Memorial day

[puffer]

REMEMBER !!!!!!



PUFFER

[KFCarter]

Seconded, Puffer!!

Every year on Memorial Day I read the following letter to my children. While scholars sometimes debates its attribution (to A. Lincoln) I think no one can debate the sentiments contained in it:

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

:ootd:

[BEEDEE]

This extract from the poem "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon 1869-1943 is always read at Anzac day services in Australia and New Zealand. It is equally appropriate for Memorial Day here.

They shall not grow 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

Brian


:ootd:

[JolyStNicholas]

Memorial Day will always be remembered as long as there is a Veteran remaining to carry the Torch of Freedom forward. Semper Fi!

[Tattoo Bradley]

As a veteran of the NM National Guard's Air Defense Artilerry, 1/200, A Battery, I have a special place in my heart on Memorial and Veteran's days for the men I feel deserve the recognition they were never given while they served. I'm of course talking about those who had "No Mama, No Papa, No Uncle Sam", the Battling Bastards of Bataan. Anyone not familiar with the Bataan Death March, I highly encourage to read up on it some.

The Battling Bastards of Bataan

We are the battling bastards of Bataan,
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam;
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces;
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces;
And nobody gives a damn.
-Frank Hewlett

Heavy Hearted,

[macwilkin]

On Memorial Day we sometimes tend to forget (unintentionally) those who no longer have a voice; as a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the USA and the Sons of Spanish American War Veterans, I feel a certain responsibility to make sure that those who served in wars long ago are not forgotten.

http://www.suvcw.org/logan.htm
(Gen. John Logan's order to the Grand Army of the Republic regarding Memorial Day)

If you're at a Memorial Day service on Monday, please take just a few moments and remember those who have no voice today -- those who served at King's Mountain and New Orleans, Buena Vista, Vicksburg and the San Juan Heights.

In particular, I honour:

1st Lt. William I. Williamson, Co. F, 11th Iowa Infantry
Sgt. Isaac Yocum, Co. E, 75th Illinois Infantry
Pvt. James Arthur Williamson, Co. A, 45th US Volunteer Infantry (Philippine Islands)

T/4 Charles L. Wilkinson, 1049th ASG, 14th Air Force, CBI (1923-2005)

Lest we forget.

Todd

[macwilkin]

BTW, for anyone with a relative who served in the Second World War, I would encourage you to search and/or register them on the National WWII Memorial's registry:

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default....&subpage=intro

Regards,

Todd

[beloitpiper]

I'll be proudly piping behind the Star Spangled Banner in three parades on Monday.

We will not forget.

[ali8780]

BTW, for anyone with a relative who served in the Second World War, I would encourage you to search and/or register them on the National WWII Memorial's registry:

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default....&subpage=intro

Regards,

Todd

is that for everyone who served? I can't find my Grandpa

[puckhead9]

Memorial Day is indeed a somber time. We must be allowed to never forget our fallen heros that served to give us the wonderful country that we have today. Each and every Memorial Day I salute all our departed veterans. Live in our hearts forever and pass the word on to upcoming generations.

Semper Fi!!