How Can We Best Honor Their Memory on Memorial Day

[garyedolan]

How Can We Best Honor Their Memory on Memorial Day

I believe we veterans are a living tribute and have a solemn duty to bestow honor upon the memory of our brothers and sisters who gave the full measure of devotion in defense of our country and in defense of each other.

As I get older, the depths of my feelings and emotions mature while I seemingly become less wise. Everything, and not just physically, was somehow easier when I was younger. I no longer have all the answers I enjoyed with my youthful wisdom.

I am not sure how best to honor those who died: for me, for my brothers-in-arms, for my family, for my future and for my freedoms.

One of the happiest days of my life was when I married my true love at West Point on Memorial Day, May 30th, 1970. So, when someone wishes me a “Happy Memorial Day.” I can beam with the happiest thoughts and reflections of that wonderful day. However, having departed for Vietnam the day after I returned from my honeymoon, the happy thoughts are as quickly departed and replaced with the evocative memories of my fallen heroes.

As I do every Memorial Day, I will return from marching with my local VFW in its annual Memorial Day Parade filled with high school marching bands, boys & girls scouts/soccer teams and hundreds of volunteer firemen. For all our parades, the veterans are always invited to lead the parade, even in front of the politicians. The small crowds lining the streets always clap the loudest for the veterans. I know they will soon dissipate to enjoy cook-outs with family & friends in this beautiful weather. I, myself, am looking forward to my own family being with us for a bar-b-que.

So, to the question of how best can we honor Their Memory on Memorial Day.

There is a phrase in the bible: “Who will honor him who does not honor himself?” As living tributes, I believe we must act honorably to honor the memories of our fallen. I believe we honor the memory when we accept honor. Allow the citizens to honor us in any way they choose, whether it be clapping when we pass in review, placing us on a dais, bestowing upon us proclamations or certificates or simply being the recipients of a “Thank You!” I think it is our solemn duty to demand honor. We are the voices of the deceased; we are the reminders of the deceased; we are the living tributes of the deceased. It is our duty to rekindle patriotic fervor in the beating hearts of our country-folk, to remind them by our honorable presence of the supreme sacrifices of our fallen heroes.

I believe our country deserves to be happy and free, because that happiness and freedom was bought with the blood of our fallen heroes. I think our fallen heroes would appreciate that our country is happy and free and would gladly accept that as a wonderful tribute to their sacrifice. So, I personally am not disturbed to note that our people wish each other a Happy Memorial Day and celebrate the onset of summer.

I am also thankful. I am thankful that I once was young and soared with eagles. In my youth I did not adequately appreciate the full measure of the men with whom I served. Never again would I be in the company of men who would routinely offer up their own lives to spare mine; never again would I share unqualified trust and know that I was equally trusted. The respect, admiration, honor and love for these men with whom I served grows with each passing Memorial Day. I am thankful and prideful for all who served.

On this Memorial Day I also salute the Gold Star Families and promise to honor them with my own living tribute.

God bless all veterans!

[Worldweaver]

Well said Sir. To all those who have went before us I raise a glass, here's is to the hope of once again standing beside you.

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger...

[Jim]

I plan to visit Arlington to spend time with my heroes.

[Mingo Kane]

How Can We Best Honor Their Memory on Memorial Day

I believe we veterans are a living tribute and have a solemn duty to bestow honor upon the memory of our brothers and sisters who gave the full measure of devotion in defense of our country and in defense of each other.

As I get older, the depths of my feelings and emotions mature while I seemingly become less wise. Everything, and not just physically, was somehow easier when I was younger. I no longer have all the answers I enjoyed with my youthful wisdom.

I am not sure how best to honor those who died: for me, for my brothers-in-arms, for my family, for my future and for my freedoms.

One of the happiest days of my life was when I married my true love at West Point on Memorial Day, May 30th, 1970. So, when someone wishes me a “Happy Memorial Day.” I can beam with the happiest thoughts and reflections of that wonderful day. However, having departed for Vietnam the day after I returned from my honeymoon, the happy thoughts are as quickly departed and replaced with the evocative memories of my fallen heroes.

