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Guest blog: Vietnam vet reflects on Memorial Day May 27 Posted by Bob Rogers . (This guest blog is by my father, retired Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Robert H. Rogers, pictured here with my mother. Here my Dad reflects upon Memorial Day through the harsh experiences of his first days as a chaplain in the Vietnam War. I appreciate my father’s service to our country. It was a great sacrifice for him and our family, as we spent a year apart from him while he was at war, and my mom had to take care of me, in the sixth grade,...

By Rev. John Prather, < The speech you are about to hear may not reflect the views of Grace United Methodist Church, or of the world wide United Methodist Church, or of my Bishop. Indeed I hope my Bishop never reads it.> < I am not here as a pastor, or a Methodist, but as a veteran, a citizen and a neighbor and I speak only for myself. And yet I believe I have the right to speak because I have served my country, and I have always sought to be a good citizen and a good neighbor.> < And...

On Memorial Day, the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. is supposed to look like this: Instead, for seven long hours, it looked like this: Obama’s secret service shut down the memorial for most of the day, as families and veterans who had come to pay their respects to fallen loved ones were forced to stay hundreds of feet away. Why? So that the Narcissist-in-Chief could show up for 15-minute speech and photo-op with his carefully selected fans in the audience. In his campaign speech remarks, Obama made sure to mention that: “As long as I’m president,

ON Monday, inside a warehouse turned gymnasium on an empty street in Gowanus, Brooklyn, a group of well-educated, accomplished New Yorkers chose to start their holiday with one of the most punishing workouts on earth. That workout, bluntly known as Murph, is as simple to explain as it was difficult to complete: a one-mile run followed by 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats, followed by another mile — all for time. No picnic, and yet by 10:30 a.m., the gym was swarming with social workers and food bloggers, as well as F.B.I. agents and former Marines, who grunted and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxj7HEYA4gs DENTON, Texas — The Stars and Stripes go hand-in-hand with Memorial Day. But when a truck driver saw a truck stop that wasn't flying the American flag, he took matters into his own hands. He put up a American flag himself. The problem is, it didn't stay up for long. David Ray Thornburg couldn't understand why the Travel Centers of America truck stop off Interstate 35 in Denton wasn't displaying Old Glory — especially on Memorial Day. So he grabbed his video camera and went to Walmart. The store donated a flag. Thornburg went back to the truck stop,...

Did anyone notice Thatch Google that goes to great effort to change its logo to recognize different people or achievements had NO recognition of Memorial Day?

I had been asked to walk in the Media Memorial Day Parade, due to knowing the veterans for many years and working with them at Veterans Nights at The Media Theatre. Ed Buffman had asked me to assist with carrying the PA Veterans Museum Banner, as has been done regularly several times before. I had with me a Gay Pride Flag, one that was to memorialize all of this country's gays and lesbians who had died in the line of duty. I wanted to drape it over my shoulders as a quiet remembrance. I was told point blank by Ed...

During a panel on Tuesday's NBC Today, liberal pundits Star Jones, Donny Deutsch and Nancy Snyderman condemned left-wing MSNBC host Chris Hayes for suggesting fallen U.S. troops are not heroes. Deutsch was the strongest in denouncing Hayes: "I hope that he doesn't get more viewers as a result of this...this guy is like a – if you've seen him...he looks like a weenie. Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2012/05/29/nbc-today-panel-rips-chris-hayes-he-looks-weenie-after-anti-military-c#comments#ixzz1wHG26JRN

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend when we remember, reflect and pay homage to all the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for the freedom and prosperity we call the American way of life. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It came into being after the Civil War as a day set aside to honor the Union war dead, but actually Southern ladies organizations and school children had decorated the graves of the Confederate dead even as the civil war was going on. Each area had its own date to decorate and though they may...

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us Freedom of the Press. It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech. It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate. It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial. It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag. ~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

I'm disgusted with my local newsragg.

I wish to make a muster of those we know who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom ... I'll start ... Taps please ... On October 24th 1972 ,an aircraft crash landed on USS Midway's deck. This aircraft ran into a group of parked aircraft and destroyed eight of them, killed 5 crewmen and injured 23 others. Among those killed were my best friend AOAN Danny Cherry and my very good friend AME2 Karl Blankenship. Please ... just a moment of silence for these true heros on Memorial Day

Barack Obama paid tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War with a Memorial Day speech at the Vietnam War Memorial and in an op-ed published in military oriented publications. Missing in action from the president's words of praise for the veterans was why they fought for over ten years in Southeast Asia: to defeat communism.A transcript of Obama's speech given at the Wall, as the memorial is commonly known, published at Fox News shows no mention of the words 'communism' or 'communist.' Nor is there mention that the veterans fought to keep South Vietnam, and by extension the whole of...

