Memorial Day

[DrDavidM]

Thank you to all the veterans that have served for my freedom. Thank you to anyone that has lost a family member serving for this country. I can not express my gratitude to you!

[HK4U]

+1 for me too Dr David. Thank you for reminding us.

[DJ58]

Thank you from here also to all the veterans and lost family members. are prayers are with you.

[Scarecrow]

+1 for me. thank you for defending our freedom!

[festus]

Thank you all for your warmest wishes and thoughts.

Some of us have lost friends.

Some of us have lost our families.

Some of us have lost legs and arms.

Some of us have lost our lives.

All of us have gained freedom.

Freedom IS NOT Free!

[mom of 3 angels]

Thank you for your post Festus, bless you all for your service! Took the family down to the cemetery this morning for the American Legion Memorial Day salute. Always touching. As you celebrate the day with friends or family, take some time to remember those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy.

[Canis-Lupus]

I was invited to go to a BBQ today, steak 'n corn, hurray!
"Wear something Army!" my friends all said.
I called them early, 10am, and told them I could not come.
Used some lame excuse when I didn't have one.
I am nothing but a Hep-C sick 51 y/o old Vet, I trashed my uniforms
in 1997, like the bug I didn't know I carried was busy trashing my liver.
For 20 years had to wear them most days, no loss,
and one BDU shirt is all I kept. In a dark closet it still hangs.
Burnt all the rest in a 55-gallon steel barrel 1 week out
to lighten my physical and emotional load, I regret that now.
I'm no hero, I don't boast about deeds or that many
did much better than me, or tried. My civilian M8's could
not relate when I break into acronyms still so natural
to me but PCS or DD214's are long explanations for
folks who have never used them, THANK GOD!
I seek out Vets who know me as well as I know them,
not by years of friendship, or kin, just because we share
a common bond, and they know the acronyms
as normal talk too, so at home I stayed. I won't be
put on a pedestal I am not worthy to step up onto.
Some call me a hermit, what I've seen and done
all over the world are stories probably best left untold.
Few would believe even 1/2 of the ones anyway, I sometimes don't!
But the plaques on my study wall don't lie, reminding me of
actions & times others wrote about me in their words, not mine.
My God I should be dead! Guess Lady Luck was watching my 6.
I searched the net for the right words to say to my
M8's who I let down today, found them and they
follow below. Don't worry Luke: royalty free stuff :-)
Thanks for the kinds words of all here, but today I think
it's best I duck the praise and just get on with living
out the rest of my days. It's Memorial Day 365 a year for
me when at night my dead troops 'come back' to visit
my tormented dreams. A siren 'puts me back' inside a 911 rig Code-3.
I can't even hear Taps played anymore, I sob like a kid and shiver inside.
Or a Huey with a red cross on the side flies by, low & swift, [once 'my office' in the sky]
Fairchild AFB bound and my arms shoot up, a fool, but like a trained dog
that symbol always meant: 'Land here!' for the dustoffs
so many I guided in over so many years to L-Z's hot or helipads cold.
In shame I drop them to my side, reality hits, and I just feel
stupid for doing something my brain did not tell
my arms to do, instinctive training just busted on through.

Canis-Lupus
SFC, 91B40, U.S. Army (Ret)


Memorial Day
by Michelle R. Christman

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.

[gordo]

