Memorial Day Thoughts [CBD and Jim from Galveston ]

American Military Cemetery at Luxembourg. July 4th, 2010
Photo courtesy of Anna Puma

If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest it could be found in these cemeteries. Here was our only conquest. All we asked...was enough...soil in which to bury our gallant dead
-- General Mark W. Clark.
Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission

In August of 2008 I visited the memorial and cemetery at Omaha Beach. There are two ways (at least) to enter the grounds, and we chose to walk around the side rather than through the main entrance. There is a path that parallels the beach that is shielded from the rest of the memorial by trees and a hedgerow. So when I turned the corner I was suddenly confronted by the sight of the cemetery's long rows of grave markers, seemingly going on forever. They were immaculate, and framed by the blue sky and the verdant French countryside. It was, literally, breathtaking. And shockingly emotional.

These were men who fought for me...a generation before I was born. I can do nothing for them except to ensure that they will not be forgotten in my lifetime.

******
Everyone has their personal feelings about those who sacrificed for us....Here are the thoughts of Moron Jim (Sunk New Dawn, Galveston, TX)

For Love Of Country

And of our fellow man.

In the face of this electoral season's acrimony, it behooves us all as Americans to every now and then declare a truce, step back from the brink and to take stock of this awesome Nation of ours.

Of all of ours.

Be you Raving Liberal or Vast Right-Wing Conspirator, this time is not about you. Or about me.

It's About Them

It Is For The Fallen

Each year the soldiers of the Third United States Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") take part in the ceremony called "Flags In." Just before Memorial Day, each grave in Arlington National Cemetery is decorated with a small American flag.
The flags remain in place until the conclusion of the Memorial Day Weekend when they are all removed. It is the only time during the year when American flags are permitted at all gravesites in the Cemetery. The "Flags In" detail took place this year on Thursday, 27 May 2004.

Personally, I believe deeply that we lose something vital to our survival as a Nation when we forget the blood of patriots.

Words, symbols, heated rhetoric and clever argument all pale when measured against the brilliance of the white of marble, the emerald carpet of living grass borne over they who rest beneath, forevermore.

And the fields and fields of flags upon each, bearing quiet witness to the precious, eternal value of that sacrafice.

Dignity, honor, respect and a day of rememberence is all that they ask now of us.

Especially, rememberence.

So, this weekend, set aside if only for a day, thoughts of (D) or (R). Rail not against your fellow American, nor wish harm to him, his party or his creed.

Not on this day.

The men and women in those graves are no longer Democrats or Republicans. They are still and eternally though Americans, and are forevermore worthy of this day given but to them.

Honor the Day. Honor Them.

From their dark and silent graves, they give more honor to our Nation than any one politican, party or officeholder dares ever imagine.

Dignified beyond words, with nobility above the highest offices of government, these silent warriors speak loudly of what it is to be American.

They did not die for the Republicans. Nor for the Democrats, Greens or Libertarians.

Whether in combat, or fifty years later surrounded by only the memories of comrades long since passed, the men and women resting forever under those flags once marched proudly under that banner. They have earned nothing less than the unqualified respect of a grateful Nation, and her grateful people.

The last full measure of devotion is an awesome, terrible thing. Yet, magnificent; and it is upon the altar of their sacrafice that we enjoy the freedom of the greatest Nation in the history of the world.

Stand and salute, and remember them.

For our own sakes, and especially for theirs.

REMEMBER THEM!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Very nice pictures.

Posted by: HH at May 25, 2015 01:00 PM (Ce4DF)

2 Whether in combat, or fifty years later surrounded by only the memories of comrades long since passed, the men and women resting forever under those flags once marched proudly under that banner. They have earned nothing less than the unqualified respect of a grateful Nation, and her grateful people.
----
lovely.

Posted by: willow at May 25, 2015 01:01 PM (nqBYe)

3 Beautiful.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 25, 2015 01:03 PM (jR7Wy)

4 Thank you for this post. Let us remember those who gave that last full measure in defending liberty and to liberate others.

Especially those who rest in unknown graves leaving behind families always in limbo.

http://tinyurl.com/pjeontu
A grave at the American Military Cemetery at Luxembourg I took on the July 4th weekend in 2010.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 25, 2015 01:04 PM (V8fhv)

5 Beautiful thread. Thank you, Jim and CharlieBrown.

Posted by: Y-not at May 25, 2015 01:04 PM (RWGcK)

6 "A grave at the American Military Cemetery at Luxembourg I took on the July 4th weekend in 2010."