As I do every Memorial Day, I will return from marching with my local VFW in its annual Memorial Day Parade filled with high school marching bands, boys & girls scouts/soccer teams and hundreds of volunteer firemen. For all our parades, the veterans are always invited to lead the parade, even in front of the politicians. The small crowds lining the streets always clap the loudest for the veterans. I know they will soon dissipate to enjoy cook-outs with family & friends in this beautiful weather. I, myself, am looking forward to my own family being with us for a bar-b-que.

So, to the question of how best can we honor Their Memory on Memorial Day. There is a phrase in the bible: “Who will honor him who does not honor himself?” As living tributes, I believe we must act honorably to honor the memories of our fallen. I believe we honor the memory when we accept honor. Allow the citizens to honor us in any way they choose, whether it be clapping when we pass in review, placing us on a dais, bestowing upon us proclamations or certificates or simply being the recipients of a “Thank You!” I think it is our solemn duty to demand honor. We are the voices of the deceased; we are the reminders of the deceased; we are the living tributes of the deceased. It is our duty to rekindle patriotic fervor in the beating hearts of our country-folk, to remind them by our honorable presence of the supreme sacrifices of our fallen heroes.

I believe our country deserves to be happy and free, because that happiness and freedom was bought with the blood of our fallen heroes. I think our fallen heroes would appreciate that our country is happy and free and would gladly accept that as a wonderful tribute to their sacrifice. So, I personally am not disturbed to note that our people wish each other a Happy Memorial Day and celebrate the onset of summer.

I am also thankful. I am thankful that I once was young and soared with eagles. In my youth I did not adequately appreciate the full measure of the men with whom I served. Never again would I be in the company of men who would routinely offer up their own lives to spare mine; never again would I share unqualified trust and know that I was equally trusted. The respect, admiration, honor and love for these men with whom I served grows with each passing Memorial Day. I am thankful and prideful for all who served.

On this Memorial Day I also salute the Gold Star Families and promise to honor them with my own living tribute.

God bless all veterans!

What you have written answers the question you have so eloquently asked. How do we remember? By living our lives for the happiness and freedoms we have been blessed with while never losing sight of that gratitude due to the men of valor who willed it to be so. We live our lives for them and the cherished memory of their solemn sacrifice on the great altar of freedom. May the flames of their lives never be extinguished and the honor and perseverance of their service be forever remembered.

Thank you for your service...."Readily will I display...."

Mingo

[Steadfast]

Great post Sir.

In addition to what all have said I believe that we keep our fallen hero's alive in our hearts and as we do things in our everyday lives, speaking their names aloud and hoisting a beverage glass or eating a frank and telling our fallen - mmm, it's good buddy!

[al_2ndWolfhounds]

Well thought out Gary, thank you. I will keep these thoughts with me on Monday when I will spend my first Memorial Day with my family in 44 years, I had wondered how I would handle the day but your words will help me. I will make sure all understand the meaning of the day and then try to enjoy the life that the fallen have made possible for all of us.

[Slowpoke]

I just saw on the news that a Veterans group from Bremmerton, WA does something on Memorial Day that brought tears to my eyes. it seems that every year the remains of Veterans killed in combat are shipped to the "Home of Record" Coronars Office and go unclaimed because there is no family. This Veterans group gathers remains from all around and give them a proper burial, including funeral, from people that care. They are not forgotten!

[Grifter]

Great post Gary, and Congrats on the Many years of Marriage. May our brothers Rest in Peace.

It is tradition at my FD every year that we take a truck and drive in the small but meaningful parade here in town. I remember it from when I was a kid. Those days it just drove around in town. While I was in the Army the neighboring community put in a Veterans Point just outside town. So now we start in the old cemetary down the street from my Parents place, as it always has ( Revolutionary War Heros/ brothers reside in this 33 acres). We have a speech, raise a flag while the civil war statue overwatches. Then we parade to Vet point and Raise another flag or four, speeches and have a flyover of something.

