Memorial Day

[BarryC]

Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. when we remember and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

May you Rest in Peace and may eternal sunshine light your way.

“We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in....."

_ Gen. Colin Powell

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

—President Ronald Reagan

[c.rainford73]

Barry great post my friend As many holidays offer us a well deserved rest from our routines it's wonderful to remember the purpose and meaning behind the day we observe. Freedom isn't free.

Carl

[wibblywobbly]

I've been to the US cemetary at Colleville-sur-Mer at least three times, it is one of those places that you go to thinking of it as a tourist attraction, but as you walk around, read the names, and look out over those beaches, the reality hits home...and emotion kicks in. The British one at Bayeaux has personal messages from the families inscribed on the headstones, and that really brings it all home. The German one is the same, Wittman and his crew are there, the German families that visit all share the same feelings as everyone else.

The one thing that they all have in common is that they are all kept absolutely immaculately, not a blade of grass out of line, you can kneel in front of a cross in the US one and not be able to see a single one of the crosses behind it, they are all in perfect alignment.

[PainlessWolf]

Good afternoon,
Many may chuckle and shake their heads at America, especially of late. They must remember tho' that America is made Great, not by the Politicians, but by the People. No more so than those who for a Love for Freedom, give up their lives in its cause. Bless them and keep their rest sacred.
regards,
Painless

Memorial Day. People like to think that it’s for the American dead only but I like to think that it’s for everyone who went off to War and never came home. Doesn’t matter for what reason they fought or for who. At the end of the day there was a chair that never felt their touch again, a book always unfinished, a puppy who waited for that special step on the path leading home, lamps unlit and fires never struck into life again. So remember today those that you have lost and spare a second for the other ones. Somewhere a heart you might never know grieves their loss as well.

[jackalope]

WW, that is the respect those who are buried there deserve. Memorial Day here at Arlington National Cemetery it's closed off and a small flag is placed next to the head stone of everyone in there. They remain there until the next day when they are all removed. That's more then 400,000 flags put up just to be removed.

Regardless of nation all these men fought for their families and there countries and we're doing what they thought was right. Politics aside every single one was and is a hero.