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MEMORIAL DAY--Thread One--"Discussions With a One-Legged Man"
The Local Graveyard...and a 1 legged man
| 5/24/04
| redrock
Posted on 05/24/2004 7:31:45 PM PDT by redrock
"Find the cost of freedom,
buried in the ground "
Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young
I tend to wander around cemeteries. Especially right before Memorial Day. It seems to help me regain focus on the day that is set aside to honour those who have served this Nation in uniform.
On one such visit...I noticed a man ( a fairly old man with white hair) wearing part of a military uniform. Why I noticed is pretty simple....he had only one leg...and was supported by his remaining leg..and 2 wooden crutches.
It kinda stands out...especially in a cemetery.
As I got closer to where he was standing....I noticed the medals ON his uniform jacket. I tend to notice such things as someone wearing a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.
It kinda stands out....especially in a cemetery.
Somehow (actually on purpose) I started up a conversation. We talked for a couple of hours...both of us serving in the Army. Him in WWII...me in Vietnam.
He told of how he served in Italy, fighting inch by inch up the country. How he lost his best friend at Anzio...of how he lost his leg at a place called Monte Cassino.(he said that he missed his friend much more than his leg)
We both came to a silent understanding. That we were Brothers.
"Businessmen they drink my wine
Plowmen dig my earth
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth"
Bob Dylan--"All Along the Watchtower"
From the cemetery we could see the freeway below...and all the cars full of people on their way to someplace. We could see the stores below..and the people going in to those stores to shop...and buy things for themselves or their families.
..and then...he asked me..(and maybe just all the dead that lay nearby)...the question that made me want to remember him...and write about him.
In a slow (sad voice) he asked...." I wonder if any of them know?? I wonder if any of them know the price that their Freedom cost??? I wonder if any of them know that their Freedom was paid for in blood...and lives?? I wonder if any of them know that every square inch of this Nation has been paid for with the blood of their fathers...sons..and brothers???? "
Stunned....I stammered out something about Memorial Day coming up.
He looked at me and just shook his head...."They don't care about it..except it gives them a three day weekend. They don't WANT to remember us....we aren't popular."
I wanted to tell him that he was wrong...that they DO remember.
But,in the end, he was right. Most do NOT remember.
It has become a three day weekend. Time for camping...or overtime at work...or getting drunk at the barbecue.
MOST do not remember.
MOST do not WANT to remember.
But there is still time to change the outcome of this coming Memorial Day.
There is STILL time to place the flags on the graves....and to stand at the end of those graves and tell those who served this Nation......"Thank You".
I KNOW where I will be on Memorial Day. I will be with my children placing flags...and introducing my children to new friends.
Ones who can no longer speak...except thru us.
But ones, that if we are to remain Free, we NEED to Remember.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.-"
Ronald Reagan 1961
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: memorialday; soldiers; veterans
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Memorial Day....a time to Remember...and say "Thank You".
redrock
1
posted on
05/24/2004 7:31:47 PM PDT
by
redrock
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
This ones for you, my Brother.
redrock
2
posted on
05/24/2004 7:32:29 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: AuntB; Jeff Head; Washington_minuteman; GrandmaC; blackie; Jim Robinson
3
posted on
05/24/2004 7:35:24 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl; SAMWolf; McGavin999; DeSoto; Mare; MEG33; tertiary01; LindaSOG
4
posted on
05/24/2004 7:37:24 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: ALOHA RONNIE; alaska-sgt; MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska; Fawnn; RonDog; nunya bidness
5
posted on
05/24/2004 7:40:36 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: amom; Alamo-Girl; Long Cut; Brad's Gramma; Molly Pitcher; B4Ranch; Travis McGee; DLfromthedesert; ..
6
posted on
05/24/2004 7:44:02 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: Miss Marple; Howlin; CWOJackson; MeekOneGOP; Blood of Tyrants; FairOpinion; MJY1288; Endeavor; ...
