Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who have died in our nation's service. In 1971, it was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May.
A day when we remember those heroes who have suffered and perished so that we can live and stay secure.
Those souls who were just like us in every way, except that we did things for people we knew.
They fought for us, whom they didn't even know.
Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to show our respect and to pay our tribute to those great soldiers, and we have made an attempt to do the same.
Memorial Day 2002 Message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“Across our great land, thousands of American flags, proudly waving, mark the final resting place of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and merchant mariners who had their lives cut short so that we may live freely and enjoy the blessings of liberty
Memorial Day is the one day of the year that we set aside to remember and honor our country's patriots, yet we owe them a debt of gratitude, every day of every year.
This Memorial Day finds our Nation at war -- a war we did not seek, but one we will decisively win. However, our victory will not come without its costs.
Once again, we are witnesses to America's sons and daughters being brought home, solemnly and respectfully, in flag-draped coffins. They join those who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11, 2001.
We are deeply saddened by their deaths, but eternally grateful for their sacrifice. It remains our challenge to do our very best to remain true to the principles and beliefs in which they so fervently believed and which they so valiantly fought to preserve. Their loved ones who carry on remain in our thoughts and prayers.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff and I join every American this Memorial Day, to pause and reflect upon the sacrifices made by so many of our fellow citizens in times of war and conflict throughout our Nation's history. We also salute the dedicated men and women of today's Armed Forces, whether defending our homeland or serving around the world.
They are preserving and adding to this noble legacy.
Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF
"Tell them, tell them when you get home that I gave all of my tomorrow's so they could have today!"
Those are the words on a tombstone, far across the Pacific, of someone who gave up his life for our future.
Were those words uttered so that those of us who are left could just enjoy our lives without "getting involved", or were they written to remind us that the work of freedom and liberty is never done?
Were those words written ,to suggest to us that it is not our job nor our responsibility to keep alive what they fought and died for, or were they written to remind us that we were given the opportunity of life so that we would continue to defend, and keep alive the memory of what they gave their last full measure for?
Let us here today, tonight, tomorrow, next month and next year - remember these gallant defenders of our freedom.
Most were not heroes as defined by the most hallowed Medal of Honor nor even as defined by the silver or bronze star.
They were ALL Heroes
Yes they were heroes, because without hesitation they fought for our country when they were asked to defend her.
Most didn't die throwing themselves on a hand grenade, charging a bunker or manning a machine gun until their ammunition was gone.
Most didn't die diving their airplane into an enemy ship or marching in the infamous Bataan Death march -- but they are heroes because they fought when asked to fight.
They left their families, friends and good times behind and went to fight for our freedom without hesitation.
Some -- never even fired their weapons because they were killed before they ever reached the beach.
But they were heroes because they were there, ready to fight for America - for family, flag and country.
Most were scared to death as they prepared to meet the enemy. Their stomachs were turned upside down and they prayed to God and wished they were with their moms, dads and sweethearts rather than being where they were.
But they were where they were, fighting an enemy that was threatening their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
They were fighting an enemy because they believed in America, they loved Her flag and they wanted to protect American's right to worship as they chose.
They were there, without hesitation, fighting for what they believed in and dying for what they believed in so you and I could live the way we chose in a free country. But they did not die so that we would stop fighting for what they believed and died for.
They fought and died knowing that we, the living, would go on fighting for that same freedom, that same country, that same flag and for that same right to worship as we choose. Abraham Lincoln, at Gettysburg, said:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."
It is for us the living to go on defending what they died for.
It is for us the living not to allow history to forget what they gave up all their tomorrow's for.
If when we attacked Guadalcanal and landed at Salerno, we found that "they" were going to fight back, we didn't give up because they fought back. We continued to fight because we knew our cause was right!
When Americans rode in the landing craft before storming the beaches at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Sicily, Anzio, Normandy, Peleliu, Saipan, Iowa Jima, Okinawa, Inchon and many other places we had never heard of before and when they fought in North Africa, the Philippines, Italy, France, Bastonne, Germany, Korea and Vietnam -- most were scared to death; their stomachs were turned upside down and they wanted to be back home with their loved ones.
But that did not stop them from attacking America's enemies bravely and without hesitation. They fought, and many died, but they did not give up because someone shot back at them.
It is for us the living to continue to defend and keep known what they fought and died for -- what they gave up all of their tomorrow's for.
They did not die so that we could become complacent; nor did they die so that when we, the living, reached a single obstacle --- we should quit
They died knowing that we would go on defending their actions, defending history and defending what they gave up all their tomorrow's for.
