They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:/ Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn./ At the going down of the sun and in the morning/ We will remember them./
Soldiers were willing for various reasons to sacrifice their lives for the good of others, some of us survived but many of the best are now represented by simple granite markers; may God/Allah/Yahweh bless and watch over us all.
What we do forget is that all those who have served, been wounded, or died in the service of our country are not black or white or brown, straight or gay, Christian or Moslem or Jew or atheist. They were and are Americans who put the country first. They recognized that none of us is free if all aren’t free. Our free and democratic nation cannot exist if the rights and privileges it was created to uphold are not accessible to all our people.
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day."
Henry V Shakespeare
(I salute my brothers and sisters in arms who paid the ultimate price that we might have freedoms. We all owe you a debt we cannot repay except by the caring for those you left behind.)
Possibly the last generation that does. The younger generations are questioning.. just what “freedom” means? Women’s rights.. taxes and fees.. freedom to purchase military grade weapons… freedom to worship.
This is a day of silent contemplation for me: two purple heart recipients in my family and too many of my high school classmates and others dying in a foreign country before the age of 19. To the women and men serving today, Thank you!
Our reenactment unit (18th century) participates in the Memorial Day parade of the community that sponsors us.
Several years ago (before Covid) we had some of our older members who could not walk the (relatively short compared to other parades in town) route. We had to figure out how to include them in the parade. I volunteered to drive them. We were right ahead of our marchers. I never figured it would be so hard to drive that slowly.
Another year I carried the unit’s flag in the parade. (Husband and I are both officers – and much of our membership he was “commander” aka president so we had to figure things out a lot of time and make them happen, especially if we were short on members at an event.) After the parade ended I got to go to the secret ceremony (probably the first female to do so) in the cemetery. The fellows from the unit (and me that time) walk to the top of the burial hill where the actual members of our unit in the American Revolution are buried in a group – I had to do it holding the flag up and it is a steep climb. There are words said over them and then beer is poured on their graves for “a libation”. One of the “men” who walked up was around 10 years old (his dad was with us) and he was really excited at seeing the can of beer and really disappointed that it was poured out over the graves.
The first year of the pandemic (2020) the local community did not hold the event. However, the current commander of our unit works for the local cable news channel and set up a camera and did the ceremony alone and posted it online to make sure that our patriots were not forgotten.
jmworacle over 1 year ago
Amen! Sorry secularists..
juicebruce over 1 year ago
Remember those that paid … So we may play :-) … Have a Great and Safe Holiday Everyone !
Olddog1 over 1 year ago
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:/ Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn./ At the going down of the sun and in the morning/ We will remember them./
Grandma Lea over 1 year ago
Soldiers were willing for various reasons to sacrifice their lives for the good of others, some of us survived but many of the best are now represented by simple granite markers; may God/Allah/Yahweh bless and watch over us all.
GreenT267 over 1 year ago
What we do forget is that all those who have served, been wounded, or died in the service of our country are not black or white or brown, straight or gay, Christian or Moslem or Jew or atheist. They were and are Americans who put the country first. They recognized that none of us is free if all aren’t free. Our free and democratic nation cannot exist if the rights and privileges it was created to uphold are not accessible to all our people.
Just-me over 1 year ago
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day."
Henry V Shakespeare
(I salute my brothers and sisters in arms who paid the ultimate price that we might have freedoms. We all owe you a debt we cannot repay except by the caring for those you left behind.)
g04922 over 1 year ago
Thank you for Serving… i just wish I am worthy of your Service. Honor the dead soldiers as they honored us with their dying.
Larry S over 1 year ago
https://youtu.be/IZgoufN99n8
sandflea over 1 year ago
Nice tribute. Thanks.
bwswolf over 1 year ago
THANK YOU to all that have served and those that have paid the ultimate price ….. Memorial Day is “YOUR” day …… :)
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 1 year ago
Possibly the last generation that does. The younger generations are questioning.. just what “freedom” means? Women’s rights.. taxes and fees.. freedom to purchase military grade weapons… freedom to worship.
Al Fresco, the Librarian over 1 year ago
Never forget what they did for us.
Templo S.U.D. over 1 year ago
{salute}
tung cha cha cha over 1 year ago
This is a day of silent contemplation for me: two purple heart recipients in my family and too many of my high school classmates and others dying in a foreign country before the age of 19. To the women and men serving today, Thank you!
Back to Big Mike over 1 year ago
Hoorah.
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 1 year ago
Because they were out tentmates & shipmates.
DaBump Premium Member over 1 year ago
A lot of pluggers served alongside those who gave that “last, full measure of devotion.”
mafastore over 1 year ago
Our reenactment unit (18th century) participates in the Memorial Day parade of the community that sponsors us.
Several years ago (before Covid) we had some of our older members who could not walk the (relatively short compared to other parades in town) route. We had to figure out how to include them in the parade. I volunteered to drive them. We were right ahead of our marchers. I never figured it would be so hard to drive that slowly.
Another year I carried the unit’s flag in the parade. (Husband and I are both officers – and much of our membership he was “commander” aka president so we had to figure things out a lot of time and make them happen, especially if we were short on members at an event.) After the parade ended I got to go to the secret ceremony (probably the first female to do so) in the cemetery. The fellows from the unit (and me that time) walk to the top of the burial hill where the actual members of our unit in the American Revolution are buried in a group – I had to do it holding the flag up and it is a steep climb. There are words said over them and then beer is poured on their graves for “a libation”. One of the “men” who walked up was around 10 years old (his dad was with us) and he was really excited at seeing the can of beer and really disappointed that it was poured out over the graves.
The first year of the pandemic (2020) the local community did not hold the event. However, the current commander of our unit works for the local cable news channel and set up a camera and did the ceremony alone and posted it online to make sure that our patriots were not forgotten.