Memorial Day Open Thread
Stand tall and proud. (time.com)
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” George S. Patton Jr.
Category: Open thread
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First?
Congrats’, Wire!
Thank you. Tis the greatest honor.
Had great weather and turn out for VT Thunder yesterday, put on about 360 miles.
J3x4TXdS4ac
From a Gold Star Mother who comes here for solace in the presence of those who truly understand words like honor, service and sacrifice.
Thank you for knowing, honoring and holding true to the meaning of Memorial Day. Celebrate the gift of this day. I can think of nothing that would honor them more than living the life they helped purchased.
When someone thanks for your service, do not refuse them. Many may not know the difference, so politely educate them to whom their thanks are owed. Be honored to carry the memories, names and stories of those who make Memorial Day personal for you.
I’m off to the National Cemetery, to have my hand shook, to politely redirect thanks for a service I did not render. Because you can’t shake the hand of a headstone, I will stand. For my only child, the one who gifted me this world full of heroes I now get to humbly walk in – PFC Andrew Meari, KIA 11/1/10, Kandahar.
God’s purest Blessing on you all. My eternal thanks to you all for standing
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son Denise.
Know our hearts and prayers are with you and all Gold Star families today, Denise.
Well said, Mom. As a Gold Star son, my deepest thoughts are with you and all GS families. Today and every day.
God bless.
Thoughts and Prayers to you and all the Gold Star Families, today and every day Denise
Denise, please know that we are there with you today in honoring your son. My thoughts and prayers.for you.
And, God’s blessings on you and yours, Denise. Prayers for you and your son.
My thoughts and prayers for you and your family today.
We’re all right there with you, ma’am.
May The Peace that passeth all understanding bring you His Comfort on this, and all days, Denise. We will say his name, we will be his witness. PFC Andrew Meari lives on in the hearts of each of us here. There is no task that you could ask of us that would not be done. 
Until Vahalla, my brothers.
I tell this to people who want me to “explain”.
But I replace “understand” with “BTDT”.
Amen.
May we endeavor to live worthily of their sacrifice, and never forget the great price of freedom.
This Memorial Day, I want to remember a departed highschool classmate.
Taps for Spec. 4 John M. Kuehn 12 December 1985 Gander, Newfoundland. He perished with 248
members of the 101st Airborne returning to Ft. Campbell, KY after duties in the Middle East. #Rememberandmemorialize
One of my classmates Capt Kyle Edmonds perished in the Arrow Air crash. Being in the military is dangerous even when there isn’t a war on. I also lost friends in the Yukla-27 crash in Alaska. This Memorial Day, I think back on all the small mostly forgotten events (except by their families) Korean Axe Murder, DESERT ONE during EAGLE CLAW, El Dorado Canyon, USS Stark, USS Cole, Beirut, Bombing,Blackhawk Shootdown 1994, URGENT FURY, JUST CAUSE, DESERT SHIELD/STORM, OEF/OIF.
The freedoms I have were bought and paid for by others wo gave their lives.
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.
As read by Leonard Cohen:
May they rest in peace. Hand Salute. Ready, Two!
I’m hoping someone here can help me with a question that’s been bugging me for a few years.
I have a friend who was with A Squadron for a while. I’m not sure what unit he was with when he died (I was deployed at the time), but he was still in the long-haired freaky people community.
The official story is that he was killed by a drunk driver and that may be true, but there are no police reports from that day that match up.
I’m not suggesting that his service was any greater or lesser based on the nature of his death (a far greater soldier than I ever was); just for my own peace of mind, is there a way to find out for certain?
Top of the page, Military Records tab. You’ll find instructions on how to file a request with either a SF 180 or FOIA.
Thanks. Not sure if it’s gonna be there, but I’ll check.
His family has accepted what they were told and is trying to move on; I need to be minimalist with the details as the last thing I want is for them to relive the loss, but I was long-shot hoping someone from the community might have some direct knowledge.
Saying he was “with A Squadron” is meaningless to us, unless you are talking about the 22nd SAS of the British Army. Every cavalry and armor unit in the U.S. Army has squadrons and an”A Squadron.” Also, it is a common small unit designation in aviation units of all branches of our military. Historically, a squadron was comparable to a company sized element.
SFOD-D
(note: My friend served with them, I am not claiming any connection to such)
Counselor, under the current TO&E, isn’t a troop now equal to a company and a squadron the equivalent of a battalion?
It depends. For example, in the 1800’s a squadron was two cavalry companies. I suppose it depends on your branch of service. In some branches a troop is comparable to a platoon.
In the Marine Corps, a squadron is the equivalent of a battalion.
Was that an A Squadron special unit or just a Squadron. I tried looking it up but all I got was A squadron is made up of so and so.
Whatever the Army SMU is calling itself, now. He died in January 2020, I don’t know what unit he was with at that point.
I’m the 21’th.
Cool, now I can finally buy a drink !!!
Oh wait, I tried that and it didn’t work out too well the last time…
I had this little disagreement with the Wisconsin DOT and they quickly informed me of the fun times ahead should I continue with that line of living…
Oh well, Have a great Memorial Day my friends.
It’s been quite the year for me, filled with a lot of the best things that I could never imagine a couple years ago.
Thunder.
At the risk of being accused of politicizing a thread honoring our fallen dead, this old soldier believes that the best way we can honor them is to preserve the nation for which they made their ultimate sacrifice. And that is best done by replacing corrupt, self-enriching, career politicians with warrior diplomats who have the interests and preservation of the nation as their focus.
In keeping with that concept, a group of special operations veterans is today launching the Green Beret Political Action Committee to support such veteran-candidates:
Candidates – Green Beret PAC
This is a PAC that Ol’ Poe can and will support with contributions instead of the usual Republican National Committee or incumbents who already have a lock on their too-long held seats. Hopefully, others of you will as well.
