Memorial Day

[shepp]

 

 

hope you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day, as we remember those who never made it home

[98Z5V]

God Bless the Warriors of the past. 

From Jocko Willink, retired SEAL:

 

 

I am the fallen soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine.

Remember me.

I am the one that held the line.

Sometimes I volunteered. Sometimes I went because I was told to go.

But when the nation called – I answered.

 

In order to serve, I left behind the family, friends, and freedom that so many take for granted.   

Over time, I used different weapons: a sword, a musket, a bayonet, a rifle, a machine gun.  

Often, I marched into battle on foot – countless miles – across whole continents. I had little water and even less food. But it did not matter. We had a job to do.  

Other times, I rode to battle on horseback or in wagons; sometimes on trains; later in tanks or Jeeps or Humvees.

In early wars, my ships were made of wood and powered by the wind.

Later they were made of steel and powered by diesel fuel or the atom.

I even took to the air and mastered the sky in planes, helicopters, and jets.

The machines of war evolved and changed with the times.

But remember that it was always me – the warrior – that had to fight our nation’s enemies.

 

I fought at Lexington and Concord as our nation was born.

I crossed the Delaware on Christmas day in 1776. Freedom was on our side.

I defended The Chattahoochee river in the War of 1812. I would stand again.

In the Civil War, I fought with my brothers – and against my brothers – at Gettysburg and Shiloh and Bull Run. I learned that we must never again divide.

In World War l, I marched on the Marne and held the line at Belleau Wood. The War to end all wars, they called it. I just called it hell.

In World War ll, I fought everywhere: from the beaches of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, to the sands of Iwo Jima and the hell of Guadalcanal. I stood against tyranny and kept darkness from consuming the world.

 

In Korea I landed at Inchon and broke out of the Chosin Reservoir. They called it the forgotten war – but I never forgot.  

In Vietnam, I went and I fought in the Mekong Delta and at Ia Drang and Khe Sanh and Hamburger hill. Some say my country waivered. But I did not waiver. Ever.

In the recent past I have fought in Grenada, Panama, Somalia, and other desperate places around the globe.

And finally I have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Baghdad, Fallujah, and Ramadi.

In Kunar, Helmand, and Kandahar.

As technology advanced, I used night vision goggles and global positioning systems and drones and lasers and thermal optics.

 

But it was still me, a human being, that did the work.

It was me that patrolled up the mountains or across the desert or though the streets.

It was me that suffered in the merciless heat and the bitter cold.

It was me that went out, night after night, to confront our nation’s enemies and confront evil face to face.

It was me.

Remember me. I was a warrior.

 

But also remember:

That I was not only a warrior.

I was not just a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine.

Remember also: that I was a son, a brother, a father.

I was a daughter, a sister, a mother.

I was a person – like you – a real person with hopes and dreams for the future.

I wanted to have children.

I wanted to watch my children grow up.

I wanted to see my son score a touchdown or shoot the winning basket.

I wanted to walk my daughter down the aisle.

I wanted to kiss my wife again.

I wanted to grow old with her – and be there to hold her hand when life grew hard.

          When I told her I would be with her until the end – I meant it.

          When I told my children I would always be there for them – I meant it.

But I gave all that away.

All of it.

On that distant battlefield, on some god-forsaken patch of dirt, amongst the fear and the fire and the bullets.

Or in the sky above enemy territory filled with flak.

 

Or on the unforgiving sea where we fought against the enemy and against the depths of the abyss.

There, in those awful places: I held the line.

I did not waiver and I did not hesitate.

I: The Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

I stood my ground and sacrificed my life – my future, my hopes, my dreams.

I sacrificed everything – for you.

This Memorial Day, remember me: the fallen warrior.

And remember me not for my sake – but for yours.

Remember what I sacrificed so you can truly appreciate the incredible treasures you have: Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness.

You have the joys of life, the joys that I gave up, so that you can relish in them:

A cool wind in the air.

The gentle spring grass on your bare feet.

The warm summer sun on your face.

