A Memorial Day salute to all who have served

[BikeWriter]

A Memorial Day salute to all who have served, and here's to Old Glory, long may she wave!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. 3 years, 11 months, 29 days, and about 55 minutes served unwillingly.

It took the DI's at MCRD about 5 minutes to convince me that I had really, really, made a stupid mistake. An opinion that never changed to this very day.

[BikeWriter]

2. I did 3 years, 8 months, and 22 days. Most in VN and Al remote.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. They asked me to extend my enlistment to go to Vietnam.

About 2 months before I got out. I, in youthful folly, told them what they could do with the idea and what I thought of the war.

I was rewarded for my candor with 30 days mess duty. Some of my comrades weren't so lucky, they quit "asking" for extensions soon after I got out. At least two of them have their names carved on that wall.

[BikeWriter]

5. You did good!

[liberal N proud]

3. What I am thinking about this memorial day...

I have always done the memorial day services where ever I am. I grew up, my father was always involved in the Memorial Day service in my home town, serving on the firing squad or driving the older veterans to the cemetery where they had the ceremony. Those were WWI veterans he made sure were able to get to the services. Now it is the younger Vietnam vets who are making sure he and the other remaining WWII vets get to the services.
I have attended memorial day services in many places, Memorial Day has never been taken lightly in my family. I never served and my brothers do not think of me as patriotic, mainly because I don't support "the war." They think that marks patriotism, yet none of them have the trip to Washington DC for Memorial Day, I have been there several times, each time we make sure we get to Arlington on Memorial Day. That will choke you up on Memorial Day, I can walk through there any other day of the year but something about Memorial Day gets you.

But this year, my heart is heavy for all those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year, I wonder was it all in vein? Because of what the bu$h regime has done to our democracy, have all the sacrifices of soldiers past and present been for nothing? We are seeing our democracy in it's most vulnerable spot since the Civil War. Can she survive the onslaught of the attack from with-in?
If not what will Memorial Day mean in the future?

FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICE, WE MUST NOT LET THEM TAKE THIS DEMOCRACY AWAY FROM US!

I honor those who have severed but we need to bring our troops home now.

[BikeWriter]

6. In respect of those who did not return...

[rasputin1952]

9. I have stood by many a grave and heard the lonely tones of

Taps coming across from beyond a small hill, enveloping all there with a glint of hope that maybe this may be the last casualty, but it never is, there are always more to bury, more to honor.

I spent my time in the Army, oh, so many years ago. The military history in my family goes back to at least the War of 1812. In every conflict, with the exception of the 2 wars in the ME, someone in my family has been there for this nation. This is how it has been for many families in this nation, and the sacrifices made by those who serve can never be repaid.

We are now in a war that appears to be designed to never end, by an administration, the likes of which, this country has never seen. We will come through this intact, a nation forged together to make sure that we never have another pre-emptive war.

As Taps rolls over the hills once again, let us all, regardless of where we stand on the political spectrum, work hard to ensure that Peace, Liberty and Freedom remain the guiding lights of our great nation. May no more sons or daughters be sacrificed upon the altar of war, may we all find that there are other ways to solve conflicts, and war should only be a last resort.

:patriot:

[liberal N proud]

10. My brother has traced my families military history back to the Civil War

He has used that against me when reminding me that I have not served and when trying to nail me for not supporting this war.
His son has spent time in Iraq, so that makes every for our family since the civil war.
Even as I have not served, I honor and respect those who have.

[BikeWriter]

12. Thank you!

[rasputin1952]

14. I have always believed that one need not serve to be

a patriot. The only time I have trouble with people who didn't serve is when they call for war w/o the faintest idea of what they are sending people into. I see bush, cheney and all of their flunkies calling for war. I hear Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity and Coulter all perched on their branches, and calling for war as only screech monkeys can. They are cowards, they always have been and they always will be. they disgust me to no end, and I wish we could rid the country of such vermin.

To those who have fallen, many of whom I have known, I weep on warm evenings that they can no longer enjoy, and even when i was a youngster, I could see the kids who had lost their fathers in Korea looking forlorn, wondering why they could not have a father to talk to...:(

I see, every year, Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H ,members and others, placing flags upon the graves of those who protected what we have...and then I see bush, and I realize we must continue to protect what those who have gone on before us left us as a legacy.

Little Boots can never understand sacrifice, because he has never thought of sacrifice as a noble gesture, he feels that sacrifice is just for suckers, and for that, I hope every vet in this country spits upon him in disgust.

OK...I'll get off my now...:)

:patriot:

[BikeWriter]

11. Salute!

:patriot:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. I can't do the salute.

There's a monster in the White House who has rendered all the past blood shed for my country meaningless.

Until he's in prison, for me Memorial Day won't be a day to honor the fallen heroes of America. Rather, it will be a day of mourning for America's LOST honor as a fallen nation.

We no longer deserve to celebrate our heroes when they have been pissed upon by honorless men. We must first atone by removing the ones who have corrupted their graves and shit on their deeds.

[BikeWriter]

8. The crimes of the jackals do not lessen the bravery of the fallen.

I still salute my fallen Brothers and Sisters.:patriot:

[EFerrari]

13. Thank you. K&R

[rasputin1952]

15. Unabashed Kick for Vets...and everyone else...

:D

:kick:

:patriot: