our defeat and destroy it. That desire has led many to defend it and to lay down their lives for it.

That stream of blood is what gives us the right to worship who we want, say what we want and demonstrate, even against the very nation that gives us these rights. That stream of blood is the same stream of blood that winds through Gettysburg and trickles eventually to Afghanistan. A nation a world away, Afghanistan was probably not even know by most of those who died at Gettysburg, yet that same spirit was on both battlefields and so was that same blood. The blood of valiant Americans.

As Americans, we sometimes forget that the freedom we enjoy was bought with a price. A price that only can be paid with blood. In the Old Testament the Jews offered up a blood sacrifice for their sins so they could have freedom from the consequences of those sins. In the New Testament there is also a price that was paid for freedom. That was Paid by Jesus Christ when he shed his blood on Calvary for our sins so that we may have freedom from the consequences of sin.

Through out all of history, there have never been true freedom without the shedding of blood. And no tyrant, nor dictator, nor overlord has ever been defeated without the shedding of blood. It is simply the cost that must be paid for freedom.

So as we celebrate Memorial day we remember those who fought. We remember those who died. We also remember it also important to appreciate those sacrifices. That stream of blood that came from Calvary over 2000 years ago is still winding through history and will continue to grow, until freedom, true freedom is won in the world. That will indeed happen one day. But until that day, we will keep our flag flying high, our faith in tact and our eyes squarely on the prize that is freedom.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Mornin' all,
Hey Tobal, - I agree with you ,not all returning vets. were treated like sh-t.Just makeing a point as to how,times have changed (for the better, in that regard) with our returning service men and women.From some one who came to this country when I was 22, because of the freedoms and lifestyle we all can have here.I really do appreciate the sacrifices given - not only in death, to allow us all to what we want, how we want.Sometimes, its hard to see just how good we have it here,compared to many,many other places around the world.So,again thank-you to all who serve, in any form.

 

[kaboy]

My most heartfelt appreciation and admiration for the sacrifices made by so many brave men and women throughout our history and present times.
In memory...

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days. </FONT>

 

[Rockytop6]

Beautiful sentiments expressed which reflect my own as well. What a great debt we owe to those; past, present and future, who serve in the armed forces to keep our Country safe and to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

 

[Banned_n_austin]

My great uncle got a purple heart in WWII ... he was running from some fire and jumped into a fox hole ... thankfully, German was his first language ... when he heard the Germans talking about killing him ... he shot them both.

Thanks to all of those that have died serving our country.

 

[wxcpo]

To all, I am in the Navy with just under 19 years of service and it is amazing to have seen the changes in regards to the respect given to all service members.

On 11 September 2001 I was stationed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt and we were immediately put in lock down status. We weren't allowed to leave the ship for the next 3 days. We deployed on 19 September to take the fight to the terrorists who dared bomb our buildings. We were launching planes and putting bombs on targets 2 weeks later. We returned from the gulf region in May 2002.

In December 2002 we were once again deployed, but this time to help topple Saddam's regime. One of my proudest moments of service was when we were returning from that deployment. I was tasked with helping with the manning of the rails for our return to homeport (Norfolk, VA). I can remember all the small boats that came out to meet us and the people who held up signs saying Thank you. It was estimated that there were over 10,000 people on the pier that day to welcome us back, many there to simply say Thank you for our service.

Many people don't realize the difficulties that come with being in the military, it is far from any normal job in the civilian sector. Those of us that serve though do so knowing that we are often times going to be deployed away from our families and sometime we are going to be sent into harms way and we go willingly. It is very nice to know that our sacrifices are appreciated and that day on the pier when I was walking down to meet my family after being deployed for the last 6 months I must have been thanked over 100 times. It was nice to see that people weren't just paying lip service, but did indeed truly appreciate our efforts.

Thank you all.

 

[MinnesotaCowboy]

What wonderful sentiments from such a great group of people! My oldest son is (or was as he is presently getting ready to retire) a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army.....served for 21 1/2 years.....Bosnia, Gulf War, Korea, and just returned home last year from 18 months in Iraq! Never has a Father been so proud of a son! God Bless all those who have served and kept this country safe from tyranny! I have started to blubber just writing this note.....for the servicemen and women all over the world, I LOVE YOU!

 

[Crown Royal]

Mornin' all,
Hey Tobal, - I agree with you ,not all returning vets. were treated like sh-t.Just makeing a point as to how,times have changed (for the better, in that regard) with our returning service men and women.From some one who came to this country when I was 22, because of the freedoms and lifestyle we all can have here.I really do appreciate the sacrifices given - not only in death, to allow us all to what we want, how we want.Sometimes, its hard to see just how good we have it here,compared to many,many other places around the world.So,again thank-you to all who serve, in any form.

On a serious note - I hope you're single, because with a NZ accent, well......let's just say that it would be a nice assett to have in some of the clubs down here in texas.

 

[SuspectCorner]

thank you our brave american servicemen-and-women, past and present. whenever the call has gone out - you've put politics aside and laid it on the line for your country.

http://i6.***BLOCKED***/albums/y206/notlaw/DadinSEAsia-Enhanced.jpg
here's my hero in 1966, his first of two combat tours in vietnam. he was a proud american, texan, aggie, and dallas cowboys fan. i miss you dad.

 

[trickblue]

thank you our brave american servicemen-and-women, past and present. whenever the call has gone out - you've put politics aside and laid it on the line for your country.

http://i6.***BLOCKED***/albums/y206/notlaw/DadinSEAsia-Enhanced.jpg
here's my hero in 1966, his first of two combat tours in vietnam. he was a proud american, texan, aggie, and dallas cowboys fan. i miss you dad.

He's one of my heroes too... kudos to your father whip...

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

thank you our brave american servicemen-and-women, past and present. whenever the call has gone out - you've put politics aside and laid it on the line for your country.

http://i6.***BLOCKED***/albums/y206/notlaw/DadinSEAsia-Enhanced.jpg
here's my hero in 1966, his first of two combat tours in vietnam. he was a proud american, texan, aggie, and dallas cowboys fan. i miss you dad.

Wow the resemblance is stunning...when I first saw the pic I thought it was a pic of you from years back.

 

[SuspectCorner]

thank you trickblue and er... uh... "brian paint" (heehee). i consider myself very lucky to have had the dad i had. and i consider him very patient to have had the son he had.

dad, you were right. i wish i'd listened a li'l better.