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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | By 1944 my grandparents had 3 gold stars in their bay window. This meant all three of their sons were in the armed forces fighting for this country's freedom. My dad in Italy and my 2 uncles island jumping their way to Japan. Back then the mission and the enemy seemed very much clearer then in today's conflicts. Starting with Vietnam, politics and public opinion ate away at our honest intentions, resolves and strategies for wining that and now this present war. We all have our own opinions about what's right, wrong and the way we should resolve conflicts with other countries and nations. But no opinion should get in the way of the respect that we should all feel for the ones fallowing every order (politically popular or not) that allows us to even have an opinion. God Bless this country and God bless and keep those brave men and woman defending it. Happy Memorial Day Vets. | |
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Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Seems I was wrong just a little. It was 3 Blue Stars that were in my grandparents bay window. Gold/yellow starts meant that your son or daughter was killed in action. Thank God my dad and uncles all came home. Heres a link to explain it all. http://www.atlasgeo.net/fotw/flags/us%5esvc.html
Edited by walleye express 5/26/2007 9:53 AM
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Member
Posts: 874
Location: Neenah, WI | Thanks for your post Dan. Memorial Day is celebrated in so many ways, but, we have to remember what it's all about. When we have our barbacues and family gatherings, let's not forget all those souls who have given their lives for our country. I happen to be working 11-7 this weekend (including Mon.) I had a couple of beers with younger co-workers this morning and actually told a couple of war stories (which I'm not in the habit of doing). These guys have friends serving in war zones now and it kind of hit home with them. I'm remebering lost friends this weekend. It can be sad, or it can lift your spirits. I prefer the latter.
Happy Memorial Day!!!!!!!!
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Location: Elgin, Illinois | I posted this elsewhere, but thought it was appropriate here as well:
Many times at night when the fear of what was to come would overtake me... When my thoughts about the men I had lost and knew I would lose again would flood my mind and rob me of the precious sleep I needed I found comfort in the words of a Civil War era song...
Today as I drove slowly through a cemetary with my wife to decorate a grave of a veteran (something we have done every Memorial Day) we choose at random... Just after the morning rain had passed and the sky was clearing with the sun shining down on row after row of white stones and small American flags as I mentally chose the stone in the distance...
As we walked toward my choice my mind again was filled with the music and the words... Music and words that calmed me and kept my mind clear and focused on the job at hand back then and now kept me from an emotional melt down so I could do the job at hand again... I want to share those words and music with you... Words that I am sure are still doing the same for some of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen all over the world and for those at peace words that can comfort their families... Words that carry the essence of this great Nation's mission... "To make men free"
I share with you the Battle Hymn of the Republic...
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally …let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.
And, in closing... For all who have given something and for the some who have given all...
I say... "He is honor to the brave..."
Never forget our Veterans and also never forget our First Responders here at home...
They are the line between us and tyranny
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Location: Neenah, WI | Yhanks Greg | |
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Location: Gladstone, Michigan 49837 | Indeed what it's all about! We are very well blessed people in the country we live and taking so many things sometimes for granted.
Marty
Edited by Capt. Marty 5/28/2007 10:24 AM
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Location: Midland, MI 48642 | JUST GREAT, really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Skeeter | |
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God bless America.