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MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Six--"The Betrayal of the American Soldier"
5/30/04
| redrock
Posted on 05/30/2004 5:38:27 PM PDT by redrock
You put on the uniform.....and you do so of your own Free will.
You put on the uniform ...be it that of the Army...or Navy...or Air Force...or Marine...or Coast Guard.
And you do so with the understanding of some very simple promises.
YOU promise to uphold the Constitution....
YOU promise to help defend your Nation ...your family...in every which way that you are asked.
YOU promise to put up with doing duty in the coldest places...and the hottest. YOU promise to put up with bad food sometimes. YOU promise to follow orders (as long as they are lawful)..even tho those orders may put you in danger...in 'Harm's Way'.
YOU promise to put your life on the line...even unto death.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And the Nation promises that they will provide you with shelter....with uniforms.....with food...with even a little money.
And the Nation promises that they will make sure that you are taken care of if you are wounded....or are permanently disabled.
And the Nation PROMISES that they will Remember you should you die...should you pay the ultimate price...should you be brought Home to your family in a box.
....and tomorrow is the day....the very day...that will decide if the Nation has told the truth or it has lied.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's a simple thing.....Memorial Day.
Just ONE day...set aside for a real reason....to Remember those who have died....been brought home in a box....to fulfill THEIR promise.
Just ONE day....set aside for a REAL reason....to Honour those who have fallen in the defense of Freedom.....to Honour those who have fallen in the defense of their Nation and their Families...your Families.
It is NOT a day for barbecue.....
It is NOT a day for 'Memorial Day Sales'.....
It is NOT a day for extra overtime......
It IS a day to Remember...and say 'Thank You'.
It IS a day to Remember...that YOUR Freedom is paid for in the blood of America's sons...it is paid for in the returning of Fathers to their children in a box.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
Perhaps the real measure of our success as a Nation (and how long we will last ) is how well we Honour those who have provided this Freedom.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
Or, perhaps, tomorrow is the day of Betrayal.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: memorialday; soldier; veterans
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1
posted on
05/30/2004 5:38:27 PM PDT
by
redrock
To: Chapita; B4Ranch; AuntB; Jeff Head; Washington_minuteman; GrandmaC; blackie; Jim Robinson
2
posted on
05/30/2004 5:39:19 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: SAMWolf; McGavin999; DeSoto; Mare; MEG33; tertiary01; LindaSOG
3
posted on
05/30/2004 5:40:00 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
4
posted on
05/30/2004 5:40:10 PM PDT
by
freedumb2003
(This is a tag: </> This is a Line ---------)
To: TruthNtegrity; ALOHA RONNIE; alaska-sgt; MoJo2001; Kathy in Alaska; Fawnn; RonDog; nunya bidness
5
posted on
05/30/2004 5:40:47 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; Travis McGee; DLfromthedesert; ...
6
posted on
05/30/2004 5:42:31 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
I honor and remember all gave some, some gave all.
7
posted on
05/30/2004 5:42:38 PM PDT
by
MEG33
(John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security)
To: cyndi; Miss Marple; Howlin; CWOJackson; MeekOneGOP; Blood of Tyrants; John Lenin
8
posted on
05/30/2004 5:43:43 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: NewRomeTacitus; Luis Gonzalez; William Wallace; Valin; VOA; SSgt Mike; M Kehoe; JohnHuang2; ...
9
posted on
05/30/2004 5:44:40 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
On now over most PBS stations:
| KOED 11 |
Sunday 5/30/2004 7:00 PM, 1 hr 30 min |
Tom Hanks headlines the 15th annual salute to U.S. armed forces, which focuses on D-Day's 60th anniversary and the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hanks, the star of "Saving Private Ryan," is slated to honor World War II vets (2004) |
10
posted on
05/30/2004 5:45:23 PM PDT
by
TomGuy
(Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
To: HiJinx; stand watie; BykrBayb; Diver Dave; Professional Engineer; ride the whirlwind
11
posted on
05/30/2004 5:46:02 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
To: redrock
Thanks redrock...this is great.
