Memorial Day
Many things have changed, over the years, that people associate with Memorial Day. The media seem to have blurred the differences between Memorial Day and Veterans Day that Veterans take note of. Retailers look at Memorial Day as a time to run sales, adult beverage retailers run ads for people to get their favorite beverage to go with their weekend bbq and grocery stores run sales and specials on all you need for that weekend bbq and others look at it as a paid day off of work. I don’t blame the average citizen for not knowing the true meaning of Memorial Day, because they have been inundated with the benefits of the sacrifice of those that have fallen, so they can have that sale, so they can have that bbq, so they can have that day off of work.
To me, it has always meant what it was designed for, since I was a little kid. Maybe that’s because I was born on a military base in Germany and have had so many in my family that have served during war time, including myself? I don’t know, but it has been something inside of me for as long as I can remember. I look on the day with solemnity. When I go to the cemeteries, today, to place flags at the headstones of those that have served, I sort of lose awareness of everything else, except for why I’m there and what I am doing. It is a serene time that I cherish every year that I do this with my brothers and sisters from my Post. It doesn’t matter, to me, if they fell during battle, or passed away after a long life; they served and that is why I am there. Just like Rolling Thunder being in DC this weekend. A friend of mine does the ride from Minnesota every year, rain or shine, cold or hot. Why? For the same reasons that everyone else involved does, to honor and remember those that have gone before. That is what Memorial Day is all about. Whether a person quietly honors a personal friend or acquaintance or takes part in a public memorial, that is what is important. If you want to take part in a public memorial service, I encourage everyone to look up local activities, or check with your local VSO to see if they have something going on that you could help with, like placing flags at grave sites, or other activities. We have all Summer to have beer and bbq, let’s give this one day to those it was created for.
Old Trooper out
Category: Politics
I’m running to the store in a few minutes to get some Saint Pauli Girl Bier.
If I have one more “citizen” tell me this week end “this holiday is for you isn’t it?”
I’m going to slap them…I’m still alive, but I have 2 friends who didn’t make it home
All The Best Of Everything Good
to all U.S. FORCES
including those here at This Ain’t Hell
from a U.S. ARMY Vietnam War veteran .
Not for me – my employer doesn’t allow its working class to have Memorial Day off.
My classmates and I raise a class to our fallen every Memorial Day and post the evidence on our Facebook group.
Cheesy…I know…but..well…we are a tight class.
Doug. Was an infantry officer, prior service infantry as well. he had done Panama I think…Best guy I ever knew. took nothing serious but was always there when you needed him. His favorite pass time was terrorizing us with his stinky feet. Why a man would pull off his socks and shoes right after PT is beyond me.
Chris. big goof. He ran the two mile like his feet were made of lead. we were never sure how he could even make the minimum time with a pace like that…but he did. He want Armor…fitting I guess. He did tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and ‘Stan (he later was in the Acq Corps). he made it home…what we didn’t know is that he carried something back. he took his own life a couple years ago. Shocked us all. Some wounds are not always visible ones.
Mark. Complete stud. Even as a cadet he taught us something about being an officer. The guy just had it down cold. There is really nothing you could do to phase the guy. He went tanks also.
They are all missed. All of them.
We lost another guy after being home this year, 26 years old leaving behind a wife and daughter. I am going to spend some time with my wife and son.
WILCO Old Trooper. I’ll be here:
A service to dedicate Glenwood Park on West Grove Avenue in Rantoul to the memory of a local man who fell in the line of duty will be held on Memorial Day.
The service is scheduled at 2 p.m. at the park
The park will be dedicated in honor of Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Rudzinski.
SSgt. Rudzinski lost his life when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on patrol in October 2009 in Afghanistan.
The service is open to the public.
Some hours tomorrow doing the poppy thing. We always manage to collect a significant amount of cash for local outreach. The poppy money is for direct support of individuals in need in the community. (Vets get priority, of course, but families of are a very close second.)