Great photo Anna. Did you put the flower there in the pic?

Posted by: HH at May 25, 2015 01:07 PM (Ce4DF)

7 I did not put the flower there. Someone unknown had done it and the whole composition struck me deeply.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 25, 2015 01:08 PM (V8fhv)

8 Well said. It is a day to put aside the politics and remember those who paid the price for our freedom.

Posted by: RGallegos at May 25, 2015 01:16 PM (iyI9Q)

9 Beautiful. Where'd all this dust come from?

Posted by: Empire1 at May 25, 2015 01:16 PM (j6JzK)

10 Very well said CBD and Jim. Thank you.

Posted by: Infidel at May 25, 2015 01:17 PM (86Sny)

11 Thanks for this post; and on behalf of west Europeans, thanks for V-E '45. "Here was our only conquest" is perfect in its modesty and truth.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 25, 2015 01:18 PM (AVEe1)

12 CBD: Thanks for putting this front and center on the blog.

Jim: Please be careful while cleaning out your fireplace.

Posted by: FireHorse at May 25, 2015 01:19 PM (8TqNO)

13 Well said.

Thank-you to all who served. And to their families.

Posted by: tbodie at May 25, 2015 01:19 PM (GvEen)

14 I don't know about anyone else here, but to me there is nothing like being in a National Cemetery around Memorial day and hearing the sounds of the flags blowing in the wind.

It's spooky and calming at the same time.

Posted by: HH at May 25, 2015 01:21 PM (Ce4DF)

15 Yes, Eris, beautiful. We are so blessed. I weep for their sacrifice and for America.

Posted by: Eromero at May 25, 2015 01:23 PM (go5uR)

16 Over 100,000 buried in Europe.

Remember them.

http://tinyurl.com/mofvdcp

Posted by: Nip Sip at May 25, 2015 01:30 PM (xuOEM)

17 Last year, my father was able to travel to Luxembourg and see the grave of his father for the first time. God bless him and all those others who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Posted by: DangerGirl and her 1.21 gigawatt Sanity Prod (tm) at May 25, 2015 01:31 PM (q20+R)

18 If you really want to get choked up, go the the D Day cemetery in France and listen to the bells.

They play each service's anthem and God Bless America in an endless loop.

Pretty tough.

Posted by: Nip Sip at May 25, 2015 01:33 PM (xuOEM)

19 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 25, 2015 01:04 PM (V8fhv)

May I post that photo?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 25, 2015 01:42 PM (Zu3d9)

20 CBD, yes you may.

To remember them by, yes.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 25, 2015 01:45 PM (V8fhv)

21 Anna Puma's photo added to top of post.....

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 25, 2015 01:52 PM (Zu3d9)

22 OCTOBER 23, 1983-

A three thousand pound truck bomb was driven into a building being used as a Marine barracks in Beirut Lebanon. 241 Marines were killed. The bomb plot was planned and executed by Hezbollah, an islamist terror group and a catspaw of Iran.

The Marines were there to bring peace to Lebanon in the wake of factional fighting and conflict between the PLO and Israel. They had actually saved PLO leader Yassir Arrafat, giving him an escape route to the sea when the Israelis closed in. Their efforts at forcing a peace in the region were rewarded with death by Iran who wished to dominate Lebanon and make it a puppet state.

God bless the dead and those who survived them.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 01:53 PM (i7JE3)

23 A three thousand pound truck bomb was driven into a building being used as a Marine barracks in Beirut Lebanon. 241 Marines were killed. The bomb plot was planned and executed by Hezbollah, an islamist terror group and a catspaw of Iran.

And our response to this attack was... well, pretty much nothing.

Big mistake.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 25, 2015 02:00 PM (tiyBy)

24 typo, the failure to punish Hezbollah and Iran for the Marine barracks bombing is a blot on America. Now this administration rolls over for some of the same planners now in regime positions. The mention of Lebanon gives me a bitter metallic taste. Good men died and I remember it like yesterday. For me it was the realization that fucked up ROE driven by politics would get us all killed.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at May 25, 2015 02:03 PM (AMUZ1)

25 I can only say "Thank you..."

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at May 25, 2015 02:03 PM (AC0lD)

26 OCTOBER 3/4 1993-

A mission to snatch warlord Mohamud Farah Adid in Mogudishu Somalia becomes a battle between Army Rangers and Delta Force on one side and Aidid's militia on the other. During the initial mission a Black Hawk was shot down and the ensuing chaos causes the US forces to become separated and surrounded. 18 Rangers are killed and over 70 wounded.

Osama bin Ladin sees our withdrawal in the aftermath to be a sign of weakness and uses it in his propaganda videos.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:05 PM (i7JE3)

27 Dave- I agree. I consider the Beirut Bombing and it's aftermath to be one of the Reagan Admins biggest failings.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:06 PM (i7JE3)

28 Oregon-

It was worse than nothing. We left. The won. And during the Reagan era.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:07 PM (i7JE3)

29 >>For me it was the realization that fucked up ROE driven by politics would get us all killed.

What took you so long, kid?

Posted by: Vietnam at May 25, 2015 02:09 PM (Dd4gt)

30 Twitter snark from Razor:

In a solemn ceremony, Hillary Clinton to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Emails.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 25, 2015 02:13 PM (LImiJ)

31 Obama should do more to respect the men we lost in Ramadi.

Posted by: Cruzinator at May 25, 2015 02:16 PM (8cSVB)

32 John Kerry to attend ribbon cutting ceremonies; you supply the shears, he the medal ribbons

Posted by: derit at May 25, 2015 02:18 PM (jT+gh)

33 Denis Miranda.
06Dec85-21Sep10.
Warrior, SEAL, friend.

It's always sobering to remember who paid for my day off.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at May 25, 2015 02:18 PM (cv6Ng)

34 At least RR shelled them from the Big MO. He didn't go over and make shitty "deals" with them.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 25, 2015 02:19 PM (GpgJl)

35 They fought for us, and it's all been thrown away.

Posted by: Trump at May 25, 2015 02:19 PM (EQcBC)

36 Thanks for this post CBD and Jim.

I had a tough time reading Clark's post to my wife, very moving.

Posted by: Farmer at May 25, 2015 02:24 PM (o/90i)

37 DECEMBER 1989-

Pres. George Bush orders and invasion of Panama in response to the refusal of Manuel Noriega to relinquish power in the aftermath of an election. Noriega had a history of laundering drug money and had established relations with Cuba and other communists after ties with the US broke down.

US casualties amount to 23 dead not including Marine 1st Lt. Robert Paz whose murder at a Panamanian checkpoint helped to prompt the invasion.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:28 PM (i7JE3)

38
For the family and friends of Harold "Buddy" Ketner of Norfolk, Virginia who lost their son on March 9, 1967 at age 20.

Assigned to the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, Buddy flew a twelve hour day mission, and was later assigned the night "Firefly" mission due to a shortage of pilots.

After three hours of night flight, he landed at the US Navy Base at Na Beh for hot refuel. Buddy was flying the light ship that illuminated the canals and sanpan's for the gunships flying underneath the light ship to strike for the kill.

Upon departure on a moonless night over water he became spatially disoriented and flew the aircraft into the water killing the crew of five with one survivor.

The accident investigation attributed the principal causes of the accident to be physical exhaustion and the inability to perform an instrument take-off over water at night due to exhaustion and spatial disorientation.

He was lost early at a very young age, and was a great addition to the unit. Of note: the entertainer Martha Raye loved Buddy in a mother-son sort of way, and would always ask about him when she came to the unit. He was teased a great deal about this subject, but took the hazing in a graceful manner.

Posted by: Doctor Fish at May 25, 2015 02:32 PM (P330y)

39 CBD, thanks for putting my Memorial Day post up on the page. Humbly so.

And to y'all, who said nice things. Thank you, too. And for Anna's pic, it adds to things, here.

Sometimes, things just go from the heart through the keyboard, and to the screen. That was one of 'em.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at May 25, 2015 02:40 PM (RzZOc)

40 OCTOBER 1983-

In response to the murder of the leftist leader of Grenada by even more militant communists, Pres. Reagan ordered the invasion of the small island. Under construction on the island was a landing strip capable of handling the largest Soviet bombers. The construction was being done by hundreds of Cuban troops assisted by Russian, North Korean and Syrian advisers. In addition, a college on the island attracted international and American Med students.

