As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to pause and consider the true meaning of this holiday. Memorial Day represents one day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should honor these heroes every day for the profound contribution they have made to securing our Nation's freedom, we should honor them especially on Memorial Day. This is a day our country has set apart to remember what was gained in our wars, and all that was lost. Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have taken from us the men and women we honor today, and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live.
Every Memorial Day, Americans remember the debt of gratitude we owe to our veterans who gave their lives for our country. On this important day, communities across our Nation stop to remember and to honor the great sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
The tradition of Memorial Day reinforces our Nation's resolve to never forget those who gave their last full measure for America. As we engage in the war against terrorism, we also pray for peace.
We continue to rely on our brave and steadfast men and women in uniform to defend our freedom. United as a people, we pray for peace throughout the world. We also pray for the safety of our troops.
As we commemorate this noble American holiday, I would like to give you the opportunity to honor those who fell in defense of freedom. Please feel free to submit a cherished memory or favorite story below, and I will be sure to share it on this web page.
My 23 year old cousin, a graduate of VMI was killed in Viet Nam in 1968. It's still so painful even after all these years. He was so close to coming home. He was an only child.
My Dad was in the first world war and came home, I had 3 brother's in the second world war, a brother in the korean conflict, a brother-inlaw in nam and an other brother-in-law in the gulf conflict, and a son was in during peace time and served 6 years in Germany.
I remember when we were ONE nation under God. I remember when everyone in business played on a level playing field as far as paying taxes was concerned. I remember when elected officials had the guts to do what is right (collect taxes from all). I remember the sacrifices made by our allies and don't feel that 200 years later this justifies creating a nation within a nation. If we insist on this inequitable situation going forward, then i feel that we must install U.S. Customs stations at our borders as we do with our friends from Canada.
Memorial Day is a time to remember all those who fought for our country and made the ultimate sacrifice in oding so. It is seeing our veterans come together and lay wreaths on the monuments that represented all the wars we were in through the years. It is a time to reflect on our freedom as a country as we went to war against countries who had no respect for what we stood for only to see us fall in defeat. We won several wars and made sure that enemy was defeated. I am look forword to Memorial Day every year and see all the ceremonies where wreaths are layed at all the war monuments with the commanders of the local American Legion, VFW, or Marine Corps League Post doing the honors. It is also a time to reflect on those who serve our communities as Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters who have also represented our communty in the line of duty when they are called to serve it.
Memorial Day !!! Always known to us kids as Decoration Day !! My Dad an Army Veteran always made sure we honored our military on this special day. Also that every family milir=tary gravesite was DECORATED by this day. That meant a new AMERICAN FLAG and flowers..I HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED MEMORIAL DAY AS DECORATION DAY IN HONOR OF MY DAD AND ALL OTHER MILITARY.
Memorial Day holds special memories for me. My late grandfather, Robert Jones of Chadwicks, NY, was a Veteran of WWI. Every year on Memorial Day, I would help him get ready for the parade, and follow him riding in the car in the parade, snapping pictures all the way to the American Legion, where he was always highly honored. I was always so proud, to the point of tears, and he was in his glory. It was his day, and I was the one that always got to share it with him.
Ever since I came back from Iraq, Memorial Day has had a more profound meanning to me. I lost 19 friends over there. 11 were from New York. I honor them by being at the parades and Memorials that are held. I was active in setting up and working at the Arlington North at the parkway last year. I have 22yrs. in the military and intend to stay in until age 60, another 13yrs. I am proud to be an American Soldier and serve this great country.
My Mother lost the man she was going to marry in WWII. Lost a good friend Bernie Puris in Vietnam. My uncles Archie Page & Leonard Page joined 1/1942. Archie got the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. Leonard once told my Dad about carrying the people out of the German camps. My Dad Edward Rose once told him about being in the Philippines. The Japanese use to come into their camp while they were sleeping to take food . They were not caught even tho they had guards posted & they harm know one. My nephew Jonathan Rose serviced in combat in Bosnea,Afagannas,& Iraq. Iraq if he has to go it will be number 3.
tw0 tours in vietnam, 58000+ guys killed. 300,000 gooks killed, who said we did not win? look at the numbers....