It's about Memorial Day

[uwsacf]

It's not about YOU!

It's not about partying

It's not about rewarding you with an extra day off because you have been working real hard.

It IS about those who have willingly given up their lives for YOU and your family...

They will not spend Memorial Day with their families like you will.

They will be under rows of crosses in Flanders Field...

They will be entombed in the Arizona and many other ships like them....

They will be missing in far way off places, never to be seen nor heard from again... leaving their families in despair and unrequited hope...

Remember then young men brutally shot down on April 19, 1775 in Concord and Lexington who shed the first drops of blood for your American freedom...

Remember the half million who died in our worst war between us as brothers that divided a nation.

Remember those who perished during the "Great War" and World War II, fighting to save others during the world's worst hours.

Remember those in Korea and Viet Nam who fought brilliantly and courageously...

Remember those brave American souls dragged naked through the streets in Mogadishu, once again trying to save those less fortunate than we.

Remember those now in harms way, rightly or wrongly, they are giving their all for us once again.

So party if you will on Saturday and Sunday...

But come Monday, Memorial Day 2004 - you have a duty and a responsibility as an American...

To REMEMBER and to THANK those who made your liberty possible.

Attend a Memorial Day Parade and salute those who are among us..

If you get a chance, like I have twice, get close to a Medal of Honor recipient, shake their hand if possible and touch greatness.

but then...

Go to your nearest cemetary to salute them

Pray for them...

Honor them...

Weep for them...

Thank them...

Then teach your children....

All about them...

THAT is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, as an American - on Memorial Day

______________________________ ______________________


Two other great tributes to our men in harms way...

Bless them all

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A wonderful outpouring of respect and thanks to one we lost.........

http://members.accessus.net/~tmcdonld/lighthse/Texas.htm

______________________________ _______________________

A tribute to all

http://nathanadams.com/WeSupportU.htm

______________________________ _____________________

If you have a copy of Private Ryan - (if you don't, don't you think you should)

This weekend is the time...

The time for their valor to inspire and humble you

Please remember them all...

[uwsacf]

Memorial to fallen remains incomplete
By Jim Mathews
My Word

May 28, 2004

As Memorial Day 2004 approaches, Americans have a continuing unpaid debt of honor to almost 800 fellow Americans killed in Iraq. Private ceremonies in towns throughout our country have gathered their friends and families together in small groups in tearful farewell. Our top government leadership, however, has yet to make that sad, hard, symbolic trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to welcome all of them home for the last time, with full honors, on behalf of all the American people, and a nation grateful to all of those lost for its freedom.

Not to publicly honor our returning fallen, not to have the senior elected officials of this government represent us in rendering those honors on our behalf, has already injured our national conscience. The secrecy and prohibitive "regulations" about flag-d***** coffin pictures and public military honors ceremonies for our warriors dishonor everyone concerned. Our British, Italian and other coalition allies have had no such reservations about national tributes.

Former Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Gen. Hugh Shelton asked in a 1999 Harvard speech: "Is the American public prepared for the sight of our most precious resources coming home in flag-d***** caskets into Dover Air Force Base?"

If we, as a nation, are not prepared to accept tragedy as a price of war, or to take as our own the loss of those who fight in our name, or to shed honest tears of grief in their memory, then we are not as mature or responsible as those we send to fight. If that's true, we are unworthy of the freedom they have earned for us at such terrible cost. Perhaps, we should stay home and just sit on the porch.

Our fallen will always receive traditional honors from their military comrades, be it privately in a transport aircraft or elsewhere, if "regulations" so require. The lost deserve, however, to receive these final salutes representing all our people in the bright sunshine of a free America that they gave their lives to protect. That allows the rest of us, at least symbolically, to add our humble public gratitude for their enormous sacrifice.

Most Americans live each day confident that our sons and daughters can't be called to face mortal danger in Iraq. Only volunteers, regulars, Reservists and National Guard, who have stepped up to the ultimate challenge of citizenship, now face this danger. We must not let that lull us into forgetting how very much we owe to both the living, and the dead. Nor must we allow the criminal transgressions of some inevitable miscreants to overshadow the honor and valor of the vast majority of our superb warriors, living and departed.

Jim Mathews served for 31 years in the U.S. Navy. He lives in Winter Springs.

[uwsacf]

Outraged world can use a history lesson
Sentinel Staff Writer
Jake Vest
May 28, 2004

The world is outraged at us. Again.

We're insensitive war-mongering bullies who don't spend anywhere near enough on opera, cheese and welfare.

The disgust borders on hatred when it doesn't come right out and cross that line. Our Olympic athletes have been advised to refrain from excessive flag-waving, lest they provoke those who detest us.