The solemn act of honoring those who have fallen in battle is a custom that seems to have faded in importance to our nation over time. Nowadays, many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At cemeteries across the country, the graves of the fallen are sadly ignored, and worse, neglected. While there are towns and cities still planning Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some think the day is for honoring anyone who has died, not just those fallen in service to our country. Perhaps they do not know how deeply...

Please watch and share this highly inspirational video and the amazing birth of a much-needed charity to our beloved WWII veterans. The goal is to have 50,000 views by the end of the day (at 28,000 time of this posting).

Today is Memorial Day, once also known as Decoration Day, hallowed to honor our military dead. Started to honor our Civil War dead, it has been expanded to honor all of our military dead of the United States from the Revolutionary War on (1775 to present). Yet in doing so, we still leave some out unless we become more expansive yet and include the 10,000+[1] of an even earlier conflict. I request those who read this, cast their minds back to a war that too many have forgotten but that forged an unbreakable mold upon our continent, "The French and...

On Veterans’ Day, which had its birth in the Armistice Day that celebrated the end of World War I, we thank our servicemen, both current and retired, for their service. We phone our parents, siblings, children… our neighbors or friends… we see someone in uniform at the store, the mall, the airport or at church, and we say, “Thank you for your service.” Of course, we can do that every day, but Veterans’ Day is a special day when we try harder to remember to. Memorial Day, now celebrated on the last Monday in May, is all of the above,...

Like many Americans, Memorial Day never ceases to move me. Rivaled only by Christmas and Easter, it’s the most poignant time of the year for me, maybe because, like Christmas and Easter, it’s about life, death, and remembrance. This Memorial Day, several images stick with me: Recently, I was sitting at the waiting room at the nearby hospital, alternately reading something and checking email on my BlackBerry, consumed by my own little modern, technological world. Over to my left, I heard an elderly gentleman saying to another elderly gentleman, “Yes, I got there in 1943, ready to deploy to Italy….”...

Let us never forget those who gave their life for our freedoms. Remembering the brave men and women who gave their “last full measure of devotion” for our freedoms, requires us to take a moment on this Memorial Day to focus on the individuals behind the numbers and remember they are not just names on a wall. One of those individuals who gave everything he had for us was Marine Captain John J. McKenna IV who was killed on August 16, 2006 during an operation in Fallujah Iraq. The story of John McKenna’s life and death is the story of...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KGPKpIuX3cY

This is the 11th anniversary of this edition of Mullings which was first written for Memorial Day, 2001 - four months before 9/11. Our son, Reed, was a member of the team in charge of President George W. Bush's visit to Arlington Memorial Cemetery on that day.] ---"Because of your selfless acts, we stand in the capitals of those who would do our citizens harm." Col. Michael Ceroli, Ft. Bragg, NC --- We went to Arlington National Cemetery to attend the annual Memorial Day observance. The entrance to Arlington National Cemetery is directly across the Potomac River from the...

Originally titled "Souvenirs" and filmed in 2010-2011 by a Minnesota-based production company, the movie alternates between the fictional stories of U.S. Army Lt. Bud Vogel, an 82nd Airborne Division "All-American" soldier fighting in World War II Holland, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Vogel, a Minnesota Army National Guard "Red Bull" soldier fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The narrative is driven by a front-porch conversation between grandson and grandfather that takes place on a summer day, after the 13-year-old boy finds a G.I. footlocker full of memorabilia.

The Heart of a WarriorSo far away from home in distant and often desolate lands our young men fight for freedoms with blood stained hands with heavy hearts embrace brothers who die in their arms the reality of war in the action and way of so many harms the call of duty, honor and country ring loudly in their ears willingness to fight and die maturity far beyond their years Shouldering the burden of any moment they too may fall they fly the flag of freedom while standing tall at the wall the depth of purpose as warriors they must...

