irregularly irregular Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 Land of the free and home of the brave... Freedom is not free... Ours is paid for by the brave who served and especially those that paid the ultimate price. Make sure you honor and remember all who served on this day. Never forget. 5 2 1 Quote
Wyldnwoody44 Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 I wonder how many times I'll hear today, "oh you served, happy memorial day" and I will have to remind those that I am, in fact, still alive..... But thanks for the sentiment 😂 1 4 1 Quote
#freejame Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 Some heroes to remember today: CARLETON P HASTINGS - KIA 6/18/68 TIMOTHY G SERWINOWSKI - KIA 6/21/10 RILEY G STEPHENS - KIA 9/28/12 JOSEPH L SHIRO - KIA 10/2/12 JUSTIN C MARQUEZ - KIA 10/2/12 MICHAEL S DUSKIN - KIA 10/23/12 ANDREW M PEDERSEN-KEEL - KIA 3/11/13 JASON B JONES - KIA 6/2/14 GERARD GASS - KIA 8/3/14 2 3 Quote
caseydean Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 1 hour ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I wonder how many times I'll hear today, "oh you served, happy memorial day" and I will have to remind those that I am, in fact, still alive..... But thanks for the sentiment 😂 I think in fact the sentiment is one of gratitude that you were willing to risk your life for your country, and thankfully you did not pay the ultimate price. Thank you for your service-- and happy Memorial Day! ☺️ 2 2 1 Quote
ska-T Chitown Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 2 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I wonder how many times I'll hear today, "oh you served, happy memorial day" and I will have to remind those that I am, in fact, still alive..... But thanks for the sentiment 😂 "Happy" memorial day always strikes me as a bit odd. I know it is hard to figure out what to say when a person wants to acknowledge the day and thank someone for their service. 1 Quote
Taro T Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 55 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said: "Happy" memorial day always strikes me as a bit odd. I know it is hard to figure out what to say when a person wants to acknowledge the day and thank someone for their service. Veterans Day is the day to thank the living for their service. Memorial Day is the day to reflect on and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our (and many around the world's) freedom. Maybe tell the service member that his/her service is appreciated on this day we honor their fallen brothers and sisters in arms. 1 1 1 Quote
RETURNTOGLORY Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 3 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I wonder how many times I'll hear today, "oh you served, happy memorial day" and I will have to remind those that I am, in fact, still alive..... But thanks for the sentiment 😂 I'm always correcting folks as well. I appreciate the thought BUT this is such a special day. 2 1 Quote
Wyldnwoody44 Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 An update to the day. Memorial day is always wild in hospitals, a day for solemn remembrance.... It's been 4 hours and I've seen 2 Overdoses, 2 traumas and a septic shock. Long weekends should be taken away from us 😜 On a more serious note, I do appreciate this day, I know it was before I was born, but I have to imagine the times of WW 1 and 2 were absolutely terrifying, and they cannot compare to some of the wars and battles we hear about today. Those men and women were fighting to avoid being completely taken over by dictatorships and such. 1 2 Quote
ska-T Chitown Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 46 minutes ago, Taro T said: Veterans Day is the day to thank the living for their service. Memorial Day is the day to reflect on and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our (and many around the world's) freedom. Maybe tell the service member that his/her service is appreciated on this day we honor their fallen brothers and sisters in arms. 44 minutes ago, RETURNTOGLORY said: I'm always correcting folks as well. I appreciate the thought BUT this is such a special day. Personally, I don't correct people. I served, appreciate the sentiment and, maybe this is just a "me thing", but I have not found a gentle way to correct people that does not come off "Welllllll, actualllllly ..." lol - any tips? 2 Quote
Pimlach Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 (edited) 10 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: I wonder how many times I'll hear today, "oh you served, happy memorial day" and I will have to remind those that I am, in fact, still alive..... But thanks for the sentiment 😂 Obviously these people are confusing Veterans Day and Memorial Day. It's the thought that counts isn't it? As we discussed in another thread, being patriotic has not been taught in the schools for a long time. So you learn it from family, or on your own, or not at all. Edited May 25 by Pimlach 2 Quote
Pimlach Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 33 minutes ago, Wyldnwoody44 said: An update to the day. Memorial day is always wild in hospitals, a day for solemn remembrance.... It's been 4 hours and I've seen 2 Overdoses, 2 traumas and a septic shock. Long weekends should be taken away from us 😜 On a more serious note, I do appreciate this day, I know it was before I was born, but I have to imagine the times of WW 1 and 2 were absolutely terrifying, and they cannot compare to some of the wars and battles we hear about today. Those men and women were fighting to avoid being completely taken over by dictatorships and such. My wife is (was) an RN. I have heard a lot of stories. I probably could not do what you do, even if I could get the degree, it seems like a job you have to have in you. Military, medical care givers, police/fire fighters- all are special people to me. 1 1 1 Quote