7
posted on
05/24/2004 7:48:01 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: Luis Gonzalez; William Wallace; Valin; VOA; SSgt Mike; M Kehoe; Chapita; JohnHuang2; annyokie; ...
8
posted on
05/24/2004 7:50:53 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
Yes, I will be visiting the resting place of my favorite WW11 Veteran .... my Dad.
Thank YOU for your service, redrock.
9
posted on
05/24/2004 7:54:39 PM PDT
by
DLfromthedesert
(I was elected in AZ as an alt delegate to the Convention. I'M GOING TO NY)
To: redrock
Memorial Day bump. Memories of my Uncle Ed who was a WWI and my Dad who was a WWII. This is my first Memorial Day without him. Sniff.
10
posted on
05/24/2004 7:55:32 PM PDT
by
tertiary01
(The left rewards NO virtues)
To: dcwusmc; Eagle Eye; NWU Army ROTC; Victoria Delsoul; Rockyrich; Libertarianize the GOP; carlo3b; ...
11
posted on
05/24/2004 7:55:48 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
Very thought provoking, thanks for posting. I will share it by email with all in my address book.
Thank you, to those who gave all.
Semper Fidelis
12
posted on
05/24/2004 7:58:03 PM PDT
by
Chieftain
(To all who serve and support those who serve - thank you!)
To: redrock
...." I wonder if any of them know?? I wonder if any of them know the price that their Freedom cost??? I wonder if any of them know that their Freedom was paid for in blood...and lives?? I wonder if any of them know that every square inch of this Nation has been paid for with the blood of their fathers...sons..and brothers???? "
Very moving rr. He is perfectly correct that most people don't care about the meaning of Memorial Day, but many of us do. I will be visiting cemeteries this weekend and remembering all the loved ones that have passed on, paying particular respect for the many who gave so much in the cause of freedom.
It is also a perfect opportunity to teach a certain 10 year old of mine the real meaning of this holiday.
13
posted on
05/24/2004 7:58:45 PM PDT
by
DeSoto
To: redrock
Beautiful,Redrock..God bless those who sacrificed and are sacrificing for our freedom and our security.
All Gave Some..Some Gave All
14
posted on
05/24/2004 7:58:49 PM PDT
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
To: DeSoto
I'm going to be doing much the same..with my two girls.
...and hoping that the one-legged man is there.
redrock
15
posted on
05/24/2004 8:04:36 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
Thanks so much for this moving tribute, redrock.
Bump!
16
posted on
05/24/2004 8:08:35 PM PDT
by
Victoria Delsoul
(The BushAdm has apologized for abuse of suspected terrorists-Has the Arab world apologized for 9/11?)
To: Taxman; Warrior Nurse; RaceBannon
17
posted on
05/24/2004 8:09:29 PM PDT
by
Chieftain
(To all who serve and support those who serve - thank you!)
To: JudyB1938; Pukin Dog; PhilDragoo; Nowhere Man; ambrose; exit82; Ann Archy; Burkeman1; fella; ...
18
posted on
05/24/2004 8:12:24 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock; TEXOKIE; xzins; Alamo-Girl; blackie; SandRat; SAMWolf; prairiebreeze; MEG33; McGavin999; ..
redrock, your beautiful essays require a 'blurry screen alert.'
I am glad you have a 'band of brothers' to share this cold world with - good company - when most of us will let you down out of ignorance - though some will have a greater understanding of the price you paid - offer a shoulder, work a little harder, be kinder to neighbors, find their way to God and forgiveness, thank a uniformed stranger - love our troops - because your essays - and the patience, generosity, suffering, courage - instruction and example of you and your fellow Veterans - has the power to change hearts and minds - and to help open the eyes of the blind.
Thank you. Y
To: forest; jellybean; Benighted; F-117A; vetwife; DoughtyOne; AlligatorEyes; PoisedWoman; ...
20
posted on
05/24/2004 8:18:17 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
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