Good call. Let's ditch the national anthem, too. Maybe play a little something by Joan Baez or the Dixie Chicks, then Michael Moore could go around and apologize to the international crowd. Better yet, let's just lose and make everybody happy.

Maybe my cultural deficiency is showing, but I am having a harder and harder time putting much value on the world's opinion -- especially the latest indignation over how our soldiers mistreat prisoners in Iraq.

"That's about what you can expect out of Americans," the world seems to be saying, with the average Euro-sneer.

That stings, especially as Memorial Day nears, with ceremonies in cemeteries occupied in large part by those who fought Germany and Japan -- back when the world was happy to see our flag coming.

I had an uncle in the European Theater, helping chase the Germans back to Berlin, down a trail decorated with civilian corpses hanging from lampposts. Exultant Europeans gave the soldiers wine and promised "we will never forget."

Over in the Pacific, where I had two other uncles and a father participating in the fighting, the Japanese were using captured Americans for bayonet practice. Or officially sanctioned slave labor.

In all fairness, as if fairness has anything to do with world opinion, there was some international outrage about those World War II incidents, but with one significant difference from our case.

Japan and Germany didn't have a problem with themselves.

The Japanese government didn't interfere with the war effort by pulling people out for courts-martial proceedings. The Japanese were mistreating prisoners right up until the end. No protests at home.

German self-regulation was equally unapparent. They went right on being just as they were up until my uncle and a few million of his friends put an end to it. At that point, they all started denying that they had anything to do with what went on. It was all those "other" Germans.

At least we have the decency to be outraged at our own behavior. We'll take responsibility.

This doesn't excuse the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. But when you have a little dirt under your fingernails, it is hard to take correction from a world full of Lady Macbeths.

Those prison images are haunting, but I would ask you to compare them to some other images you will see this weekend.

Row upon row, battalions and regiments of white grave markers, as far as the eye can see. Don't try to count them; it'll make you dizzy. The numbers are almost inconceivable, and almost every one, with only the rarest of exceptions, has something in common with all the others.

An honorable discharge.

That's the general admission ticket here. These are the millions who followed the rules, even when the world didn't seem to have any. They maintained the high standards we not only expect but demand of those who carry our flag.

It's even more impressive when you take some of the stories individually.

Under one of those headstones is a man who was a source of wonder for me back in elementary school. He was a janitor who looked the other way when the boys sneaked into the boiler room to smoke cigarettes. Sometimes, if we begged, he would show us "the picture."

It was a magazine clipping of a Marine pilot being beheaded as grinning Japanese soldiers look on. The janitor had carried it on three landings, a little extra reminder that quitting was not an option.

A Pall Mall-puffing classmate once asked, "Did you ever catch any of them?" The janitor replied, "Yeah, I got one of them to give up once." We asked gleefully, "Did you cut his head off?" -- hoping to hear gruesome details of payback.

After a pause that seemed longer than necessary, he said: "No. I gave him half of my Hershey bar. He was starving."

It was a disappointing answer at the time, but it was not a surprising answer.

It was about what you would expect out of an American -- if you are one.

The world tends to forget about things like that, but then again, it's not much of a world, and we shouldn't expect much out of it.

As long as we remember what we really are, we'll be just fine.

You can contact Jake Vest at jvest@orlandosentinel.com, or call 1-800-347-6868, Ext. 5689, and leave a message.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-ocojake28052804may28,1,4856644 .story

[Bradley G]

Try to follow up that post, WOW!! gave me goosebumps:bows:

[uwsacf]

Don't forget at Noon Saturday...

the National Dedication Ceremony for the World War II Memorial will be televised on Fox and Cspan

If you happen to be lucky enough to see the Memorials in Washington

Please be sure and thank every Veteran you meet.

[woaface]

Yup, I can't wait to watch Fox come that time...tis a great day to honor.

[David Morton]

Thanks for reminding us, it is about those that have died.


Died to defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

A document that Abraham Lincoln, our greatest president, knew was mankinds last, best hope for freedom from tyranny. He said our country could never be destroyed by an outside invader, but that if it ever would be destroyed, it would be from within, by it's own people.

A document that had guaranteed each state complete autonomy in conducting elections of their representatives to the federal government.

A right that was denied the State of Florida in the year 2000 by the Supreme Court, mostly by the very same folks that have decried "judicial legislation" for years. A court that had two members voting with family members that were to gain financially from a Bush victory.

Let's not puff ourselves up with our military power and tell the world to screw when our Constitution is the last best hope for mankind and is under attack. That is the root of our problems. Let us instead take responsibility for acting, or failing to act, out of fear because of 9/11 and giving too much power to one man. On 9/12 the newspapers in Europe ran the headlines in bold type "We're All Americans Now". Bush had 90% approval and for good reason.

