Memorial Day

[MsM8tress]

Memorial Day used to be a sacred day that was reserved for the remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.

Businesses closed for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, the parade routes often times ending at a local cemetery, where Memorial Day speeches were then given. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those the fell in service to their country.

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." -- General Logan - May 5, 1868​

Wonderful people in other nations sometimes show more of the true spirit and mission of the U.S. Memorial Day than we do
here. http://www.usmemorialday.org/act.html

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[MsM8tress]

I received an email today..it began with "I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner.."

He was referring to my letter to him asking if there was anything, anything at all I could send to him to make his time there a bit better. He is a stranger to me and me to him.

Instead of trying to describe the email I decided to post it:

Hi Debi i'm sorry that I took so long to write to you
and I don't mind you writting to me at all. I'm not
very good at writting letters and I've been rather
busy at times. How are things good for you at home
fine I hope.
You were asking me in your letter as to where I'm
from. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio born and raised. At the
age of 40 I'm the youngest of eight children. The only
thing i can think of wanting right now are a few bars
of Neutrogena anti bacterial facial soap. I have an
oily complexion and the sweat and dirt makes my face
grimmier.
i've been in the army for 15 years and I just
reenlisted for my final six at the end I would have
twenty-one years total then I'm out. I did four years
active duty, but counting this and my last deployment
it will be 6 years active duty. i joined the National
Guard in 1995 and before coming to Iraq i sevred 7
months in Kosovo, located in the Balkan, which was
part of the former Yugoslavia.
For the most part it has been rather boring though
things can and do happen. Every once in while a mortar
or a rocket will land and exploded somewhere on base,
sometimes closer than I would like. Some of the news
you might hear about a something exploding in Baghdad
we can hear it. I've been around the city twice and
it's pretty trashy out there. If there are any
improvements made since Saddam lost power i haven't
seen it yet.
Well enough of that, once again sorry for taking so
long and I'll respond quicker the next time so til
then take care
SSG. Brian Mischer

and all he asked for is a bar of soap.....

I never thought about it like that, we hear about a bombing...they HEAR the bombing.

 

[MsM8tress]

Here is another email from a dear friend serving over there also, I've never met him, but he is a great guy. I've had to opportunity to talk to him on the phone, thru the mortor blasts (or whatever they shot over there), helicoptors, and other loud harrowing sounds on the other end.

When I asked what he would need or want sent (I send to 4 service members that I did not know), he would tell me nothing. I finally got him to fess up a little list of things....bug killer, lotion, just everyday things...our service members are incredible.

back to the email he sent me today...this was all it contained (lately they have been unable to access internet or phones, due to increased activity so I am sure just cutting and pasting takes up most of the little time avail.:

Tell them of us and say,
for their tomorrows,
we gave our today.
-- The Kohima Epitaph
Appears on a monument erected at the British military
cemetery at Kohima, Assam, India, in memory of those
who died in World War II ‘s largest Asian land battle
near there in 1944

I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
Timothy 2:4:7

Alone and far removed from earthly care
the noble ruins of men lie buried here.
You were strong men, good men
Endowed with youth and much the will to live
I hear no protest from the mute lips of the dead.
They rest; there is no more to give.
So long my comrades,
Sleep ye where you fell upon the field.
But tread softly please March o'er
my heart with ease
March on and on,
But to God alone we kneel.
-- Audie Murphy

"It is better to have lived one day as a lion
than one thousand days as a sheep."
Inscription on the stone of
Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Clinger, USA,
Section 8, Arlington National Cemetery.

"In great deeds something abides.
On great fields something stays.
Forms change and pass;
bodies disappear; but spirits linger,
to consecrate ground for the
vision-place of souls.
And reverent men and women from afar,
and generations that know us not
and that we know not of,
heart-drawn to see where and by whom
great things were suffered and done for them,
shall come to this deathless field
to ponder and dream;
And lo! The shadow of a mighty presence
shall wrap them in its bosom,
and the power of the vision pass into their souls."
-- Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Commenting on his return to Gettysburg

I tell you this Freedom is not free there is a price paid,
All give some and some give all,
Some make it home and some would fall,
All give some and some give all,
There names on our hearts, lips, and a wall,
All give some and some give all,
So please remember the next time you hear a bugle or a bag pipe call,
All give some and some give all,
The flag may stand so tall,
Because all give some and some give all.
Mr. V. OIF Vet.

 

[pepperman]

I remember when Memorial Day used to mean something, it's sad that some people don't remember that this is a day to Honor our fallen service men and women.

 

[JC1994]

In honor of all the fallen service men and women, happy memorial day!! :Beer :Beer