To: dcwusmc; Eagle Eye; NWU Army ROTC; Victoria Delsoul; Rockyrich; Libertarianize the GOP; carlo3b
14
posted on
05/30/2004 5:46:53 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
To: CWOJackson
16
posted on
05/30/2004 5:48:14 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: LindaSOG
Thank You. That is beautiful....
redrock
17
posted on
05/30/2004 5:49:23 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: TownhallMeetup; Neil E. Wright; Eastbound; Diva Betsy Ross; snippy_about_it; PhilDragoo
18
posted on
05/30/2004 5:49:55 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: not2worry; M1Tanker; kimmie7; Texasforever; cocoapuff; BARLF; Blzbba; mom-7; rdb3; PokeyJoe
19
posted on
05/30/2004 5:50:34 PM PDT
by
redrock
("Better a Shack in Heaven....than a Mansion in Hell"---My Grandma)
To: redrock
Thanks for the great Memorial Day threads, redrock. I would like to share a good story about a Korean War veteran I met recently.
I met this gentleman, James 'Blinky' Taylor at the Jacksonville, Florida Memorial Day Rod Run car show this past Saturday.
While I was walking around looking at all the really neat old cars and hot rods, I saw this gent sitting in the trunk of his 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood, under the shade of the trunk lid. Yesterday was bright and sunny and very HOT, (about 98 degrees), so I was concerned about him overheating. I stopped and asked if he was OK, and he said he was 'just gettin' some shade'. The front wheel of his motorized wheel chair had gone flat and a couple of the host car club members had gone to find him another inner tube.
Being a retired Marine, I was immediately drawn to his ball cap, which said Marine Corps Veteran, and had a small pin on it that said Korea. I talked with him for awhile about the Corps and what he did during his time. He told me that he served in the Marine Corps from 1950 - 1954. I asked about Korea, and he shared his story with me. He was initially assigned an MOS of 3500 Motor Transportation, but was sent to be a drill instructor at Parris Island once the war broke out. He was one of the first DI's to be courtmartialed for maltreatment of recruits. He said that what had happened is that he had a new group pf recruits all in their teens, and one Army re-tread. The Army re-tread was older and more experienced in the ways of the military, and was ruining the atmosphere of teamwork in the platoon. He said the re-tread was generally being a pain in the ass. Finally after disobeying an order, Cpl Taylor ordered him to lay on the deck and the other recruits to march over him. Blinky didn't think it caused him any serious harm, but it should have been enough to teach him lesson in teamwork.
Well, that night, the re-tread snuck out of the barracks and found the company commander and complained about what happened. The company commander reported the incident and Blinky was court martialed. At his court martial he was found guilty and the judge, a Colonel told him, "Son you're either going to the brig for 6 months or you're going to Korea!". Blinky didn't hesitate, and said "I ain't ever been locked up and I don't plan on starting now!"
He soon shipped out to Korea. He was still there near Panmunjon, at the signing of the cease fire. He said he was still digging trenches weeks after the POWs were repatriated, when a Captain came to the group of them and asked if there were any 3500 MOS Marines in the group. Blinky said "I am", and he turned his shovel and B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) over to another Marine and went on to become the battalion CO's driver. That assignment ended up bringing him home on time, when he finished his contract. The CO landed a job in Washington and called Blinky to be his driver, but he turned it down to stay in sunny Florida.
Blinky is PROUD of his service as a Marine as evidenced by the fact he wears his Marine Corps Veteran ball cap 50 years later! He has a collection of old cars that he has 'street rodded' and enjoys going to car shows.
He started a roofing business some 35 years ago and still works there, though the management of it has been turned over to his son. He now lives in Ft Pierce, FL, about 4 and half hours south of here.
I was honored to meet him and thank him for his service to our country and Corps!
Semper Fidelis, Blinky!
20
posted on
05/30/2004 5:51:06 PM PDT
by
Chieftain
(To all who serve and support those who serve - thank you!)
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