THINK OF OUR TROOPS THIS MEMORIAL DAY Enjoying your three-day weekend? We hope so. We wish all of our supporters a happy Memorial Day, but we also want to remind everyone who we have to thank for the privilege of observing this holiday, our troops. While back home we have the privilege of getting everyone together for a family cook out or bbq, our troops are still fighting a war in Afghanistan. Our troops don't get to have a barbecue, unless they get really inventive, like this Marine who improvised a very crude grill over some rocks. And the...

ARLINGTON, Va. — Lyle Smith sat in a wheelchair on the grounds of the national cemetery, not far from the Tomb of the Unknowns. "I never imagined there would be so many headstones," he said, looking out over the green rolling hills covered with snow-white markers. Smith was born seven years after the "War to End All Wars" ended; less than 20 years later, he left his family's homestead in Columbus, Wis., as a volunteer to serve his country in another world war. Except for time spent in the European theater, he never ventured far from Wisconsin; he married...

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on 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 From Windows Live Writer

Early this morning is when I am blogging this very special blog entry on this Memorial Day 2012. On this Memorial Day 2012, had the opportunity to both watch and listen to country and western singer Billy Ray Cyrus‘s song about this day, “Some Gave All.” This song sums up in full why the United States of America on this and each and every Memorial Day as one year passes to another it gives this holiday its full meaning. The man in the song, Sandy Kane, who became the teacher and teaches the lesson of not only being thankful for...

Author's note: This tribute was written by my good friend Steve Sheldon.This Memorial Day, while you are enjoying your class reunion, family get-together, outdoor barbeque, or an extra day off work, please remember all the Bernie Deghands who died serving this great country so that you can enjoy the freedoms that have been bought and paid for with real lives of real people. When the Stars and Stripes bows at half staff and flutters proudly in the breeze, think about their pain, their broken bodies, their final moments, see their faces, reflect on their sacrifice, pray for their families,...

The life of a true American hero - a husband, a father, a man of unyielding faith and courage. Fearless and selfless, with the ability to do anything, Adam Brown, above anything, exemplified the American spirit. PART 1. See on screen link for PART 2.

Chris Hayes: I'm 'Uncomfortable' Calling Fallen Military 'Heroes' By Mark Finkelstein | May 27, 2012 | 09:21 ........................... In fairness, Hayes and the other panel members distinguished between their respect for the valor of the individual military members who had given their lives with the worthiness of the various causes in which they fought. Even so, what does it say about the liberal chattering class, which Hayes epitomizes, that it chokes on calling America's fallen what they rightly and surely are: heroes? Watch the hesitant Hayes in what almost seems a parody of the conflicted intellectual. CHRIS HAYES: Thinking today...

Friends and Fellow Citizens: Tarry here for a moment. My words shall be few and simple. The solemn rites of this hour and place call for no lengthened speech. There is in the very air of this resting ground of the unknown dead a silent, subtle, and an all-pervading eloquence, far more touching, impressive, and thrilling, than living lips have ever uttered. Into the measureless depths of every loyal soul it is now whispering lessons of all that is precious, priceless, holiest, and most enduring in human existence. Dark and sad will be the hour to this nation when it...

Barack Obama has taken his reelection campaign to new depths with a television ad targeting veterans released last week timed for Memorial Day.Now never mind that Memorial Day is to honor those killed in service while Veterans Day is set aside to honor living service members. We know that Obama has trouble differentiating the two. ("On this Memorial Day as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes--and I see many of them in the audience here today..." Obama, May 26, 2008)The Associated Press quots Obama in the ad:"It's because of what they've done that we've been able to...

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO GAVE EVERYTHING SO THAT WE MAY REMAIN FREE

    The FReeper Canteen Observes ------------------------Memorial Day 2012 ------------------------     HistoryMemorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet (see below) carried the dedication "To...

A great Commander-in-chief.

As age continues to overtake my eyes and body, my mind and memories too begin to dim.

<p>In the run-up to every Memorial Day weekend, for the past several years, a certain photo takes top spot in those most circulated among my fellow military and veteran wives. On blogs, on social media sites, it is shared and “liked” over and over. Taken by the photographer Todd Heisler from his 2005 award-winning series for The Rocky Mountain News, “Jim Comes Home” — which documents the return and burial of Second Lt. Jim Cathey of the Marines, who lost his life in Iraq — the photo shows his pregnant widow, Katherine, lying on an air mattress in front of his coffin. She’s staring at her laptop, listening to songs that remind her of Jim. Her expression is vacant, her grief almost palpable.</p>

For the majority of Americans, Memorial Day is first and foremost a three-day weekend. Time to watch the Indianapolis 500 or a baseball game; time to open the swimming pool or have a picnic. The American flag will be appropriated to embellish ads for supermarkets, department stores, car dealers, and home improvement centers. Sales on everything from garden fertilizer to bedroom furniture will be accompanied by perfunctory messages urging us to “remember those who died for our country� as we clip our coupons and make our way to the mall. The nearest most folks will get to any graveyard,...

