Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for May 24, 2013

Beautiful! Nice way to work in Memorial Day. Good work GT. USMC, 1968-1972

Don’t say no – its a lovely tribute and they are nice names. But what if they are girls or one of each?

Perfect!

A thank you to all those who served and especially to those who didn’t come home. May your families and loved ones find peace in knowing that this country is grateful.

My son’s came from a friend in ‘Nam, know exactly where Leo’s coming from. Thanks, Garry.

> It is the> VETERAN,> not the preacher,> who has given us freedom of religion.>>> It is> the VETERAN,> not the campus organizer,> who has given us freedom to assemble.>>> It is> the VETERAN,> not the lawyer,> who has given us the right to a fair trial.>>>> It is> the VETERAN,> not the politician,> Who has given us the right to vote.>>>>>>>>> It is the> VETERAN who> salutes the Flag,>>>>>>> It is> the> VETERAN> who serves> under the Flag,>>> ETERNAL> REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON> THEM.>

@John Pike “USMC, 1968-1972” If those are your years of service (and not Trudeau’s), then thank you for that service. My high-school sweetheart joined the Corps immediately upon graduating in ’65 and went straight from boot camp to Saigon. He was among those who did come home, intact and ready to readjust. Many a street corner in Denver is staked out daily by Viet Nam vets who came home, but have never been able to reintegrate. We have not rewarded them for their service nearly as well as they deserve. GT does them, and all other returning veterans, a service by portraying their challenges.

Mike’s gonna be a GRANDPA!!! (dies)

Please don’t take this in any way to detract from the sacrifices of the veterans but without the protesters on the streets and on the campuses all the gains of the battlefields could be lost in an instant with another “Patriot Act” or the like.

And sometimes those activists are the only ones fighting to help those very veterans who lost arms, legs and psyches in battle.

Just about every nation has veterans. That doesn’t say a thing about that nation’s political system or the rights of its people. Repressive and authoritarian regimes are almost always supported by veterans. The veteran vote got Hitler into power. Think of every military regime. The Founding Fathers were uneasy at the thought of Revolutionary War veterans’ organizations for fear they would become the nuclei of aristocracies. God knows, those public servants who put their lives on the line for their country or community, in whatever kind of uniform they wear, deserve credit and honor, especially those like Eli, Danny and Leo, who don’t come home, or don’t come home whole. But our warriors do not give us our rights or our freedom, which have to be won or defended on different battlefields. Our veterans (like my dad and my brother) have given us the opportunity to fight those fights, which is no small thing; and we are unworthy of their sacrifice when we fail to meet that challenge. And let us not forget, that those who have fought those other fights have also, sometimes, put their lives on the line. (I am thinking of the civil rights campaign in the 1960s.) In short, our warriors are not fighting for our freedom. They are fighting for our security: manning the walls, so to speak, to hold back the chaos beyond. With our safety secure, it then it is up to the rest of us to build a decent, just, and free society. Our veterans have done their duty so that we can do ours.

USMC 1954-1960

Thanks to all that served, a non-combat veteran.

That is nicely done. Kudos to GT on this storyline – and to those who serve.

To those of you that have served, or are still serving….. THANK YOU. Have a happy and SAFE Memorial Day.

God! I love GT & these two. the real deal. amen!

I am glad they are nice names. Too many funky names get passed down just because of a legacy. Not so nice to the kid. (so says my cousin, Horst.) My husband’s side is Japanese-American. I wanted to name our daughter Midori, but it was because I liked the name, not because my husband also had an aunt with that name. He said I should get to know Midori before choosing that name. I took the hint. There are many wonderful names in the world.

I add my thanks to the vets this weekend, which includes my Dad, Army-Air Force, WWII and my bro in Vietnam.

Spare a thought, over this side of the pond, for Drummer Lee Rigby, who returned safely from a tour of duty in Helmand in 2009 only to be murdered on the streets of London two days ago in what appears to be a terrorist attack singling him out as connected with the services.

Hear, hear, Doughfoot and Alabama Al. Very well put.

TO all of those whom are saluting us Vets, please ask your elected representatives to consider increasing the VA’s funding.

Yep… Eli and Danny works good for twin tomboys that follow dad around; Elinore and Danielle for mom.

