Memorial Day

[RobertN]

Old Glory at sunset, with flags from all branches of US Service. Veteran's Memorial, Placerville Ca

 

[RobertN]

My Grandfathers plaque in the walk of honor. World War-1 vet, fought in France, and got a whiff of mustard gas that gave him an awful cough till the the day he died in '79.

 

[farmgirl19]

Thanks!

I hope that everyone takes a moment to pause and remember what this holiday is really about.

 

[creekbend]

Thanks for posting.

 

[riptides]

Remember, honor, reflect.....

Thanks to all serve our country, past, present and future.

 

[sam5570]

Remember, honor, reflect.....

Thanks to all serve our country, past, present and future.

+ 1 thank all branches of military for your services to our country.

 

[smstonypoint]

Here's a listing of discounts available to veterans on Memorial Day: 2013 Memorial Day Sales, Discounts & Deals | Military Benefits.

Steve

 

[/pine]

One of my pet peeves is folks/entities that confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day...

Memorial Day is to honor those that gave their lives for their country...Veterans Day is to honor all those that have served (and are serving)...

 

[deepNdirt]

One of my pet peeves is folks/entities that confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day...

Memorial Day is to honor those that gave their lives for their country...Veterans Day is to honor all those that have served (and are serving)...

I understand what you're saying, and I was corrected last year memorial day for this very thing. but you must admit it's a bit difficult to celebrate the dead, apparently most of us have turned a day of memory and morning for those who have died in war, into a day of appreciation and celebration for those who are currently serving as well, we have outdoor BBQ events etc, etc, for as long as I can remember memorial day has been a day of celebration.

Yes of course these are two desperate occasion, but people want to express their gratitude to someone who is alive. Someone who they can shake hands with or to just say thanks too, Shouldn't be anything wrong with this,

For example look at another occasion ( Mothers day ) everyone has or had a Mother and who are now Mom's themselves.
Mothers day is a day to celebrate all living Mom's, right! however we are compelled on this same day to also remember our Mothers who have passed away . we bring flowers to their memorials . The same goes for our fathers, though we do think of them on each anniversary of their death we just don't wish to celebrate it.
I Think for many of us its just human nature to combine certain events, wrong or right can't see any harm done.
Just my point of view.

 

[N80]

Yes of course these are two desperate occasion, but people want to express their gratitude to someone who is alive. Someone who they can shake hands with or to just say thanks too, Shouldn't be anything wrong with this,

Totally agree. It is important to know the difference, but there is never anything wrong with expressing your gratitude to someone who has served.

And the truth is that anyone who has served has, in fact, put their life on the line. Obviously there are degrees to which this is true. For front line combat troops the willingness to serve and to die is quite obvious. But let me relate another aspect of military service. And don't get me wrong.....I did nothing courageous or sacrificial in my short military career, but I think my rather boring story exemplifies the commitment that every service member makes:

I joined the USAF so that they would pay for my med school training. Did a 3 year family medicine residency at Eglin AFB Regional Hospital at Eglin AFB. Nice base. Nice location. Then stationed at a small clinic at Charleston AFB. Cush. Then the Bosnia thing heated up in the late 90's and it was my turn for a deployment. Fly to Germany and all of a sudden here I am, a family practice doctor, standing in a deployment line being issued a helmet, bullet proof vest and a side arm I'd never trained on. Next thing I know I'm told I'd be on the first U.S. plane to Tusla, Bosnia (?) and I'm getting training in tactical exit from an aircraft, what to do if I find myself in a minefield and what type of things might be booby trapped...baby dolls, doors, etc. Well it hits home. Scares the dickens out of you. I'm not a soldier and yet there is still a chance someone is going to try to kill me. End result? I never set foot in Bosnia....the US military machine is unpredictable and inscrutable.....I never went near anywhere dangerous and I don't need or deserve any thanks.

But the point is, virtually anyone who signs on the line and joins up puts themselves in harm's way whether they even know it or not. Thank them for it. Especially in the last 20 years it is real, it is serious and what they do is important whether they are a Navy Seal or an Army cook. So sure, honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day.....but honor those who put their lives on the line and survived and those who are putting their lives on the line now. No harm in that. And it IS important to them.

