Memorial Day

[b322da]

The national colors displayed at my home came down to half-mast this morning recognizing those in uniform who gave their all; and they will rise to the peak again at noon, recognizing that our nation still lives, and that it always will. They will stay aloft until on the Memorial Days to come on each of those few years I have left, when they will again go to half-mast from sunrise until noon.

Why do so few of our citizens appropriately celebrate Memorial Day? Some years ago a Gallup poll found that only 28% of U. S. citizens even knew the reason why we have this national holiday, and it would appear that even fewer know why today, or, if they do, they don't care. This shocking ignorance which gives priority to hot dogs over the reason why we have a Memorial Day is unbelievable and unforgivable.

More than 200 years ago George Washington told us that we must beware of those imposters who only pretend to be patriots. Those imposters now appear to be the great majority of our citizens. As I drive around my hometown in Texas, which has a university which is second only to West Point in annually providing officers for the U. S. Army, I am hard-pressed to find our colors flying. This is why the words "thank you for your service" have always irritated me when coming from strangers, as I only did for more than 24 years what I believed, and still believe, was my duty, and the odds are that they come from the mouths of imposters.

Jim

[Wodathunkit]

This is why the words "thank you for your service" have always irritated me when coming from strangers, as I only did for more than 24 years what I believed, and still believe, was my duty, and the odds are that they come from the mouths of imposters.

Jim

I'm struggling with your post. Then what are we supposed to say?

[b322da]

This is why the words "thank you for your service" have always irritated me when coming from strangers, as I only did for more than 24 years what I believed, and still believe, was my duty, and the odds are that they come from the mouths of imposters.

Jim

I'm struggling with your post. Then what are we supposed to say?

I recognize that my sensitivity in this regard is inappropriate, and that my unexpressed reaction is accusing 28 percent, or perhaps less, of our citizens of having the shocking ignorance of 72 percent, or perhaps more. This is entirely unfair, making an assumption often, but not always, invalid. I try to make up for this unfairness by so often replying, "thank you," while, in all honesty, I cannot help wondering whether the speaker, a stranger to me, honors those who died for our country in any way other than by his or her words.

Thank you for prompting me to finish a thought. I can only hope that you understand my reason for this post -- my reason, not my excuse.

Jim

[Keith B]

May we never forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Today I especially remember my cousin, SP4 Richard Ferguson, who was killed in action Dec 13, 1970 in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.

[oohrah]

Couple of comments. First off, Memorial Day is to remember the fallen, in battle or from wounds sustained in battle. It is not to thank living Veterans. That is what Veterans Day, Nov 11th is for.

As a Viet Nam vet, I too am unwilling to accept the current "thanks for your service". And if you were a veteran in the 70s, you know what I mean when I say, "where did this come from?" I'm not bitter, just grateful that I was able to serve my country, come back alive, and enjoy the blessings of this great country. I've been thanked plenty, thank you very much.

[Keith B]

Too many people, even those with military ties, don't understand the difference in Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Today we honor those who died fighting for our country's freedom. On Veterans Day we celebrate all of those who served.

Oorah beat me to it.

[Jim Beaux]

May we never forget those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Today I especially remember my cousin, SP4 Richard Ferguson, who was killed in action Dec 13, 1970 in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.

[ Image ]

The picture of your brassy and forever young cousin is touching.

TIME

In the echoes of my weary heart,
I can still hear to this day,
The melody of innocence,
And carefree youthful play.

It was the Age of Aquarius,
Long hair and bell-bottom jeans,
Love and peace cured every wrong,
In our endless life of dreams.

It was the Music of Woodstock,
And Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild,
Some heeded the songs of California,
To play hippie and flower child.

It was such a precious time,
With our sunshine blinded youth,
We thought we had all the answers,
We pursued untested truths.

Today the garden light fades,
As we stroll the pathways of time,
For too many blooms who kept it brilliant,
Have fallen from the vine.

Harsh are the cruel songs of reality
As it deals our fate
And one day our carefree debts are due,
For the sunlit dreams we await

[Maxwell]

. This is why the words "thank you for your service" have always irritated me when coming from strangers, as I only did for more than 24 years what I believed, and still believe, was my duty, and the odds are that they come from the mouths of imposters.

Jim

Not always my friend. Sometimes those words come for the hearts of people just like me. Every time I shake a hand at the airport, every time I say those words they come from the bottom of my heart and deep in my soul because I understand what was given up by so many and what is being fought for.

Jim, thank you for your service. It is very much appreciated. God bless you.

Max

[killerfly128]

Couple of comments. First off, Memorial Day is to remember the fallen, in battle or from wounds sustained in battle. It is not to thank living Veterans. That is what Veterans Day, Nov 11th is for.

As a Viet Nam vet, I too am unwilling to accept the current "thanks for your service". And if you were a veteran in the 70s, you know what I mean when I say, "where did this come from?" I'm not bitter, just grateful that I was able to serve my country, come back alive, and enjoy the blessings of this great country. I've been thanked plenty, thank you very much.

Amen! Don't thank me or any of my brothers in arms that are still walking this earth. As a Gold Star Family sibling and a vet I find people thanking vets today highly insulting. We can be thanked in November. Thank the guys and gals that made that final trip home in a box, they are more deserving of your gratitude than you can comprehend.

