My country tis of thee. Sweet land of liberty. Of thee I sing! Land where thy fathers died. Land of the pilgrims pride. From every mountainside. Let freedom ring! In deep gratitude to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country's freedom! And thank you to all who have served! Honoring them on this Memorial Day!
Memorial day is a day for those who gave their life. Respectfully we also honor those who have served and are serving. Short story for those who take the time to pause in remembrance. ''As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open. The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car, and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away. I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade. He then turned back to the old man. I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying: 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief, and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her; he appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough, and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight, and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.' He smiled sheepishly, and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself, and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around, I saw a gas station up the road, and I told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside. I saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them, and related the problem the old man had with his car. I offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him. The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine), I spoke with the old gentleman. When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?' He said that he served with the first Marine Division at Guadalcanal , Pelieliu, and Okinawa . He had hit three of the worst ones, and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me. I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card. He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it, and I stuck it in my pocket. We all shook hands all around again, and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station, I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me. One of them pulled out a card from his pocket, looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off. For some reason I had gone about two blocks, when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name was written: 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.' I sat there motionless, looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage, and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, as we approach another Memorial Day, OLD men like him gave you, and all of us, FREEDOM for America'' . Thanks to those who served and still serve, and to all of those who supported them, and who continue to support them. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them! Remember, Freedom isn't Free. Thousands have paid the price, so that you can enjoy what you have today.
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference">[1]</sup> Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. ==================================================== just a reminder that we celebrate Veteran's Day for people like my dad who served and led a full, happy life (except for when I was a teenager) ------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks, Dad, ......1922-2002 Pacific Theater he served from Dec. 7, 1941 to the very last day.....
Thanks to ALL of our brave veteran men & women on hamb & everywhere who give there all everyday to protect our freedom! God bless each an every one of you!!!!
God bless all who have served and thanks to all who ultimately sacrificed for our liberties and freedom!~
Thanks to all who served, but a special thanks to the families of those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Later, Dick
thank you for that story. and thank you and all service men and women for your service freedom is not free !
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
I am a Veteran .... alot of us on this forum are and although I am sure most of us appreciate the "also thanks to the vets" compliments, today is about rememberance of the dead. From my g-g-g-grandfather that died at Pea Ridge in 1862 to the neighbor kid that lost his life in Afganistan and those in between. In my heart and mind this day is about them ...... "in memory".
Many thanks to those who gave all for us. On a side note, it was returning vets from WWII that gave rise to our hot rod roots. We owe them a double thanks for giving us the freedom we all enjoy.
My dad left a small country farm in Texas in may of 1942. After. Boot camp, he headed directly to the south pacific where he was engaged in heavy combat until Japan surrended. His unit was one of the first to occupy Japan afterwards. I'm honoring his memory today.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to acknowledge this day....a very special day to reflect on and remember the past....and a special remembrance to Captain Lawrence Smith, 506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, 1945
Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Forth of July, whatever the day is called who cares, If you served the calling of our Nation I salute you! Thanks for your service.
The Jalopy Journal