 

[/pine]

You both make worthy points...personally I am grateful and appreciative of those currently serving on daily basis...but to me Memorial Day is special because those that did make the ultimate sacrifice deserve at least one day of their own to be honored/remembered and this should not be detracted from...surviving veterans have a chance to fulfill their lives...Memorial Day is for those that did not...
IMO that is why we have two distinct days of remembrance and celebration...

 

[RobertN]

I tend to agree, but there is a blurred line.

There will be a very nice Memorial event at our Memorial site; our Scout Troop is very active in the event each year.

But a large part of the Placerville Memorial was paid for by fundraising, and a lot of that was bricks like my the one we got in my Grandfathers honor that people bought/sponsored. The site kind of honors both; those that served, and those that made the ultimate sacrifice in service.

Here(Placerville), both are honored in Memorial(this coming Monday), and those who served(Veteran's Day).

My pet peeve, is that it(Memorial Day) has become a sales weekend. Yes, many people and groups honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. But just watching/hearing/reading the media, it is sale, sale, sale.

One of my pet peeves is folks/entities that confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day...

Memorial Day is to honor those that gave their lives for their country...Veterans Day is to honor all those that have served (and are serving)...

 

[riptides]

...My pet peeve, is that it(Memorial Day) has become a sales weekend. Yes, many people and groups honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. But just watching/hearing/reading the media, it is sale, sale, sale.

Yeah,

We try and surround ourselves with family and remember and reflect on those who are no longer with us. Guess we are strange, but the day is not a happy day for us.

 

[dmccarty]

Totally agree. It is important to know the difference, but there is never anything wrong with expressing your gratitude to someone who has served.

And the truth is that anyone who has served has, in fact, put their life on the line. ...

Well said and true.

The other deserving group that is forgotten is the families. They have to deal with the stress of deployments, lack of a parent being around for months/years, and maybe having to deal with a wounded or KIA parent. The families should not be forgotten.

Later,
Dan

 

[deepNdirt]

Well said and true.

The other deserving group that is forgotten is the families. They have to deal with the stress of deployments, lack of a parent being around for months/years, and maybe having to deal with a wounded or KIA parent. The families should not be forgotten.

Later,
Dan

Also a good point made, Memorial day does in fact extend to the surviving families of the ones who served and we give our thanks and condolences to them as well,

 

[CompactTractorFan]

 

[jerrybob]

Thanks to all who have and are serving........and to those who have died while serving. Thank you families and friends who have lost loved ones while serving........my thoughts are with you all!

 

[daugen]

One of my pet peeves is folks/entities that confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day...

just a simple thanks for reminding us/me. I make the mistake at times too.

There are an awful lot of folk who have lost their spouses, children or siblings in military action, as well
as all the first responders who are also constantly getting killed putting their lives on the line.
Lot of people to be thankful for, and may they all rest in peace with the dignity and respect they have earned.

You just do what you have to, and what no one else wants to.
Someone has to. The strong must protect the weak, even if the strong die in the struggle.

There simply are people and causes worth dying for in this world.
The shame is that we have not evolved enough as a species to realize the wisdom
of resolving issues peacefully.

 

[mjarrels]

The American Cemetery in Makati Metro Manila is the largest in a foriegn country... over 17,000 white crosses with many marked "known only by God" Building and grounds are flawlessly maintained. Visit every time I'm in the Philippines and never leave with dry eyes.

mark

 

[daugen]

The American Cemetery in Makati Metro Manila is the largest in a foriegn country... over 17,000 white crosses with many marked "known only by God" Building and grounds are flawlessly maintained. Visit every time I'm in the Philippines and never leave with dry eyes.

mark

that's really interesting, I would have guessed one of those cemeteries in France.

I'm glad my father or uncle didn't wind up in one of those far away burial grounds.
They both served in the Pacific.

No dry eyes looking down in the beautiful waters of Oahu either. I would not return to that area
without paying my respects again.