We are very lucky to have an active and oroductive Auxillary. They do much of the hard work so that we can spend our time doing things like funeral details, memorial services and such. And we have no drink service at all – only meetings and community service. Our rifle team is much sought after.
The weekend is always bittersweet here.
@1: I have been asked that, before, also. I reply that Veterans Day is for those living while Memorial Day is for those no longer with us.
So many people in the public that realize it’s not “National 3 day weekend and BBQ day” confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. My Grandmother calls to wish me a “Happy Memorial Day” every year, and tells me how proud she is. Apparently I died.
Living in NOVA, I will make attend Rolling Thunder in DC this weekend, and head to Section 60 at Arlington on Monday to pay respects to some comrades.
The evenings, of course, will be spent on my patio enjoying adult beverages and reminiscing.
I wish all the best to everyone here on TAH.
The list is long of those Fallen Heroes – and their families – that I remember and honour, especially on your Memorial Day.
All,
At the moment all I can say is AMEN to the article! Memorial Day is all about the great men and women who gave there all for each and every one of us still standing here today! My Great Grandfather, Grandfather and my Dad all served in the USN, my father during the Korean War. It was not meant for me to serve, no matter how badly I wanted to, but I made damn sure when my boys were growing up they all knew what Memorial Day stood for, and it wasn’t some holiday spent out on the lake or partying with friends. It must have had an impact, because both boys enlisted to serve right out of high school, one in the Army, and the other in the USN, where both of them made me extremely proud father!
Very well said.Everyone stay safe.
While Memorial Day is about our fallen soldiers, it’s the living soldiers who are the face of the day, to civilians. Rightly or wrongly, they think Memorial Day is about you, too. That’s why they ask you about it.
And yes, it’s always hard to not grind your teeth in the face of total ignorance.
It hurts me deeply, frankly. I’ve no issue with others thanking veterans, though I believe they should be doing so daily and more with actions than words. But when I see my best friend hurt and angered because it IS for those who gave all and those who did give all haunt him every second, I tend to become a little protective and on edge.
I do thank you all immensely, but this weekend is for remembering and reflecting.
“We who are left, how shall we look again
Happily on the sun or feel the rain
Without remembering how they who went
Ungrudgingly and spent
Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain?
A bird among the rain-wet lilac sings—
But we, how shall we turn to little things
And listen to the birds and winds and streams
Made holy by their dreams,
Nor feel the heart-break in the heart of things?”
-Wilfrid Wilson Gibson
First World War poem by John McCrae, Fields of Flanders
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.
It was written during the first world war, but it’s still an awesome piece. Having visited memorials to allied soldiers in Bastogne, Luxemburg, Eindhoven, and attended services at Margraten, I have an immense amount of respect for those buried so far from home. Oddly, at least from what I’ve seen in this area, they seem to put a whole lot more into their Armistice Day than most Americans do.
The meaning of Memorial day is clear, direct, and simple for me, mourn and grieve.
It has gotten better over the years, I flinch less often in the days leading up to Memorial Day. I am barraged by fewer “celebrate” the “holiday”. I see/hear/read fewer “Sale” advertisements , hear about peoples plans for BBQ, lake trips, etc.
But the bottom-line, is very few Americans really know what it means to me….a reminder of what you have lost, and more importantly, what Family members have given up for this Country.
Thanks for the Great Site
Jerry
Hat Tip to Mr Stokley for getting the Ga Gold Star DMV tag. Thank you Sir…
Lost another one yesterday. One of my best. Til Valhall.
Rest in Peace, Til Valhall. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your soldiers, tangonine.
RIP Til. Peace also to your crew and family.
(Thank you for sharing, tangonine. A special prayer for you and yours tonight.)
Tangonine-to Valhalla?
I’m sorry for your loss, Tangonine. May he RIP.
