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Post by trailboss on May 24, 2020 22:15:35 GMT -5
As always is the case, the wife and I watched the Memorial Day tribute on PBS, and it always gets me misty eyed.
With the covid restrictions, no gathering was held in DC, but there were some great tributes to the fallen. They replayed a segment delivered last year.
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Post by addamsruspipe on May 24, 2020 22:27:03 GMT -5
Very moving and so very true.  |
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Post by oldcajun123 on May 25, 2020 6:54:36 GMT -5
 Every Memorial Day I look at my folded flag that flew over the Arizona, my daughter got it for me when she was in the Air Force. Drove Chuck Yeager for a short time and mentioned my service to him. He gave her that for me. Too damn lazy or old to get a flag pole, means a lot to me. I always think of my 5 yr old experience, staying with my Grandparents a neighbors sons body was shipped back from WWII, I bathed, dressed in my best, Grandmaw powered me like a dust storm, made me chew several cloves for my breath, stung. We got in the old 40 Ford truck and went to the little country cemetery on a knoll, old oak tree close by. Several families were ther, I heard a sound of tires on gravel, hearse with body, then honor guard, Grandpaw held my hand, taps started playing, watching the soldiers fire their rifles scared me not knowing. Looking up I see my Grandfather crying, his son had come back. This is what my thoughts are on every Memorial Day. ,
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Post by toshtego on May 25, 2020 6:59:03 GMT -5
This is the day I remember the uncle I never knew. Austin joined the USA in 1940 and was sent to the Philippines. He remains buried there. Corregidor and Bataan.
His ancestors and mine were also on Bunker Hill.
This is a day for all our heroes.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on May 25, 2020 11:22:28 GMT -5
Right. Just came in from raising my flag. It will remain up for a week, then won't be seen until July 4th.
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Post by pappyjoe on May 25, 2020 12:11:30 GMT -5
This is the day I remember those who I served with who died in the line of duty.
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Post by puffy on May 25, 2020 12:40:51 GMT -5
To me this is the most solemn day of the year..Remembering those who served,and those who have died.
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Post by pappyjoe on May 25, 2020 18:02:19 GMT -5
Things that irritate me about Memorial Day.
1. People who view it as something to be celebrated. Are you really celebrating those who have died in the line of Military duty? It is not a day for drunken barbecue get togethers.
2. Retailers who think it is a day created for them to hawk their wares.
3. And, I apologize if this triggers anyone, but Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces. It wasn't established as a day of remembrance for everyone else who has died.
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Post by puffy on May 27, 2020 11:32:42 GMT -5
A piece in my local news paper today says that when we think of those who have given their lives for our country we usually think of men..Then it went on to say that a good many women have also given their lives and we shouldn't over look them.
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Post by oldcajun123 on May 27, 2020 12:00:03 GMT -5
Yep, like these! 
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stone
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Post by stone on May 27, 2020 14:50:23 GMT -5
Things that irritate me about Memorial Day. 1. People who view it as something to be celebrated. Are you really celebrating those who have died in the line of Military duty? It is not a day for drunken barbecue get togethers. 2. Retailers who think it is a day created for them to hawk their wares. 3. And, I apologize if this triggers anyone, but Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces. It wasn't established as a day of remembrance for everyone else who has died. 1. I used to be a bit perturbed when I thought people were just eating and drinking and had no idea what the day was for. Then one day, at a drunken barbecue, a handful of people thanked me for my service......and I see it a little different now.
2. Retailers will find "any" reason to hawk their wares. They are not worth your ire
3. I enjoy remembering those special people before me and those special people who I've lost, whether they served or not.......................as long as the meaning of the day is not lost.
When I met Howard Wasdin, a former member of SEAL team Two and hero of The Battle of Modadishu. I loved his saying ..... "if you don't care to stand behind our military, please feel free to stand in front of them."