Sadly for the last couple years when I arrive at the FD in the morning and prep the truck, I wait to see if anyone will show up. Three times the wife and I rode alone in the truck. SAD. Thankfully today (while we had a call out for tornados) I had three guys and a Capt ask me if they could participate. Three confirmed they would be there at 8 in the morning. I am so thankful for this bit of interest. So tomorrow morning I will hopefully prep a truck and then give a very quick lesson in D and C. So that these guys wont look too Fucked up.

Either way, For the moment on Memorial day that is how I will and have honored our fallen. So long as I am able, I will do it with pride.

Later I will hoist a drink. :)

[mortar_guy78]

Great post, sir.

I, for one, will be praying for our fallen and their families (as always).

RLTW

[Rockin Ranger]

I think our fallen heroes would appreciate that our country is happy and free and would gladly accept that as a wonderful tribute to their sacrifice.

Thank you, Ranger Dolan....your point is right on, so here is a happy outcome for a sad Ranger story -

As some of you may know, Ranger Michael Rudess from A Co., 1/75th was killed in a live-fire op during Gallant Eagle 1986 in Utah. His daughter, who was only 8 months old at the time, must have got some of his Ranger DNA, because she has excelled throughout her life and graduated from college a few years ago with some help from the Special Ops Warrior Foundation scholarship fund. Today she is happy and free, and has never forgotten that her Dad died doing what he loved for his country. So, while individual Rangers pass away, the Ranger spirit lives on through the generations.

Here is a link to her story: < http://www.specialops.org/resource/resm ... ignani.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; >

Rest in Peace, Mike, and best of luck to Melinda.


Happy Memorial Day To All.


Rangers Lead The Way

Fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession...

[Grifter]

Well I just got back from the parade detail in town (that I "spoke" of earlier).

Actually got enough FFers out to field two trucks in the parade. Also did a little D and C instruction prior to arrival. Had my guys all squared away and set up on site when low and behold Chief-1 decides to show his face. Mind you we have no function for rendering salute in our dept. So it took a wee bit of instruction to get my guys squared away. Either way Chief decides to join the rank (ODD, standing behind me) that I am heading up. Per my dad and wife who were standing next to us. When I started quietly calling my guys to Attn. and the present arms orders, he actually took a visible double take ( he a big guy) at the FFers and then followed suit for the rest of the detail. He also left without saying a word, which tends to be a bad thing. I think we looked sharp. So I am hopeful he will take it all in stride.

Today was cool though as usual ceremonies in both citys. pre parade and post parade. After the parade they got a WWII combat plane to fly and smoke the cardinal directions for us (for some odd reason he always flies over while the other Mayor is speaking ). Either way towards the end they got a single fly by from a pair of warthogs.. too cool.

[mortar_guy78]

Went out to the memorial on Ft. Wainwright yesterday to render honors/pay my respects. It's a big park between 2 ponds with markers for Soldiers killed in action. It's pretty nice with trees and benches and all. I stayed for about half an hour. I was the only one there the whole time. Afterwards I went on a run and my route took me by the memorial twice. Still no one.
I was disappointed, to say the least. No ceremony, no visitors.
What the fuck?

[Rockin Ranger]

Went out to the memorial on Ft. Wainwright yesterday to render honors/pay my respects. It's a big park between 2 ponds with markers for Soldiers killed in action. It's pretty nice with trees and benches and all. I stayed for about half an hour. I was the only one there the whole time. Afterwards I went on a run and my route took me by the memorial twice. Still no one.
I was disappointed, to say the least. No ceremony, no visitors.
What the fuck?

And yet there was a visitor...a Ranger.....Leading The Way, though he be the lone survivor....

When I die, I will be more honored if even one Ranger comes by to pay his respects than if 100 legs do (unless they're hot ones in tiny skirts ).

Despair not......You, Ranger Mortarguy, led the way.

Rock on, Ranger