This isn’t my day or any of any living veteran’s day. This day is for my late grandfather, father, uncles and cousins who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and Viet Nam and in Iraq and Afghanistan who are no longer with us. In my family service wasn’t a choice but a duty. My grandfather said it was his duty to serve in WWI because he became an American citizen a few months before the war started. We’ve been serving ever since. It is a great point of pride for us.
Tango, would you mind posting his name? My Dad is a minister, and includes the names of every friend of mine or local veteran who has been KIA in the prayer request section. I’d like for him to do the same for yours.
I want to post but can’t for I am in tears… not at the sacrifice my son gave, but for all of you here that get it. Thanks.
Mickey, I’m sorry for your loss.
Thought about attempting an article for today, but realized that Old Trooper probably said pretty much everything I would have. So I’ll add my two cents’ worth here.
Today is the day we honor those who didn’t make it home. Because of their sacrifice, the rest of us can still enjoy that most precious gift of all: freedom.
Freedom is not free. It never has been, and it never will be.
Today I salute you, my departed brothers (and sisters)-in-arms. Your work is done; we’ll take it from here. Rest in peace.
And rest assured: we’ll never forget.
@28: Great post, Hondo. I have to start getting ready for the 2 speeches I have been asked to give today (I hate public speaking, but on this day, I have never minded doing it. I’m not a suit and tie kinda guy) and it looks like the weather is going to cooperate, unlike last year. I spent yesterday morning out at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery and it was packed, but not like it will be today, lol. I visited my father-in-law (Korea) and a friend (Vietnam) and some others that I knew. I, also, think of a person I knew, when I was in, that fell in Grenada. We weren’t close buds that tipped a beer together, but spent some time together before then.
Memorial day is for what people want to make it for. Stop spouting nonsensical bullshit. You joined a VOLUNTEER military, you were not forced to serve like the people memorial day was actually created for.So get off your high horse, you should have chosen a different career path if you don’t like the respect shown to this volunteer cowardice military we have now.
Respect to those who die, but this risk is assumed with joining the military just like the risk of death is assumed if i become a crab fisherman.
@30: The only crabs you have are in your shorts.
HackorDie: your ignorance is noted, as is your use of those freedoms (here, of speech) far better men than you have died to protect. Fuck you very much.
Given his screen-name, there seems little doubt that he lives in his Mother’s basement, and his military experience comes exclusively from playing Call of Duty while scratching his little boy nuts with Cheeto stained fingers.
@ 32, ditto.
Yeah, CI – and his mommy must be a transplant from Boston to NH. Or maybe he’s just a homegrown loon. The IP appears to resolve to one in NH. Looks like this fool is one of yours, NHSparky.
Doesn’t have the balls to post using a legit e-mail address, either.
@30 The risk of death by a volunteer force is no less than that of a conscript force; however, the assumption of that risk is greater, because the volunteers accept it freely.
Ungrateful idiots do nothing to dishonor those they so disdain. Sad, pitiful little whimpering cowards, jealous of all we who know honor and answered the call of duty, a concept they can never imagine much less attain.
Thinking today of all who trained us, set the standards for us, and paid for our freedoms, and those of the fools who squander their oppotunities. We can never adequately thank them for the gift of freedom for which they paid so dearly.
What we can do is remember them and their sacrifices. Then it is our collective job to pass those lessons learned to the next generation of honorable Americans.
Salute, brave souls.
Hackor, you silly boy, does your Mommy know you’re up past your bedtime? Considering Memorial Day is for all US war dead I’m guessing you’re all pissy about WWII as well. Congratulations on being a Nazi sympathizer.
Your logic is more than a little bit backward. How exactly is it cowardice to join the military during war time when you are under no obligation to? If we didn’t then the draft would still be in place, and imbeciles such as yourself whining about how unfair it is that for the first time in your life you’re being forced to work for a living and put others before yourself.
Go back to your OWS rat hole so you can get back to giving all the indigent rapists a free meal. Better yet, put aside your sanctimoniousness and go live in the real world for a change. You’ve clearly never suffered so much as a smidgen of adversity in your perfect little life.