A Memorial Day "Old Sergeant"

MEMORIAL DAY

Dedicated to Jack Jones 508th Airborne Infantry, Korea Died May 26th 2005 We will join you soon brother

The old sergeant was walking across their compound when a member of the goon squad came running up.

“Pappy! Have you got a minute? What are we going to do for Memorial Day? You got a party planned? What are we going------? The sergeant held up his hand for silence.

“You know, you ask more questions than any kid I have ever seen. Do you want to know why the sky is blue, asshole? Go away and-------. No, I tell you what. You have the whole platoon met me in the field behind the compound on the 30th. I think you all need a lesson about what Memorial Day really means.

Grumbling to himself the old sergeant walked off and the goon squad soldier was left wondering if they were in trouble.

May 30th arrived and at about 1600hrs the whole platoon, plus many from other platoons were in the field behind the compound. Usually when pappy had something to say, if you were smart, you were there to listen. A lot of soldiers are alive today because they listened to pappy. Some of those that didn’t, well, they aren’t here.

At 1630 on the dot the sergeant walked out onto the field and into the middle of the assembled men. Most were sitting on the ground, talking and smoking. But when pappy arrived it got very quite.

“Ok ladies, listen up! Apparently most of you think Memorial Day is a time to party, have burgers and beers. Oh, you might know in the back of your mind what it really means but I’m going to impress something on you I want you to always remember.

Memorial Day seems to have been degraded to a marketing strategy. “Memorial Day sale this and after Memorial Day sale that. Back yard barbecues and hotdogs. But you, of all people, should know exactly what it means and where it came from.

“Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared it should be May 30. It is believed the date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning- draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.

Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried.

In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities. It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nation’s wars: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.”

To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.” (1)

“So. Now do all you numb nuts understand the real meaning of Memorial Day? Always remember that over 1 million Americans have given their lives in the fight for freedom. They and all veterans will always be remembered and so will you.

All sat in rapt attention as the old sergeant finished his speech. At just about that time a truck rolled onto the field. It contained a barbecue grill and lots of hamburgers and hotdogs.

As the old sergeant was walking away he turned and said, “Well now that I know you all are educated, there is no reason not to have a little fun.

Honor the dead, then celebrate the life they gave you.
t.

Ping.

5.56mm

Very Well Said my friend.

Very well said.

Thank you and thank you for your service

Steve Newton

In '68 basic it was: "The M-14 is an air cooled, gas operated 7.62 millimeter weapon .....". That's about all I can remember now.

This is a 155mm self propelled PING!

Remembrance ping

Thank you my friend

And thank you for your service. Not only are you proud of it, but so are WE.

God bless

Steve

The sky is blue because:

God Loves the Infantry!

Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried.

In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.

There are worse thing to fight over than being the FIRST place to honor those who died to give us the freedom we have today.
Just one mans opinion, freely given, and worth almost that much

It's rapidly becomong a long time ago.

Thank You.

A Soldier Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy;
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in,
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke.
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary...
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way.
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young.
But the passing of a soldier,
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country...
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend,
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal,
And perhaps a pension...small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys;
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand;
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and Country,
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin.
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise.
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Author Unknown

outstanding

thank you for that

Steve

Ha

Thank you.

Best answer to that I've heard lately.

Steve

You are always welcome my friend

Steve

Thanks Steve.

"IF you can read, you can thank a teacher, I suppose. That today you are free to read what you want, thank a vet."

And thats the truth my friend

Steve

OUTSTANDING

Steve