Spoonman Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 MEMORIAL DAY. In Memoriam of those who gave all, and those who love & miss you. We will never be worthy. Thank you for your love of our country. #Gratitude #UltimateRespect Quote
Wyldnwoody44 Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 10 minutes ago, Pimlach said: My wife is (was) an RN. I have heard a lot of stories. I probably could not do what you do, even if I could get the degree, it seems like a job you have to have in you. Military, medical care givers, police/fire fighters- all are special people to me. Appreciate that. I do think that the military is 1000%great prep for this field, not sure I would be able to do this without that initial background. Quote
RETURNTOGLORY Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 51 minutes ago, ska-T Chitown said: Personally, I don't correct people. I served, appreciate the sentiment and, maybe this is just a "me thing", but I have not found a gentle way to correct people that does not come off "Welllllll, actualllllly ..." lol - any tips? I understand. What i always say is " Thank you. It was my absolute honor. But please, when you're with your family and friends today, remember those men and women who fought and lost their lives for the freedoms we have today". And yes. I almost always where a USAF ball cap every day, to show my pride. 4 Quote
PASabreFan Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 I had the honor of being a volunteer driver for the VA for five years. The military generation I transported the most was Vietnam. Some shared stories of how they were treated in airports and even their hometowns upon their return, and it was deplorable. That we've swung toward the other end of the spectrum is acceptable even if, in the eyes of many of those vets, it was and is at times a bit much. Some would seem uncomfortable getting that pat on the back. "I did what I had to do." "I did my job." And almost never did a vet brag about what they did. The one time I heard stories, it came off as BS. Another time, though, it was genuine and heart wrenching. This Vietnam vet's job was the body bag patrol, collecting bodies and body parts. He told me he had a recurring nightmare of being in the bag himself, and being zipped up. Although I am also a stickler about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day vs. Armed Forces Day, today I thank that man. It was obvious that a big piece of him died in that war. 3 4 Quote
PASabreFan Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 3 hours ago, ska-T Chitown said: "Happy" memorial day always strikes me as a bit odd. I know it is hard to figure out what to say when a person wants to acknowledge the day and thank someone for their service. I believe the men and women who died in service would want this to be a happy day. It's what they were fighting for. 1 Quote
Weave Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 2 hours ago, PASabreFan said: Although I am also a stickler about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day vs. Armed Forces Day, today I thank that man. It was obvious that a big piece of him died in that war. This gave me genuine pause. Quote
RETURNTOGLORY Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 3 hours ago, PASabreFan said: I had the honor of being a volunteer driver for the VA for five years. The military generation I transported the most was Vietnam. Some shared stories of how they were treated in airports and even their hometowns upon their return, and it was deplorable. That we've swung toward the other end of the spectrum is acceptable even if, in the eyes of many of those vets, it was and is at times a bit much. Some would seem uncomfortable getting that pat on the back. "I did what I had to do." "I did my job." And almost never did a vet brag about what they did. The one time I heard stories, it came off as BS. Another time, though, it was genuine and heart wrenching. This Vietnam vet's job was the body bag patrol, collecting bodies and body parts. He told me he had a recurring nightmare of being in the bag himself, and being zipped up. Although I am also a stickler about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day vs. Armed Forces Day, today I thank that man. It was obvious that a big piece of him died in that war. I worked for the VA for 15 years. I cherish every conversation I've ever had with all Veterans. Especially the WWII , boots on ground Vietnam vets and combat vets from more recent conflicts ❤️ 1 Quote
Cranky old man Posted May 25 Report Posted May 25 The Origins of Memorial Day Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared it should be May 30. It is believed the date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The ceremonies centered around the mourning- draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns. Local Observances Claim To Be First Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well. Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried. Official Birthplace Declared In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored localveterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community- wide or one-time events. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities. It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May. Source—-US Department of Veterans Affairs 1 1 1 Quote
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