memorial day

[sniper]

i am not going to be religious or tearful this day. i am just going to remember two of my friends and ask that you remember whom ever you may have been in touch with at some time during your life, and simply remember them.

Gary Hudson...a friend and a left handed boxer who decked my ass more than once.

Roger Whinery...a friend who showed a young 8th grader how a carberator worked.

i am honered to have known both of these guys whose names are inscribed on the Viet Nam Memorial Wall.

Bill

[Pilgrim]

I lived through that era but had no inclination to serve - mostly because my personality is such that I cannot conceive of existing in a military setting. A steel plate in my left leg provided a medical "out".  We lost a couple of guys from my high school (1968) class in VietNam, and I've known people since then who have passed or been injured in service.  My best friend fortunately retired healthy as a senior Sergeant after 20 years.  Through him and others I have gained respect for those who serve...and gradually come to realize the depth of commitment that it implies.  It's not just a job, it's putting yourself at risk for years.

My flag is up and my hat is tipped to those who serve and who have served.

[OldManC]

My flag is up and my hat is tipped to those who serve and who have served.

I feel the same. I have two brothers-in-law who served in the Vietnam era and have known many more over the years. My dad did merchant marine service in WWII (he decided on that in large part for the same reason - He was 23 by then and couldn't see himself saluting or taking orders in that way). I have a great respect for those who serve and put themselves on the line with no choice other than to go where they're told. I know I owe my freedom to them and all that came before them. I can't imagine how it feels to lose a loved one to war. My heart goes out to those who have.

[Highlander]

I never even knew of this day in the callender until we went to visit family over there in 2003; we visited family in a Winchester cemetry to lay flowers... Respect is due to all who served their Country in any conflict...

The primary time for rememberance here is Armistice Day, classically the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, commemorating the end of the Great War, with the laying of wreaths on the nearest Sunday to this date... my grandfather served at sea from approximately 1900 until 1954 and was considered, quite literally, a legend in his own lifetime, surviving a German torpedoe in the North Sea in 1916, and a German mine in the Bass Straits in 1940 - the first allied ship to be sunk in those waters in WWII... when the update to the memorial for the Merchant Navy was built, being unveiled in 1955, they needed a couple of old salts to act as gate-guardians for the memory of those who passed during those times... he was chosen as one of them... this was the first Kenny Stewart; my favourite description of him is, The perfect example of what a sailor should be...

 

The memorial stands opposite the Tower of London and in front of Trinity House; the Great War memorial is directly in front of the newer one... I drive past the memorial quite frequently but this is from our last family visit in 2000...

[Freuds_Cat]

the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month here.

I have two mates that served in Vietnam. One for the US and one for Australia. Both alive and well thankfully.
My Mums Dad served in the Great war in France. He died before I was born but I have his medals.

It doesn't take much to stop for a couple of minutes and think about these people.

[Hornisse]

I'm remembering my Dad's older brother Manuel who was wounded in the European Theater in WWII and was paralyzed for the remainder of his life.  He pass away several years ago.  My Dad served in the Navy in WWII and was also a commissioned officer later in the USAF.  He's 83 and can still kick my ass!

[drbassman]

My Dad was a WWII and Korea vet, wounded in Korea.  A great guy, never wanted to talk about his service.  He was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed.  He was in the infantry and spent the war fighting in the Pacific Islands.  One of the members of the "greatest generation" as they say in Brokaw's book. I missed Viet Nam in 69.  I was drafted but didn't pass the physical.  Too blind and flat feet kept me at home.  Coming from a military family, I do regret not getting to serve. We are most fortunate to live in the USA and this is a great day to stop and commemorate the sacrifice of our countrymen.

[Pilgrim]

To be totally honest, I don't regret not serving.  I am too independent - I realize that I'd have made a terrible soldier or sailor, and I never had a moment's interest in serving in that role.  I do very badly at things I'm not inclined to do, and I ask way too many inconvenient questions and spend time improving things - neither of which fit in that context.  I'm very glad there are those who do feel they will fit in that role, as we definitely need them.

Tonight I called my best friend (retired Army Sergeant) and thanked him for his service.  I've never done that before, but in recent years I've come to understand more about the differences that motivate people. He said he knew in front that he was going in as a career, and he did it well. His least favorite thing was recruiting, as he felt that the Army was often dishonest in how it recruited and the promises it made to soldiers. But he did the very best he could in that situation...as he has always done in every position he has held.