Cubans offered stiff resistance and areas of the island were found to be more heavily fortified than expected. Twenty three American troops died.

As a footnote, nearly all the information on the first several pages of search results comes from leftists making the case that the invasion was unjust.

Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:40 PM (i7JE3)

41 God bless all who have gone before us in battle and pray that we might carry on their memory so that they will not have died in vain.

No shit stain president or his minions can ever diminish their sacrifices as long as we hold fast to our beliefs and convictions and continue to support the country they died for.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at May 25, 2015 02:45 PM (i0ykY)

42
31 Obama should do more to respect the men we lost in Ramadi.
Posted by: Cruzinator at May 25, 2015 02:16 PM (8cSVB)

Like resign today?

Posted by: eman at May 25, 2015 02:45 PM (MQEz6)

43 Big mistake.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 25, 2015 02:00 PM (tiyBy)

Very big.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Suntanning in Bizzaro World at May 25, 2015 02:47 PM (mmlFU)

44 Amen, Crotchety!

Posted by: Infidel at May 25, 2015 02:47 PM (86Sny)

45 Posted by: typo dynamofo at May 25, 2015 02:40 PM (i7JE3)
---
Yeah, my Army MI friend, an interrogator, said the place was crawling with Cubans and Russians.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 25, 2015 02:51 PM (jR7Wy)

46 I was at a burial sometime back at a national cemetery and I asked the maintenance man how far the tombstones can be off front to back and his answer was either 1/8" or 1/4", I forget. And he said that supervisors do check, but running a line from end to end and checking for any variance, and the workers will go down the row to tap the tombstones forward or back to line them up perfectly. That is how you get that perfect line when you look down a row.

Posted by: Denver at May 25, 2015 02:56 PM (3IHaP)

47 eman @ 42- resign?
In ancient Nippon the honorable thing was sepuku. Of course, there is no honor involved with this weazel. Apologies to regular weazels.

Posted by: Eromero at May 25, 2015 03:00 PM (go5uR)

48 I have no words to express my gratitude. I will sit here silently.

Posted by: Flyover at May 25, 2015 03:04 PM (WPf5w)

49 Good Memorial Day, everyone. God Bless those that have fallen.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at May 25, 2015 03:09 PM (EN+21)

50 Today attended the Memorial Day ceremony at Black Mountain State Veteran's cemetery, at Black Mountain NC. It's peaceful, surrounded by green mountains.

Every year they release a flock of homing white doves. I watch as they flutter and soar off quickly, all in different directions. Then, they circle and circle, and begin to group together, picking up the stragglers, and those who have not found their way yet.

Finally, when they have gathered up their compatriots, leaving none behind, they make a final swing over the cemetery and wing away together as a group..., headed home.

The metaphor is never lost on me as I look out over the hundreds and hundreds of gravestones. There's a lot of pollen in the air today, it seems.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 25, 2015 03:12 PM (QyBQv)

51 Nice story Mike H.

Posted by: Ronster at May 25, 2015 03:18 PM (xElWh)

52 At sons graduation weekend I was fortunate to spend time with father (USN) and Father-in-Law (AAF), both veterans.

FIL was going to be drafted out of college (WW2) at the end of the fall semester, sophomore year, and so he enlisted first so he could fly. He spent the next two and a half years doing exactly that. Last year we had the opportunity to visit Smithsonian Air and Space and see a model of his plane.

Father went in after ROTC and spent the next five years in happy non-combat service floating around the Pacific, while our growing family moved from base to base (usually without him). He wasn't there for the birth of child 2 or 3.

It is a pleasure and an honor to congratulate and thank them most profusely for their service to me and their grandchildren on this Memorial Day, but the day is best spent remembering those who did not make it home. Those are the true saviors of our country, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Posted by: MTF at May 25, 2015 03:20 PM (FCsIb)

53 in memory of my father, buried at Arlington N.C.

veteran of WWII and Korea ( 110th Mountain Signal Co, 10th Mountain Div. and 8th Army )

I miss you

Posted by: honor live forever at May 25, 2015 03:20 PM (8CdUx)

54 The metaphor is never lost on me as I look out over the hundreds and hundreds of gravestones.

And then I remember my country is being led by decadent progressive scum who have no fcuking clue about what these brave men died for, and the chief scum is a malignant narcissist who is so out of touch with the values that this country was built on that he thought it be fitting to commemorate Memorial Day by tweeting a photo of himself eating an ice cream cone.

