Take a moment today...
 

Please guys, take a moment today to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day.

It's not about just a 3 day weekend or getting a special deal at your local GM dealer or 0% financing at the furniture store.

Memorial Day is about taking some time to remember and honor those who gave their lives protecting the freedoms we live with every day.

Completely.

This morning I plan to visit a local grave yard of a soldier who was in the American Revolution...not common considering I am in Wisconsin and it didn't become a state until '48.

Sincere thank-you to everyone involved with PY & its forums who served.

I re-read a story that I can almost recite (as I could the Code of Conduct before it was de-gendered). Capt Lance Sijan is who I remember. (Skip to about half way down where it says,"'Sijan! My Name is Lance Peter Sijan!'")

While his deeds were great, he is one of hundreds of thousands who performed their duties "above and beyond" the call of duty.

Remember them all ... :usa2:

Ogre

Thank you to all who have served!

We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty and freedom, and those who came home but have now departed this life. And to all veterans I say 'thank you for your service', though a 'thank you' somehow doesn't seem sufficient. If you have children please take the time to teach them what Memorial Day is all about; if we as parents don't pass along these important lessons then who will? I can tell you that the school system is not doing it, and we are rapidly loosing our knowledge and understanding of history as it pertains to this Republic.

Well said, prostreet.

One of the main reasons I re-read Lance Sijan's journey every Memorial Day (truthfully ... more frequent than that) is to do some soul searching and ask the question, "If he was so willing to do all of that, what am I doing to continue that legacy?"

We all need to teach the next generation about our heritage, so I am starting this year (The Joe Foss Institute) since, as prostreet64 stated, the schools sure as he!! aren't doing it.

Ogre

Amen to that! Thank you to all who served and serving in the military.

Ogre, I am glad you mentioned the Foss Institute. My wife teaches at an elementary school and for the last several years a WWII vet has come to the school around Veterans Day to talk to the kids about what it means to serve in the military, and about the sacrifices is takes to keep our nation free. I am pretty sure that this gentlemen is associated with the Foss Institute. I am surprised that in our current political climate that he is allowed to come and speak and, according to my wife, he is always very well received.

Remembering today...paying my respects the best I can, we should NEVER forget!!!
Paid a visit to the V.N. Moving Wall Sat....it's in my town until late today.

The boys and I spent all day roaming local cemetaries recognizing family and veterans alike who have passed on.

We talked about how the holiday came to be and how it's evolved. I stress to the them that they should never forget those who've passed here before us and I hope they pass this on to those who come after.

Mike

Several of us in my family have been working on genealogy recently. Last summer, one of my cousins went to Europe and while there found our uncle's grave at Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. He was my mother's older brother; he died before any of us were born, so it's been an interesting journey finding out more about him.

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Last night I flipped through some channels while I was in the garage, and cliked on a "Memorial Day" service on PBS. The actor Joe Mantegna introduced a girl (can't recall her name) who told the story of her dad who was killed in Vietnam when she was just three months old. Years later she met one of his best friends who was with him when he was killed and he took her to that country. She spoke very well and explained the "emptiness" she always felt. It ripped the heart right out of me!

uncommon on so many levels...
 

...here is the final resting place of the Revolutionary War soldier I mentioned above...

L/Cpl Paul J Bragg KIA:July 1969

You are remembered Paul and I still miss you.

Sgt J.O. Butcher USMC
Viet Nam, Class of '69