Today, we all need to take a honest look and ask ourselves, "Is 800 American soldiers dead and 5,000 innocent Iraqi's, some women and children (administrations' numbers, not mine) something worthy of our high ideals? Or are we really inwardly glad that Halliburton and its allies have locked in our future oil supplies?

Can we be that selfish? That cold? Are we alright with the notion that it was OK for those guys to lie to us about WMD's as long as we don't have to pay $5 a gallon for gas? Is that what we want our boys and girls to be dying for? And killing for? And torturing for?

I plan to thank God for our fallen dead next Monday and also for Him to help me do more to see to it that my government is not an enemy of innocent people, it's own people, or our planet with it's limited resources. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And that includes all future generations. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more. It's my country too, and I'm going to fight for it, at the ballot box.

Oh, and I'm from Kentucky too.

[Fourth Horseman]

:bows: :bows: :bows:

The spirit of 1776 (really, 1775) lives on. And as David Morton noted, it's the spirit of Philadelphia 1787 as well. I love this country!

[BillyGman]

Ditto. As many bad things as there is in the USA, I ask you, where is there a better country? No where on the face of the earth my friends. if you think there is, then what are you waiting for? Just go there to live........

But more to the point here, is what has all been previously said in this post. I've never even served in the military, but I appreciate and respect those who do, and who have. THANKYOU!!!! It isn't our government who protects our freedoms,and rights, as well as our way of life. It's our military people. War is ugly, and should never be the first resort, but it'sn unfortunately the lesser of two evils at times because if the sick world we live in. And even during times of peace, it's our military people who serve as a deterent to those who want to over throw our country as well as our freedoms. I'll never take that for granted. IMO any politician who has cut way back on our military was and is out of touch w/reality. We need our military people, and always will as long as there's evil and international crime in the world. And we should always supply our military people w/nothing but the best equippment possible to perform the difficult job that they do. Again, I thankyou!!!!! You're the best, as are those who have went before you were!!!!!

[Marauder57]

Good Stuff....I watched the dedication today....."W" choked up a bit when he thanked his Dad.....

I am very proud of that monument....I donated about $500 over the last 5 years to the fund to build it.....now I need to go up there and see it.....

In Bush's speech he mentioned something very interesting.....in WW2 the US was only the 17th Largest Army in the world.....16 Million people served or fought in WW2....400,000 died. 476 Medals of Honor...and now only 4,000,000 of these people survive. During the war almost 40% of the produce in the US was produced in backyards and on rooftops....The women replaced the men in the factorys and jobs while they fought.....This country really pulled together at a critical time.....We owe a tremendous debt to those who served.

I would like to personally thank my Grandfather Don Chafin Sr. He was a young kid from the Coal Mining towns of West Virginia who traveled around the world and was Stationed in North Africa working ground crews for the planes for the Air Force.

Take a moment Monday and remember Freedom is not Free.....

[BillyGman]

In Bush's speech he mentioned something very interesting.....in WW2 the US was only the 17th Largest Army in the world.....16 Million people served or fought in WW2....400,000 died. 476 Medals of Honor...and now only 4,000,000 of these people survive. During the war almost 40% of the produce in the US was produced in backyards and on rooftops....The women replaced the men in the factorys and jobs while they fought.....This country really pulled together at a critical time.....We owe a tremendous debt to those who served.Take a moment Monday and remember Freedom is not Free.....
Wow! I already knew some of those things but not all of them. That IS very interesting. I'm seriously sorry that I missed that speech.

[Marauder57]

Oh also forgot...I think he said something like 30% of Americans bought War Bonds....which means the American People actually invested in Americas fight in WW2......Quite an amazing generation.

[BillyGman]

.....Quite an amazing generation.yep, I believe it was. Leaves something to be desired about our generation if you ask me, but I'm not intending to change the subject of this great thread.

[Dan]

I saw something in the paper today which basically sais the the terrorists believe that if the US is hit hard it will back down (a la Vietnam) because its people don't have the stomach for it.

He then went on to make the point that if the US does indeed back down it will be seen as a win for terrorists and that after they they will never leave us alone.

It was an interesting article.

Best,

Dan

[Merc-O-matic]

Least we forget....

To honor the memory of my uncle (age 20)
ALBERT HRUDKA QM2 (SS) USN
and the crew of the USS GRAYBACK SS-208
lost on 26 Feb 1944 on her 9th war patrol.

May the GOOD LORD continue to Bless
all those " Still on Patrol"

CAPT A. D. SALEKER, MSC, USN (Ret.)

[modular46]

I will be speaking at the Viet Nam Vets Memorial service on Monday in Dayton, OH.

I will also be bringing the benediction following the wreath and taps ceremony.

In honor of my brother, William Ned Britton, USMC, KIA March 1968, Age 20.

I was not there, but I still care!

God Bless the USA.