And it was my countrymen who elected this braying jackass.

May God save us from our follies.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 25, 2015 03:26 PM (tiyBy)

55 31 Obama should do more to respect the men we lost in Ramadi.

------
How much ice cream do you expect him to eat?

Posted by: Gwyneth's steaming hooha at May 25, 2015 03:26 PM (Cz/08)

56 I had the privilege of visiting the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach 2 weeks ago, just after VE Day. Afterwards I climbed down the bluff and stood at the waterline looking up at the heights. Sobering and very emotional. Their spirits still linger.

Posted by: That SOB Van Owen at May 25, 2015 03:28 PM (KElLn)

57 May God save us from our follies.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 25, 2015 03:26 PM (tiyBy)

He gave us the means....free will....but we will have to do the work ourselves.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 25, 2015 03:32 PM (Zu3d9)

58 And it was my countrymen who elected this braying jackass.

Twice!

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at May 25, 2015 03:32 PM (W5DcG)

59 For the fallen:

Thank You.
Your last full measure of devotion is why I am a free man.

Posted by: The Man from Athens at May 25, 2015 03:37 PM (WqhK3)

60 He gave us the means....free will....but we will have to do the work ourselves.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 25, 2015 03:32 PM (Zu3d9)

Amen to that

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 25, 2015 03:38 PM (rDqRv)

61
Some things just make me angry though:

http://tinyurl.com/m7jxfd6

Draw your own conclusions.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 25, 2015 03:38 PM (BZAd3)

62 Some things just make me angry though:

http://tinyurl.com/m7jxfd6

Draw your own conclusions.
Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 25, 2015 03:38 PM (BZAd3)

Some asshole ar Salon wrote something similar and that peenie weenie dope lupica wrote some trash toady also.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 25, 2015 03:40 PM (rDqRv)

63 "Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” - C.S. Lewis

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 25, 2015 03:43 PM (QyBQv)

64 Great story Hammer. Isnt it still Decoration Day up your way? Black Mountain is a beautiful area.

Posted by: BunkerInTheBurbs at May 25, 2015 03:44 PM (X3xYu)

65 Draw your own conclusions.
Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 25, 2015 03:38 PM (BZAd3)

My conclusion is CAIR is un-American and should be done away with.

Posted by: Ronster at May 25, 2015 03:44 PM (xElWh)

66 58 And it was my countrymen who elected this braying jackass.

Twice!
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at May 25, 2015 03:32 PM (W5DcG)
##########

When one puts ideology over country one gets an Indonesian Imbecile in the White House. His love of things muslim will make it harder to rid the world of this evil. It will happen but it will require more casualties.

The mofos who voted for him are Stupid, Libtards, Members of the Free Shit Army, or Go- With-The-Flow-Shitheads. When this group reaches 51%. Move to Texas, Suceed and put up a fence.

Posted by: The Man from Athens at May 25, 2015 03:45 PM (WqhK3)

67 Some things just make me angry though:
Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at May 25, 2015 03:38 PM (BZAd3)

------
I have nearly become numb to this type of crap. There is only one [redacted]. [redacted].

Posted by: RioBravo at May 25, 2015 03:45 PM (NUqwG)

68 Great picture Anna! Great post cdb & Jim

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 25, 2015 03:45 PM (CgMHr)

69 Beautiful post, y'all.

-------

14 I don't know about anyone else here, but to me there is nothing like being in a National Cemetery around Memorial day and hearing the sounds of the flags blowing in the wind.

It's spooky and calming at the same time.
Posted by: HH at May 25, 2015 01:21 PM (Ce4DF)

They do the flags like that at Fort Sam too, and I agree, that sound in the otherwise silent cemetery is remarkable. So is the sight of all those little flags fluttering.

Posted by: stace at May 25, 2015 04:15 PM (CoX6k)

70 Thanks, guys.

Posted by: m at May 25, 2015 04:23 PM (WIUGG)

71 My best friend in the world commitied suicide in May, 2006 or maybe 2007. He blew his brains out with a Browing Hi Power on Mt Lemmon, AZ. He was a vet, deployed to the sandbox in the first Gulf war. I miss him more that I can say. He never felt well after his depoyment, blaming all that on either low level exposure to toxins, or the inoculations. Was he wrong? Fuck, I don't know. Mike, here is a cold one to you. I love you. Paul, Tucson. And fuck Obama, you would have hated the son of a bitch.