Be warned, I get touchy today. I see you thanking a Vet today prepare to be corrected. There is no excuse for being ignorant on Memorial Day.

Today I remember my youngest brother and several friends of mine that came home in boxes.

SPC Michael C Roberts
KIA 8/27/2011
Kandahar Afghanistan



I have a thread on here on how you all can help honor Michael. Any and all help is much appreciated.
viewtopic.php?f=83&t=72825" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Maxwell]

My apologies if I have offended anyone.

I do understand the full meaning of today and my thanks to the living is in full respect to those that have died in the name of freedom. My thanks includes my prayers that they come home safe and sound.

[The Annoyed Man]

Why do so few of our citizens appropriately celebrate Memorial Day? Some years ago a Gallup poll found that only 28% of U. S. citizens even knew the reason why we have this national holiday, and it would appear that even fewer know why today, or, if they do, they don't care. This shocking ignorance which gives priority to hot dogs over the reason why we have a Memorial Day is unbelievable and unforgivable.

I genuinely mean no offense to anybody in the following.....

Jim, I agree that "celebrating" Memorial Day with parties and hot dogs is in appropriate. That said, I think the reason that people don't understand the distinction between Memorial and Veteran Days is twofold. The first is that people just naturally tend to remember and think of the living rather than the dead. I still miss my father, who passed away on 8/31/90, but I no longer think of him every single day....unless there is some context that it comes up in. He did not die in combat, but even so, I do remember the sacrifices that he made......and in the process, I remember the ultimate sacrifice made by the men who served with him. The second is that people, being thankful for the sacrifices made by the fallen, are also thankful to the living for having been willing to put themselves at risk of the same fate on our behalves. It seems a natural reflex for people to assume that the living speak for the fallen, and then to direct their gratitude toward them, even if the assumption is not accurate.

I personally understand the distinction, and I mark the day appropriately and reserve my gratitude on this day for the fallen. And I also try to reserve my thanks to living veterans for other occasions than today. But.... people today are generally the products of a vastly degraded public education system, which has very different social engineering priorities than it had back when I was still in its grasp. Some say, "there is no excuse for this kind of ignorance", but in a time when we have an all volunteer military, far fewer people serve today than in past decades, and so fewer individual families are bereft at the loss of a fallen warrior. Since we have a dumbed-down poorly-educated general population, is there no room for grace on our part, to accept that the other person's ignorant thanks were well-intentioned, even if misdirected?

Here is why I ask: The way I learned the distinction was a reminder by my father (a Purple Heart veteran) when I was a teenager that today was not his day.....it was in remembrance of the men who did not come down with him off of Hill 362 at Iwo Jima. He set me straight, but he also understood my ignorance, and he graciously corrected me.

[b322da]

Thanks, TAM, and the same to all of you who tried to answer my original question, which perhaps cannot be answered except by language as immoderate and inexcusable as mine was. If I could bring myself to do so I would edit out the last clause of my original post, some 12 words I will long regret. I just cannot do so, as this would be cowardly and would cause most of the comments following mine to be misunderstood. I have heard it recommended that one should never make an even slightly hostile internet posting without reviewing it for 24 hours first. I cannot seem to comply with that.

And a word for ooorah: my 24 years were from 1953 to 1977. Your comments are well-understood by this old man, and it may be that you have put your finger on one of the reasons for my sometimes being rather bitter, which I know is wrong but which is sometimes unavoidable.

Thanks again, all,

Jim

[The Annoyed Man]

Thanks, TAM, and the same to all of you who tried to answer my original question, which perhaps cannot be answered except by language as immoderate and inexcusable as mine was. If I could bring myself to do so I would edit out the last clause of my original post, some 12 words I will long regret. I just cannot do so, as this would be cowardly and would cause most of the comments following mine to be misunderstood. I have heard it recommended that one should never make an even slightly hostile internet posting without reviewing it for 24 hours first. I cannot seem to comply with that.

And a word for ooorah: my 24 years were from 1953 to 1977. Your comments are well-understood by this old man, and it may be that you have put your finger on one of the reasons for my sometimes being rather bitter, which I know is wrong but which is sometimes unavoidable.

Thanks again, all,

Jim

Jim, I understand, and I don't think you need to apologize. I just think that people like me who never served need to be sensitive of the emotions of those who lost family members or brothers in arms, and those who lost those family members or brothers in arms need to understand that despite the ignorance of the rest of the population, most of us really care and appreciate you, and really want to support you and show some gratitude. I think we get there by showing grace to one another, and honoring the sacrifices together.

[rotor]

Let's not get upset about people not understanding the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. Let's be upset about all the people in this country that don't care or even know what we are talking about. And yes, I am a veteran and served 8 years. And no, I don't expect or want any thanks. I just wish that some of our law makers could say that they served too.

[Selina Kyle]

As a granddaughter of a career USAF Sargeant, I have always had the utmost respect for all military - past and present. Although my grandfather did not pass while serving, his time in the military is no less important to me. I do understand the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, and when I thank someone for their service, I mean it. It is unfortunate that so many Americans have lost the true meaning of Memorial Day, as it gives the rest of us a bad name.

Since I have never served, I cannot even imagine what those who have served have endured. As a result, I can only find myself feeling nothing but respect and gratitude. I hope I have not offended anyone with this post. Best wishes to all for a blessed Memorial Day.

God bless the USA!