[QUOTE=Canis-Lupus;25740]I was invited to go to a BBQ today, steak 'n corn, hurray!
"Wear something Army!" my friends all said.
I called them early, 10am, and told them I could not come.
Used some lame excuse when I didn't have one.
I am nothing but a Hep-C sick 51 y/o old Vet, I trashed my uniforms
in 1997, like the bug I didn't know I carried was busy trashing my liver.
For 20 years had to wear them most days, no loss,
and one BDU shirt is all I kept. In a dark closet it still hangs.
Burnt all the rest in a 55-gallon steel barrel 1 week out
to lighten my physical and emotional load, I regret that now.
I'm no hero, I don't boast about deeds or that many
did much better than me, or tried. My civilian M8's could
not relate when I break into acronyms still so natural
to me but PCS or DD214's are long explanations for
folks who have never used them, THANK GOD!
I seek out Vets who know me as well as I know them,
not by years of friendship, or kin, just because we share
a common bond, and they know the acronyms
as normal talk too, so at home I stayed. I won't be
put on a pedestal I am not worthy to step up onto.
Some call me a hermit, what I've seen and done
all over the world are stories probably best left untold.
Few would believe even 1/2 of the ones anyway, I sometimes don't!
But the plaques on my study wall don't lie, reminding me of
actions & times others wrote about me in their words, not mine.
My God I should be dead! Guess Lady Luck was watching my 6.
I searched the net for the right words to say to my
M8's who I let down today, found them and they
follow below. Don't worry Luke: royalty free stuff :-)
Thanks for the kinds words of all here, but today I think
it's best I duck the praise and just get on with living
out the rest of my days. It's Memorial Day 365 a year for
me when at night my dead troops 'come back' to visit
my tormented dreams. A siren 'puts me back' inside a 911 rig Code-3.
I can't even hear Taps played anymore, I sob like a kid and shiver inside.
Or a Huey with a red cross on the side flies by, low & swift, [once 'my office' in the sky]
Fairchild AFB bound and my arms shoot up, a fool, but like a trained dog
that symbol always meant: 'Land here!' for the dustoffs
so many I guided in over so many years to L-Z's hot or helipads cold.
In shame I drop them to my side, reality hits, and I just feel
stupid for doing something my brain did not tell
my arms to do, instinctive training just busted on through.

Canis-Lupus
SFC, 91B40, U.S. Army (Ret)

Canis Lupus, you did not have to wear those uniforms for 20 years. You could have have opted out many times and flown in choppers marked Flight for Life or Mercy Air for higher wages and far more safety. Do not be embarassed or ashamed of showing now the pent-up emotions that you could not show at the time. Most all of us have something that brings tears to our eyes.

We may not understand the acronyms, but most of us understand the patriotism you have shown. But not being a vet should not deny me the privilege of shaking your hand and saying "Thank You" in person. I do not think of that as putting you on a pedestal.

Perhaps on Veterans Day....

[Ektarr]

Canis:

Thanks, Bud. No need to feel foolish for your instinctive reactions...we all have 'em to one degree or another. I still look up when I hear rotors and I wasn't even there! After 16 +/- years of service . . . 4 years Active (USASA SOG, Berlin - [33B]) in the latter '60's, then 6 years of National Guard (11B30) and another 6 in the Reserves (11B4X), the only regrets I have are not getting one of my several 1049's accepted (tried to get to Nam, but I couldn't get out of Berlin), and not going SF or Rangers when I had the youth and stamina. I also came THIS CLOSE the going to Rotary Wing pilot school, but I bagged it at the last minute. Big mistake. That was late in '68.

I lose it, too, when I experience some things. No shame in that. Think of it as a small price to pay for being in Love with your Country. We could more of that in America.

Anyway, Thanks. I wish I could have been there to help. I guess that's 3 regrets. Maybe in my next life.

Hope you all had a Happy Memorial Day, My Brothers and Sisters.

(P.S.: I kept ALLA my stuff!)

[The Gunny]

Canis,

I hear you bud. I know that Memorial Day is a lot harder for me these days. I get a little too choked up but it is because I know some friends who have given their last full measure of devotion for this country. I try to go to events but I am struggling with things as well. This year I went to support my son in his new hobby he does Civil War re-enactments and I was there for him and of course they had a ceremony on Memorial Day it was nice a little over the top though. I have been trying to spend time reflecting on things rather thatn shutting the old feelings off with booze. I know it has benefitted me to be around vets on this day it feels like being around extended family.

Well this is old news now but I hope you had a good Memorial Day.