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Post by Ronv69 on May 27, 2020 17:40:32 GMT -5
Yep, like these! You ever noticed that women never wear the appropriate footwear for the occasion? My wife has a pair of thin Steve McQueen boots with studs on the back to scratch the paint on the trike. On subject, I got out my uncles flag from his funeral. He was in the Merchant Marine in the combat zones. They also fought and died but rarely get mentioned. He died from asbestosis from the engine rooms on the ships. It will be on permanent display at the new house. |
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Post by pappyjoe on May 28, 2020 7:46:25 GMT -5
Yep, like these! You ever noticed that women never wear the appropriate footwear for the occasion? My wife has a pair of thin Steve McQueen boots with studs on the back to scratch the paint on the trike. On subject, I got out my uncles flag from his funeral. He was in the Merchant Marine in the combat zones. They also fought and died but rarely get mentioned. He died from asbestosis from the engine rooms on the ships. It will be on permanent display at the new house. Yes, the Merchant Marine is often overlooked for their contribution during World War II but without them the fuel, ammunition and food would have never made it to the front line. My father was around 24 years old when World War II was declared but he never served in the military because his job was designated as essential - he worked on the towboats and barges transporting oil and gas to and from the refinery's along the gulf coast and on the Mississippi River. |
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Post by oldcajun123 on May 28, 2020 9:43:43 GMT -5
My Dad joined the Navy a year after Pearl Harbor, he was a top welder for Chicago Bridge and Iron. He was discharged and sent out west for an assignment that he never told us about. For years I have wondered, did he work on The Special Project. He never said.
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Post by Ronv69 on May 28, 2020 10:19:45 GMT -5
1 in 26 mariners serving aboard merchant ships in World WW II died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services. Casualties were kept secret during the War to keep information about their success from the enemy and to attract and keep mariners at sea.
Newspapers carried essentially the same story each week: "Two medium-sized Allied ships sunk in the Atlantic." In reality, the average for 1942 was 33 Allied ships sunk each week.
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Post by pappyjoe on May 28, 2020 10:35:21 GMT -5
1 in 26 mariners serving aboard merchant ships in World WW II died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services. Casualties were kept secret during the War to keep information about their success from the enemy and to attract and keep mariners at sea. Newspapers carried essentially the same story each week: "Two medium-sized Allied ships sunk in the Atlantic." In reality, the average for 1942 was 33 Allied ships sunk each week. I'm reading an interesting book by Craig Nelson, "Pearl Harbor: From Infamy to Greatness". He talks about how both the U.S. and Japan kept the news of their loses from the public. Roosevelt made the decision to withhold the estimated casualty numbers from Pearl Harbor from the public for several weeks because he didn't want the public to be demoralized before it could be mobilized. Japan kept their loses on the different island and naval battles from not only the public but from many in the government. The Navy, for example, didn't inform the Japanese Army of the losses at Midway until after the war ended. Another thing was the military and government on both sides ignored and underestimated the capabilities of the other side. There were multiple warnings the U.S. received pointing to the attack on Pearl Harbor going back as far as 1940 but the military dismissed all the warnings as inconceivable. Admiral Kimmel and General Short were warned several times to be on alert, and took no steps to prepare. |
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Post by instymp on May 28, 2020 16:58:27 GMT -5
1 in 26 mariners serving aboard merchant ships in World WW II died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services. Casualties were kept secret during the War to keep information about their success from the enemy and to attract and keep mariners at sea. Newspapers carried essentially the same story each week: "Two medium-sized Allied ships sunk in the Atlantic." In reality, the average for 1942 was 33 Allied ships sunk each week. We knew a man that was in the Merchant Marine in WW2, tanker that carried alcohol around Sweden, Norway et all. Sorta like sitting on a case of dynamite 24/7. |
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Every Memorial Day I look at my folded flag that flew over the Arizona, my daughter got it for me when she was in the Air Force. Drove Chuck Yeager for a short time and mentioned my service to him. He gave her that for me. Too damn lazy or old to get a flag pole, means a lot to me. I always think of my 5 yr old experience, staying with my Grandparents a neighbors sons body was shipped back from WWII, I bathed, dressed in my best, Grandmaw powered me like a dust storm, made me chew several cloves for my breath, stung. We got in the old 40 Ford truck and went to the little country cemetery on a knoll, old oak tree close by. Several families were ther, I heard a sound of tires on gravel, hearse with body, then honor guard, Grandpaw held my hand, taps started playing, watching the soldiers fire their rifles scared me not knowing. Looking up I see my Grandfather crying, his son had come back. This is what my thoughts are on every Memorial Day. , 