If WE don't remember ---if WE don't defend what they fought and died for and what we fought for -- who will remember? Who will care?
How many of them and you who fought for our flag and our country and remember the feeling as Old Glory" was being raised over a piece of land we fought for ---- and many died for?
How many remember seeing or hearing about our valiant warriors, who were fighting on Iowa Jima, as they stood and cheered when they saw the flag being raised over Mt. Suribachi.
From AFVetGal The president has called for a "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day with a one-minute pause to remember those fallen in service to the country.
Well folks, it's about 5 minutes to three in the Central time zone. 3:00 PM is the time our Commander said to take a minute for prayer on this Memorial Day.
Show me how you did it, maybe I could help. Just FRemail it to me.
Yes, thank you. I got it. ;-)
Good Afternoon, GG, Don't see you much around here. Don't be such a stranger! That was an inspiring story of your morning. I went to a Memorial Day Mass this morning as well. That was powerful about the hawk flying over as the flag was lowered. You have a Blessed Memorial Day. And don't be such a stranger. We love having you here at the Canteen. CS
One of the vets who works for me has had this picture hanging in his cube since just a few days after it hit the Internet. We also have posted the little "Where was Your God?" story, the one that details all the places our God was on that fearsome day...
Thank you for posting this!
Thank You for your post about today Dave.
I went to the local VFW Memorial Day service.
The service not only honored our military fallen but also police, fire and EMT fallen.
The most memorable moment came when a WW II Marine vet played taps.
He 1st played taps as a Marine in 1940.
There was a prayer at the begining of the ceremony,
followed by speeches from the VFW commander
and the Chief of Police and Chief of the Fire Department.
It's a small town here, but it's filled with many Patriotic people.
Great pics, Sir. You are fortunate to have a community that honors our veterans the way they do.
Thank You for this post.
It is apparent that it came from your heart.
Thank You for posting the picture of your father.
He taught you well about love of our country
and you are a credit to his memory.
Back at ya', Bro!
Just returned from our Memorial Day services up on post. My old housing area has been torn down and is the middle of a renovation. Several giant old trees have been torn down...never thought that would hurt...it did. I arrived early to find the gravesite a Viet Vet friend who had just passed away. That started the emotions. The services were well done. This year, the post and VFW honored Private F.P. Kelly. This is from the program:
Private Kelly
Private F. P. Kelly enlisted as a cavalry trooper in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Captain Sam Whitside's Company B, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Fort Huachuca, Arizona Territory. This remote outpost was established in 1877 to protect settlers and their travel routes, and to block the traditional Apache routes throughout the San Pedro Valley into Mexico. Kelly died December 22, 1877, and was the first of 16 people to be buried in the original Fort Huachuca graveyard, located at the southwest corner of Grierson and Mizner Avenues. The cemetery was moved to its present location on May 18, 1883, and Kelly and the others were reinterred at the new site.
While we know very little about Private Kelly as an individual, we certainly recognize the accomplishments achieved by Kelly and the U.S. Army of that time. Kelly and his fellow troopers helped make possible the settlement of this region, three years before the first railroad train entered Arizona Territory, three years before the first telephone, and at least 25 years before the first motor car.
Private Kelly's name reminds us that the U.S. Army of the 19th century was composed largely of immigrants. Between 1865 and 1874, half the recruits were foreign born, 20 percent were Irish and 12 percent German. The names of those soldiers with European origins are everywhere around the Huachuca cantonment, on the post's streets and buildings.
The sacrifices made by these soldiers and their families under the harsh conditions of a frontier existence often go unrecorded, with grave markers sometimes being the only indication of their presence. Little else is known about many of the people interred in this hallowed place.
Private Kelly is an integral part of Fort Huachuca's history and symbolizes all those other men and women who have made their contributions in historical anonymity.
Between "Shenandoah", "God of our Fathers", and "Echo Taps", there was no way to leave dry-eyed. May God Bless the souls of our brothers who have gone before us...
HJ
I didn't know about your father's premature death. I feel so sad for you. I can imagine how hard that was on you, my father died prematurely also from an accident in 94. It's tough to lose a parent when you know they had who knows how many years left to live.
I can tell that you loved him very much from that picture of you with him. Thanks for sharing that story here with us.
GoogleImageResultforwww.images.swimsport.com/flags/F2.JPEG="http://images.google.com/imgres?.jpg"> Like this? oops!