To all Veterans…

“If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind. Major Michael Davis O’Donnell 1 January 1970 Dak To, Vietnam”

I do not get to take credit for my earlier post as it was sent to me by a friend last memorial day.

USN 1977-81 (non-combat veteran)

this is the most poignant comic i’ve read in a while.

Wonderful photo essay in the NY Times today:-http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/not-forgotten-but-set-in-stone/?hp#/1/-

Every now and then, we should set politics aside. Let’s all try to have a good long weekend and remember what Memorial Day is about.

USN Ret. Active duty 65-95

ELI and DANNY

HOW MANY DREAMS DIED THERE

HOW MANY DREAMS ARE BURIED THERE

Mishach and Moshe survived. Let us not forget the 6 million Jews and millions of other “undesirables” who died for just being what they were born.

Just a brief reminder: “Veterans Day” in November honors those of us who survived, Memorial Day honors those who did NOT.

Have a good weekend, Jim.

Love it!Happy Memorial Day to all my fellow Vets!

Love the artwork, just the two dark silhouettes sitting in the night. Makes the dialogue even more poignant.

Hear, hear. A most poignant and deserving memorial to those two. God bless them, and you for remembering.

thanks GT

USN 1972-1976………..WAVE!

not to mention my mom…..USN 1943-45

Sarge, I thank you for your service. I just hope that you are in the top 10% of earners. I really believe that we could agree on more if you remembered that all men are created equal. Start there and pray. I used to be on your bandwagon, but I feel that my eyes have been opened in the last year or so. The only laws that were engraved in stone were the ten commandments. Please, sarge. Open your eyes and heart to other thoughts. Look around and see what the last forty years have done to our country. We the people are so divided that we may never get past it. But we can only strive to understand one another and live with one another. Jesus’ last and greatest commandment before his betrayal was that we are to love one another as He has loved us. Simple. Simply the most difficult of His commandments. Just pray for enlightenment. God bless you, Sarge.

“John Pike, While we disagree on so much, I do salute you for your service including Vietnam.”That’s the kind of graciousness I’d like to see more of here… and everywhere.

Probably happens a lot in these days.

USAF 1967 – 1990

@John Pike “Jesus’ last and greatest commandment before his betrayal was that we are to love one another as He has loved us.”

**

May I add a sequel to that, which I have found helpful? John, referred to as “the beloved disciple” and “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” took that admonition very seriously. The period following Jesus’ ascension was fraught with controversy and strife over how things should be in the newborn church. People would often come to John asking him to settle their disputes or answer their questions, but all he would ever say in reply was “Little children, love one another.” He knew he could not singlehandedly solve all the problems, so he kept himself out of the fray and waited and prayed. The spiritual strength and understanding he developed enabled him to survive being boiled in oil at Rome, and prepared him to receive, on the prison island of Patmos, what we now call the Revelation.

John Milton wrote, “They also serve who only stand and wait,” but that is not all John the Beloved was doing. He was praying – actively working mentally to see the fulfillment of the great promise of “on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Seems to me that there is an important place for those who “speak the truth in love,” forthrightly and clearly, but with grace and tolerance of others’ right to differ. And there is a place for those who never speak at all, preferring to quietly support the general progress of mankind. And then there are those who choose to bloody up the place with their personal attacks and their intolerant, “my way or the highway” attitudes.

**

I understand that until not many years ago, folks serving in Congress, with strong party affiliations, were much more amiable with each other than they are now. I’ve read that they’d duke it out all day on the legislative floor, and then go enjoy each other’s company over dinner. There wasn’t the rancor and vitriol that seem to characterize today’s political atmosphere; most were in Congress for the purpose of hammering out agreements, not staging standoffs. I’d like to think we could restore that attitude of goodwill-in-the-face-of-disagreement. Thank you for your service here in the pursuit of that goal.

@ragarms Yes, it has!

Here’s how Alex should say it: “No!” or even, “Hell, no!” This is a truly ill considered suggestion. If Alex or GT or anyone else wants to honor fallen soldiers, that’s fine; but don’t impose the impulse on unborn children, who have no say in the matter! Leo should change his own name, if he feels so strongly about the issue!

A little manipulative, I first thought. They probably have family members who will name children after them.

Can I introduce you to Parker Booth? (see Bones)