Posted by: jasonj at May 25, 2015 05:01 PM (p0Y2Y)

72 In the mid 70's when I was a young teen I sat next to General Clark on an Eastern flight. He was genial, reaching into his brief case and produced an event program which he signed. I remember thinking he was quite old. Hopefully I tried my best not to pester, but I don't remember. I showed the program to my mom the next time I saw her, and she was quite excited. I imagine she still has the program.

Posted by: Harland at May 25, 2015 05:03 PM (OPKdd)

73 When I was in northern Italy, visiting my daughter whose husband was stationed there, we went on a tour of one of the many wineries on Colli Berici. The tour guide showed us caverns in which they aged the wine, and told us that during the war, all the people from the surrounding villages brought their food there and stored it so the invading soldiers wouldn't steal it, and kept it there, then he looked at me and said, until the Americans came and saved us. And he smiled. Of course, I cried. He was not the only Italian to say to me that they remember what the Americans did for them.

Posted by: Auntie Doodles at May 25, 2015 05:14 PM (OV77p)

74
I stopped by Mike's grave today to replace he sun faded and tattered flag I put there months ago. I know he was not killed by a bullet or car bomb in the sandbox, but he was just as dead when he came home. I tried to do more for him, but he pushed me, and others, away. Sometimes, the wounds are visible, sometimes not so much. They are still just as dead, and should be honored with the fallen, They just took a longer time to die, is all. Fuck, I miss him every day, and do what little I can to help his family. Paul, Tucson (JasonJ)

Posted by: jasonj at May 25, 2015 05:53 PM (p0Y2Y)

75 That was nice.

And I was chopping onions, so fuck off.....

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 25, 2015 06:05 PM (xOu6p)

76 jasonj

I'd be proud to stand with you alongside his grave, tend to the plot and honor his memory.

Then, you n' me would, right there there and right then, pour and drink a toast in his honor.

The first of many, I'm sure.

And you're a Rock to his family, too. I'd have to raise a toast to you then, as well.

This is one Horde in which there is Honor, and I'm proud to know you all.

And today, that even includes the resident trolls. If nothing else, they keep us on our game, and serve to sharpen our sense of knowing friend from foe.

The measure of a man is both knowing who are his friends, as well as his enemies.

We should be worthy of the best of both.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at May 25, 2015 06:05 PM (RzZOc)

77 31 Obama should do more to respect the men we lost in Ramadi.
Posted by: Cruzinator at May 25, 2015 02:16 PM (8cSVB)

Like resign today?

Posted by: eman at May 25, 2015 02:45 PM (MQEz6)

Spontaneous combustion. No muss no fuss.

Posted by: Joanne at May 25, 2015 06:28 PM (indTK)

78 Today I went to the graves of my grandparents and parents. My grandfather, a man that died 20 years before I was born, was a veteran of WWI. My grandmother worked for the Army Air Corps in WWII, repairing Norden bomb sights.
My father served in the Army in WWII, and while never in combat, suffered a lot of the diseases and such typical of serving in the South Pacific, and almost died of Dengue fever.

Some years ago, a man that lost his son in OIF, on another blog, discussed with some of the people there his journey to visit where his son fell in Iraq, although he never quite made it.
You may remember this poem from the Lord of the Rings, but I thought is was appropriate then and now

Where now is the horse and the rider?
Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain,
Like a wind in the meadow
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.

Who shall gather the smoke of the deadwood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?

Posted by: Bossy Conservative....lost in America at May 25, 2015 06:58 PM (+1T7c)

79 Gen Mark Clark killed a lot of people with poor strategy in Italy.

Posted by: Jeffrey Carter (@pointsnfigures) at May 25, 2015 07:12 PM (LnE5F)

80 I post this to honor and remember Burder Smith Athey III and Ronald Nelson Wanbaugh, the two I knew whose names are on The Wall. Two good men gone, but not forgotten. RIP

Posted by: Zoltan at May 25, 2015 09:01 PM (YPsdv)

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