Shelby Fetsch was supposed to throw out the first pitch at Busch Stadium last night. She was filling in for her boyfriend, Army SPC William Johanson-Kubin, who was supposed to be stationed overseas. He played the part of the catcher disguising his face with the catcher’s mask. After she threw the pitch, she was in for the suprise of her life.

Memorial Day is all about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and pro athletes have been part of that mix since World War I. Here's a look at some of the more notable athletes who lost their lives in service: In addition to former Giants infielder Elmer Gedeon (featured in slide No. 8 above), there was one other MLB player killed in World War II. Harry O'Neill appeared in one game as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1939. O'Neill joined the Marines and was killed on Iwo Jima in 1945. The Big Ten's football...

Before and After D-Day: Rare Color Photos It’s no mystery why images of unremitting violence spring to mind when one hears the deceptively simple term, “D-Day.” We’ve all seen — in photos, movies, old news reels — what happened on the beaches of Normandy (codenamed Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword) as the Allies unleashed an historic assault against German defenses on June 6, 1944. But in color photos taken before and after the invasion, LIFE’s Frank Scherschel captured countless other, lesser-known scenes from the run-up to the onslaught and the heady weeks after: American troops training in small English...

While some will be celebrating more peaceful Memorial Days and other may have forgotten just what the holiday is in celebration of, citizens of Washington D.C. will have one loud reminder when Rolling Thunder storms in over the weekend. The annual Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally takes place on Sunday in Washington D.C. and was developed to honor military veterans and those missing in action. It isn't a great weekend to drive in to D.C., as police will be blocking off Fairfax Boulevard Sunday morning for Ride of the Patriots, reducing both eastbound and westbound traffic to a single lane in...

Have you ever personally thanked Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifice? Now is your chance. ... On Memorial Day, Veterans in Defense of Liberty (VIDOL) is launching a yearlong Vietnam Veterans Thank You Card From America campaign.

Joe Biden will deliver remarks to families of fallen troops this year for Memorial Day. Barack Obama has no events scheduled.

WASHINGTON — As a crowd of high-school students offloaded from the tour bus for a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial aka "The Wall," he yelled, "There are no good wars!" Hemmed in on the crowded sidewalk, I tried to ignore his rant and noted the bus had a Pennsylvania license. The shouter was far too young to have fought in Vietnam, and he was wearing a dirty T-shirt, ragged jeans — and Gucci loafers. He held a sheet of cardboard, hand-inscribed with the words "I'm the 99 percent" on one side and "Help me, I'm Homeless" on the...

During the Medal of Honor ceremony for Spc. Leslie Sabo on Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced he’ll speak at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day, as part of the Defense Department’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of that war. “Instead of being celebrated, our Vietnam veterans were often shunned,” Obama said. “They were called many things, when there was only one thing that they deserved to be called: American patriots. “[The event] will be another chance for America to say to our Vietnam veterans what should have been said when you first came home: You did your job. You...

I served in the military for 30 years. But it was impossible to fully understand the sacrifices of our troops and their families until April 29, 2007, the day my son, First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq. Travis was just 26 years old when an enemy sniper's bullet pierced his heart after he had just helped save two wounded comrades. Even though our family knew the risks of Travis fighting on the violent streets of Fallujah, being notified of his death on a warm Sunday afternoon in Doylestown, Pa., was the worst moment of our lives. While my...

For many....School is out for summer and it's on to a 3 day weekend (for most).... So get your grill on Maybe hit the beach scene Or hang out poolside Or maybe staying inside and watching the tube is your thing? But, whatever you do... JUST BE SILLY!!! And don't forget the ice cream!!

Humiston Children Memorial Day had its genesis in the Civil War. First known as Decoration Day, the holiday began by commemorating fallen Union soldiers. The event was inspired by how the Southern States had honored their dead, decorating Confederate graves, usually in the time frame of April through June. The first observance in the North was May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery as well as other cemeteries in the Northern States. But after World War I, the North and South agreed on the same date (May 30th). And Decoration Day was extended to all men and women, who...