Memorial Day

[Charles Lindsey]

This is a day to remember those who have fallen in battle. How can I thank them? I can't. They are gone.

Condolences to those families who lost someone. Be assured that I do appreciate their efforts. I have the life I live now because of them.

To those personell who are still here I thank you as well. Remember your comrades.

It ain't much but I have come to respect the military a whole lot more due to the guys I have met here. You are all stand up guys.

Thanks again.

[Parias]

*Salutes*

[aramike]

Too many heroes, there are. Salutes to all of them!

[Guest Remo Williams]

Thanks to all of you living and fallen!! Salutes!

[GREG MILLER]

Thank you all for your service. *Salutes*

[Eclipse]

Thank you for giving your lives for our country.

[ShoHashi]

Even though I've been out of the military for 13 years, Memorial Day is very special for me..almost like my birthday. It's MY day as well as any other veteran, fallen or still alive and I celebrate it as such. I salute my fellow servicemen..still enlisted or out!

Thanks, Charles, for starting this thread!

[Maxamillian]

It is a special time for all of us who lost friends and family to all the "Wars" that this country has fought in. Thanks Charles, and the fallen thank you too...

'MAX'

RET: USMC

[Guest]

Well said Shohashi,

Got out in November of '90, 4 years of traveling and serving my country. It was something that I think everyone should do, voluntarily of course. It is 4 years that I will look back on with pride, and I still wonder what would have happened had I stayed in.

Here in Oregon, our Air National guard does a flyby of ALL the cemetary's in the area, they fly over my house 3 times on their rounds, I swell with pride each time I see those beautiful lethal jets flying through the sky on memorial day.

We are the one superpower, we are the greatest Democratic Republic, and we have all of our veterans to thank for that.

THANK YOU for your service,

Any time you see a military man or woman in uniform, walk up to them, hold out your hand, shake strongly and say with conviction. "Thank you for your service" You will be amazed at the look you get, but they will always appreciate it!!!!

I always do this, just to let them know that I appreciate the sacrifices they make each and every day in the service of our country!!!

Thanks for starting this thread Charles!!

[Epsilon 5]

I suppose memorial day is an american thing, cause I've haven't heard anything about over here. Anyway...

*salute* to all who died with honor and for the honor of their country!

[ 05-29-2001: Message edited by: Epsilon 5 ]

[Menchise]

Is there any particular reason why Memorial Day is on the 29th of May?

[aramike]

quote:

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Originally posted by Menchise:

Is there any particular reason why Memorial Day is on the 29th of May?

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Actually, it's the last Monday in May. It USED to be May 30th (started as Decoration Day by Civil War general who was decorating the graves of fallen soldiers).

It is observed as early as April in other states, however.

[ShoHashi]

To add more to what Aramike said, here's a little more background on Memorial Day that I dug up:

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on seperate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress in 1968 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

[Guest]

I know this is a bit late, but in Australia we dont observe Memorial Day. We observe both Remembrance Day (along with many other United Kingdom / Commonwealth countries) and also our own day - ANZAC day. ANZAC day, celebrated on the 25th of April, celebrates the soldiers of the Australian New Zealand Army Corps that, during a world war, lay down their lives on a little beach in a palce called Gallipoli. An error of both intelligence and judgement landed this force some way from their intended insertion point, in an area where unfavourable terrain gave the defending Turkish forces an overwhelming advantage. Many hundreds of lives were lost until the retreat was made, but the bonds of comradeship that were formed in those trenches have lived on in the Australian psyche since, and have in many ways contributed to the form of our current military forces.

My father was a serviceman during the Vietnam war, where he saw and faced things that I never will. Even though he wasn't a soldier (he was a driver for an infantry corps) he was placed on the front line and risked his life every day to ensure a safe life for his children - like me. The Vietnam war was a dirty and dangerous one (like all wars) and also a thankless one.

So, in honour of your Memorial Day, I would like to add my thanks to all those who have fought for their ideals or those of their country. I would also like to thank those who have fought in thankless wars, like Vietnam, because a lesson that I think every soldier eventually learns is that there must be someone to do those jobs that no one else is willing to do.

Thank you for making my life one of freedom and choice.