Posted on 05/28/2010 5:43:56 AM PDT by alchemist54
This is Memorial Day weekend, a weekend that should be dedicated to the fallen heros of our nations wars but has evolved into picnics, backyard barbeques, parades, ballgames, and a myriad of other events but mostly a long weekend from work. My ancestors came to the colonies as military men given land grants in the colony of Georgia to raise militia to defend against the Spanish in Florida. They fought in all the ensuing wars up to the revolutionary war and the civil war. My grandfather rode with Teddy Roosevelt at sand Juan hill. My father was with Patton’s 2nd armored division. I served with the U.S. Army as a medic in the central highlands of Viet-Nam (68-70). Both my father and grandfather would hardly talk about their war time experiences, my father suffered from terrible nightmares and due to wounds suffered passed away when I was 17. I grew up playing cowboys and Indians, combat, and of course sand lot baseball. Given the family history I joined the Army and found myself on the ground in Viet-Nam late in 1968 as a medic with Bravo Company 3rd of the 506th 101st airborne. I am now 60 years old and like many other vets suffering the effects of wounds and Agent Orange exposure. Daily my thoughts wander back in time to a rice paddy, bamboo thicket, jungle or some muddy village and the events that transpired there. I have an overpowering sense of guilt because I can remember the events but not the names of my fellow soldiers. I have photo albums and other memorabilia but cannot put a single name to the young faces staring out of time. The psychiatrists at the VA tell me it is selective memory a way to insulate my psyche from going bonkers. This nation has survived because every time we are attacked or wounded in some egregious fashion young men come out of the background to don uniforms and take up arms. They take the fight to our enemies so we can live in peace and conduct our lives the way we want not the way some dictatorial government dictates. Everyone who has served in uniform or in a supporting role are role models but the true heroes are the ones that come home in flag draped coffins, buried in cemeteries all over Europe and named on memorials in towns all over America. There was a saying I heard that freedom has a price that the protected could never know. It’s a shame that every year in Europe on certain anniversaries people decorate and honor the allied graves and give thanks for the sacrifice of a people that would give their lives for the cause of liberty, help them rebuild and then leave with no demands, while we just want a three day weekend or a great shopping weekend. There was a country song that said ”all my heroes have been cowboys” Well I don’t know about you but all my heroes have always and will always be those who gave their all for the greatest calling the cause of freedom from tyranny and the right to live your life in peace.This weekend thank whatever deity you worshipand celebrate the fallen that have made your lifestyle possible.
“When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.”
- Epitaph on the Kohima war memorial, India.
Well written.
I just wish our current pseudo-president had the same respect for the sacrifices our military has made over the years.
If I’m not mistaken, Memorial Day began as a rememberance of our own Civil War dead, and was expaanded after WW1.
The old soldier by his quiet fireside, surrounded by family and friends, will turn these pages and be vividly reminded of a thousand incidents of army life, and all will here find inspiration for increased devotion to a country worthy of all the sacrifices made in its behalf.*
Robert B. Beath, Comander-in-Chief
Grand Army of the Republic
Note: * in INTRODUCTION to "The Soldier in Our Civil War": A Pictorial History of the Conflict, 1861-1865, which includes a "History of the Grand Army of the Republic, by Paul Vandervoort, Past C-in-C, and a "History of the Sons of Veterans", by AP Davis, Originator, and by Frank P. Merrill, C-in-C...all published by Stanley Bradley Publishing Company, MDCCCXC (sold only by subscription). Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, by The J. H. Brown Publishing Company, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington [all rights res.] This Book is Dedicated ... to the Veteran Soldier--the hero of these Volumes--and to the Sons of Veterans who keep green the Memory of their Fathers' Sacrifice on the Battle-Fields of Our Civil War.
Thank you for your service
Darks, I thought this might be of interest to you.
Beautifully stated. It brought a tear to my eye and made me really remember what this weekend is about. Thank you for your service, Sir.
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