Family. Friends. And freedom.

Never forget where it all came from.

It came from sacrifice: The supreme sacrifice.

Don’t waste it. Don’t waste any of your time on this earth.

Live a life that honors the sacrifice of our fallen heroes.

Remember them always. And make every day... Memorial Day.

Edited May 26, 2018 by 98Z5V

[shepp]

Jocko’s got a way with words, and such a BAMF!!!

[sketch]

much respect for our fallen heros! 

[Rsquared]

Outstanding! Nothing less.

A silent salute to all of our fallen brothers that never made it home.

[DNP]

Dylan and I participated in the Flag Placing Ceremony at Fort Rosecrans this morning. We were there with his cubscouts pack and many, many more scouts. That's the first time I've done that, but look forward to it again in the future. 

Thank to all who have served and sacrificed for our country!

[sketch]

right on brother! ??

[Sisco]

?? We need to thank ourselves everyday for their sacrifice.

[Armed Eye Doc]

Outstanding brother. ?? ??

 

[Bigfoot]

Time to Rember fallaen hero’s.More importantly to keep a watchfull

Eye on the government who did not follow the constition and send troops to places they should not be,

if your on someone’s else’s land.Your  in the wrong more often then not.

How many years have troops been in the Middle East?

What a Fukien waste of citizens and tax $$$$. 

Edited May 27, 2018 by Bigfoot

[mineralman55]

A prayer offered for all the heros...

 

[unforgiven]

Never forgotten, forever Loved. Damn brother that article choked me up.

[Sisco]

Wrote this six years ago, still true.

”The most valuable resource this nation has are the men and women of the Armed Forces. More valuable than oil, gold, diamonds, or anything else.  It is the duty of our elected representatives to never unnecessarily send them in harms way for anything other than the protection of our nation.  They keep their end of the bargain, we as a nation need to keep ours. Those who have fallen gave us living Americans the ultimate sacrifice. Today is their day, let us honor them.”

[shepp]

[guruofhotrod]

Man 98, You nailed it - Awesome post  Thank You !

May you all have a great Memorial Day!

[Matt.Cross]

Everyone have a great Memorial Day! May we never forget the incomprehensible sacrifices that have been made for the sake of our freedom. All those that have given their lives would wish us to celebrate our freedom, but dignify their sacrifices with a few moments of contemplation and reverence as well. It's the least we can do for those who gave their most precious asset to make and keep us free.

Have a great Memorial Day.

[98Z5V]

Excellent speech from The President:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/5790560412001/?#sp=show-clips

[sketch]

https://youtu.be/MYDxnTt_YR4

[98Z5V]

I thought this was really cool - I wish more places cared like this place does.

http://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/2018/05/29/chick-fil-honors-fallen-soldiers-with-special-empty-table.html

[jtallen83]

43 minutes ago, 98Z5V said:

I thought this was really cool - I wish more places cared like this place does.

http://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/2018/05/29/chick-fil-honors-fallen-soldiers-with-special-empty-table.html

Amen, good to the community, good to the employees, and some damn good food for the money! Everyone wins.

[mrmackc]

Be sure to click the sound on!

 

Edited May 31, 2018 by mrmackc

[Sisco]

Kind of appropriate: We are getting a rental house ready to sell, and like any place,that has had renters for five years, there is a lot of stuff to do and a lot of stuff to clean up. We hired a fellow we know who is a really good contractor, and he brought two guys he had hired a while back to help us. Those two were awesome! They got more done in a day then my wife and I could do in a week. In appreciation I went out and got lunch for all of us. While we ate we talked a bit. Turns out one of them is an 11 year vet who recently got out of the Army. He was a combat engineer who did two tours of Iraq and a tour of Afghanistan, and was just getting back into civilian life. He and his wife have four kids and are settling down back in his home town. It was just a small encounter, but it made me once again appreciate our veterans and our servicemen for what they do, and what they bring to our country when they come back to civilian life. Without he and his partner’s help we would be up the creek getting this place in shape to sell. 

???‍?

[shepp]