A Salute To Our Veterans/memorial Day

[SEABREEZE]

In honor of our Veterans on Memorial day


It is the
> VETERAN,
> not the preacher,
> who has given us freedom of religion.
>
> It is
> the VETERAN,
> not the reporter,
> who has given us freedom of the press.
>
> It is
> the VETERAN,
> not the poet,
> who has given us freedom of speech.
>
> It is
> the VETERAN,
> not the campus organizer,
> who has given us freedom to assemble.
>
> It is
> the VETERAN,
> not the lawyer,
> who has given us the right to a fair trial.
>
> It is
> the VETERAN,
> not the politician,
> Who has given us the right to vote.
>
> It is the
> VETERAN who
> salutes the Flag,
>
> It is
> the
> VETERAN
> who serves
> under the Flag,

ADD YOUR SALUTE

[sg8357]

Memorial Day is.....

"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."(about.com)

Veterans Day is Nov. 11, formerly Armistice Day, 11am, Nov, 11, 1918
the day "The War to End all Wars" ended.

It is good to remember the real names and purposes of our holidays.

[Ozz]

One of the most haunting songs I've heard....about fighting for your country and dying in a foreign land.

"Sgt. MacKenzie" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-qH02g4DLI&feature=related)

Original Scottish Version
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun


English Translation
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I'll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a Germans gun

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

Where before many more have gone

[ahumblecycler]

I work with Soldiers every day and every day I give them my thanks.

I can ride my bike because of their sacrifices.

[fourflys]

I work with Soldiers every day and every day I give them my thanks.

I can ride my bike because of their sacrifices.

don't forget the Coasties, Marines and Sailors... ;)

[rugbysecondrow]

don't forget the Coasties, Marines and Sailors... ;)

Airmen need love too

[fourflys]

Airmen need love too

Doh! My dad retired from the Air Guard and I forgot all about them... :D

[dave thompson]

.

[93legendti]

My kids and I went to the Cemetery this morning, to visit my Father's grave.

Afterwards, I took them to the Veterans' section and found the grave of a 21 yr old from the 101st Airborne who was killed on June 6, 1944. I explained why that date was so significant.

They are only 7 and 4 yrs old, but I spoke to them about the need to speak quietly, act respectfully and not play while we were there. They got it.

[dsimon]

OLD man DAVE Tompson was in the Air force for awhile and his son is a Jarhead sorry Dave you know us Army guys. :beer: :beer:

[MattTuck]

Some relevant bikes I just found from this Massachusetts based painter/builder.


http://www.hottubes.com/ShopWebSite/Paint_Photos_files/Media/Danny%20017/Danny%20017.jpg?disposition=download


http://www.hottubes.com/ShopWebSite/Paint_Photos_files/Media/Kate%20022/Kate%20022.jpg?disposition=download


http://www.hottubes.com/ShopWebSite/Paint_Photos_files/Media/Danny%20025/Danny%20025.jpg?disposition=download

[Dekonick]

.

Damn.

Powerful.

What about the pic where it is the Dad telling his son to come home safe?

[Dekonick]

I remember playing in the farm fields of Belgium - crawling into bunkers, without realizing what they were. I played on the shores of Normandy, looking into the gun fortifications, etc. It was not until I visited Normandy as an adult that the magnitude of what so many sacrificed for us really hit home. The military grave sites show thousands of graves - but what is missing is the age of the soldiers. The vast majority were just kids - barely 18 years old. Think about that for one moment.

Thank you to all of our soldiers - uniformed and non alike. Without you we would have no freedom.

Thank you.

:beer:

[StellaBlue]

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8674/img8033t.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img8033t.jpg/)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1305/img8047e.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/img8047e.jpg/)

[fourflys]

Today, my oldest brother is in Afghanistan working on project to build buildings/housing for our troops... He is also a retired Army Lt. Col and a former Airborne Ranger with time in the first Gulf War... I pray that he comes back safe as his area has already been hit with missiles once...

My dad is a retired Air National Guard Master Sargeant with Active Duty Air Force Korea time...

My sister is an Army Vet with time in the first Gulf War...

And I'm currently Active Duty Coast Guard Chief Corpsman with 17 years looking for 30...

I pray for all my Brothers and Sisters who will never get to spend another Memorial Day with their family as I've had the chance to do today... I pray for their families that they can somehow find the strength and peace to carry on, to somehow get the children of those that paid the ultimate price through school and life...

Most of all, I pray that we NEVER forget what some have given to enable us to able to enjoy this day and go for that annual bike ride...

Grace and Peace to all my Military and Cycling Brothers and Sisters...

Chris

[dave thompson]

Damn.

Powerful.

What about the pic where it is the Dad telling his son to come home safe?
I haven't seen the pic, but I told my son that 3 times, each time he deployed to Iraq and I'll be telling him that again soon, when he goes to Afghanistan.

For years I decried the current generation of kids, their apparent antipathy, greed and what's in it for me I want it all but not to have to work for it attitude. No longer. I have seen too many times that they are willing to put on a uniform and do what they think is right and do what they think they must do. I sincerely think that we are seeing the next 'greatest generation', today.

[William]

We took time out of our busy weekend to sit down and explain to our children what memorial Day means: It's importance, to give thanks to all those men and women who have served to protect our freedoms that we enjoy.



Thank you to all that stand for us.

William

[93legendti]

http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab27/adambaker29/photo.jpg