All these warriors deserve our votes. Anyone living in New Hampshire needs to vote for BG Bolduc.
NH is a ten-minute drive, I can claim residency in van down by the river. It works when Boston shows up on Manchester NH to vote.
Boston needs testosterone replacement therapy. It’s gotten way too soyboy.
Poe just made his first of several planned contributions.
Thanks, Poe. I was a registered Republican for decades…until this last election. I specifically chose no affiliation when I moved to Nevada. I’m getting sicker of the party more and more every day. But I sure don’t want to vote for commie dems. Now I have a good alternative to all of them.
One of the positives of the Poe’s PCS’ing to Arkansas from New Mexico several years ago was the fact that while NM was turning bluer and bluer, the opposite was occurring in Arkansas. Although Gov. Hutchinson has turned out to be a bit of a RINO, our other Republican officeholders are strongly conservative, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a shoo-in for governor so there goes that problem.
However, the Poe’s have retained their Republican registration so that in the event any RINO’s do enter the primaries, we can help vote them down. That’s really the only way to get rid of RINO incumbents.
And since Nevada has closed primaries, you might want to look at that decision again, ‘Stang…
“And since Nevada has closed primaries, you might want to look at that decision again, ‘Stang…”
Yup. Something to seriously consider. Thanks.
First, I would like to kneel in respect for the bravery of those who are the reason for this holiday. No beverages for me until later as I am at work today. But I will have one or two to their memories.
Saw this article the other day. Harold Billow, the last known survivor of the Malmedy Massacre during the Battle of the Bulge died May 17 at age 99. RIP, sir.
Last Known Survivor of WWII POW Massacre Dead at 99 | Military.com
Say their Names…be their Witness. To do so means that they are Present in Spirit and will not be forgotten.
A special Prayer for our Gold Star Families, especially the Moms. Theirs is a pain that will never go away. And we have a Debt of Honor to them that can never be fully paid.
Rest In Piece, Warriors. I’ll meet you all again.
I can’t find the video now, but I swear, our local NBC affiliate did a montage of fans at the Indy 500, and one of those they showed was Mark Wayne Tiemann, the Round Marine exposed by TAH back in 2012 and 2014. I’ve been all over the net, looking for that brief little scene they showed from prior to the race. He was there in all of his round shame, and dress blues.
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=40002
PHONY ALERT.
Not a military phony, but a self promoting political phony.
Pennsylvania’s “America First”
Purple Heart LtGov election loser Teddy Daniels
is a PHONY Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
He flashed it on FaceBook Live.
Seen here.
[MAGA Candidate Calls Reporters ‘Purple-Haired Sissies’
For Asking About Past Abuse Allegations]
https://www.comicsands.com/teddy-daniels-purple-haired-sissies-2656715351.html
Presented by American Legion Post 39,
Harford, MD.
Comments on the FaceBook post.
What a queef.
Did anyone catch the False Commander “Phony” Phil Monkress (CEO of All-Points Logistics) and his new batch of Phildo supporters laying a few turds at the Tomb of the Unknown Poser down on the All-Points Logistics campus?
Green Thumb,
No, but due to your post,
I deployed the Fu of Google on Phildo,
and THIS now comes up at #1.
A 2022 article by Phony Phil himself.
BTW,
exactly what makes Monkress a “service-disabled veteran”?
[ALL POINTS CEO PHIL MONKRESS: Our Neighbors Ushering in Next Generation of American Space TravelBy Phil Monkress,
All Points President and CEO // March 20, 2022]
https://spacecoastdaily.com/2022/03/all-points-ceo-phil-monkress-our-neighbors-ushering-in-next-generation-of-american-space-travel/
Green Thumb (and admins),
Oh oh.
Further down the Fu of Google,
It takes going to Page 3 to see a VG/TAH article, this.
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=30777
If anyone needs a “Best of” highlight reel NEW VG article,
this Phony Navy SEAL Phil Monkress,
and his lawyerly counterattack,
rates in the Top 5.
Memorial Day 2022 in ELKO, NEVADA
1 – The Elko POW*MIA Awareness Ass
got 9 bike(r)s to participate in a ride for a local fallen soldier,
but only because a bunch of “National Veterans Riders”
rolled into town and showed up.
2 – Memorial Day park ceremony,
only the new chaplain got to the stage or podium.
The rest of the Elko POW*MIA Awareness Ass that showed up,
got to hold flags, in the rear, including their new “commander”.
3 – New vests for the youngins,
who outgrew their previous vests.
https://www.facebook.com/Elko-POWMIA-Awareness-Association-106848159338009/
Holy Stolen Valor Phony Crap UPDATE –
Former POW*MIA Awareness Ass chaplain
(and Elko Daily Free Press relative)
Lee Foster (“Innkeeper”)
is NOW wearing a VIETNAM VETERAN patch.
When did this begin???
Enlarged photo of LEE FOSTER
and his new patch.
Well, he will say he is wearing it “in honor of all Vietnam veterans.” And he is not implying he is one.
rgr769,
Only when pressed.
This is the patch.
Now that most all of the OTHER Vietnam Veterans around him are either dead, too old and sick,
or got the shits of Les Brown & Co
and split the Elko POW*MIA Awareness Ass…
It’s safe to say that the phony badass black leather vest now sporting this new patch
has a bunch of riveting war stories to spew,
especially when asked (but not pressed).
Hoping the FOIA redacted service records backlog is going away,
and we can get back to busting these phonies.
Ugh.
Hey, he saw Platoon, you know… /sarc
Until the Highest Ground.