Memorial Day Tribute [Archive]

grizcty

05-28-2012, 12:46 PM

Please REMEMBER, why we celebrate this day.
On this day every American, should take a moment to bow their heads.
This day is for ALL those who served this great country.
And especially those, who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Without the service, of these BRAVE souls.
We would NOT, have the liberties and FREEDOMS.
That we all, enjoy today.

It is your job as a American.
To remind all the ignorant fools, who despise, and have no respect for the military.(Hollywood, Media, Career Politicians etc.)

That they have their freedom of speech.
BECAUSE of those, who served in the military.
It is time to take back, OUR country!

This is a long read.
Which took a bit, to put together.
But, is worth the time.

Take care, be safe.
God Bless America.
Chris - Alaska

Ahhh, Memorial Day . . .
Just the sound of it conjures up wonderful images of summer, doesn't it? Memorial Day is a holiday anticipated each year nearly as much as any holiday Americans celebrate. It represents many things to us: the official kick-off of the summer vacation season; theme parks, pools, National Parks, etc. are open for the summer season; a three day week-end. And don't forget the family picnics, barbecues and the parades. By the way, did we mention the Indy 500?
Fun, fun, fun!

While it's great to celebrate all these things, there's so much more to remember. This Memorial Day weekend, take a moment to reflect on the real meaning behind this holiday - the ultimate sacrifice of life made by so many of our military men and women. Without the selfless duty of these people, we would not be able to enjoy and even take for granted, the freedom we have today. We should not forget the equal sacrifices made by the families of these individuals. Their lives were also changed forever due to the circumstances put upon them. And they, too, gave their best for the generations that followed.

This Memorial Day weekend, please take a moment to give thanks for your freedom. Thank God for His gift of the many men and women of valor and courage who willingly gave all to grant us the privilege of being Americans today.

We salute all those who have fallen in service
of our great country.

"Greater love has no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Taps
Composed By Major General Daniel Butterfield
Army of the Potomac, Civil War

Fading light
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright.
From afar
Drawing nigh
Falls the night.
Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the lake,
from the hills,
from the sky.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Then good night,
peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
shineth bright,
God is near
Do not fear
Friend, good night.

"TAPS is the most beautiful bugle call. Played slowly and softly, it has a smooth, tender and touching character. The bugle call was written during the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War by General Butterfield, with an assist from his bugler, Oliver W. Norton, in 1862.
"TAPS" went on from its origin as an alternative to "Lights Out" to become not only a signal
that day was done, but also to say good-bye to a fallen comrade.
"TAPS" is customarily played at funerals at Arlington national Cemetery as well as at ceremonies
at the Tomb of the Unknowns there.
Its composer is buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point
(even though he did not graduate from the Academy).

http://www.tapsbugler.com/JariTaps1.mp3

FINAL SALUTE

None so brave
None so pure,
Than the one we honor
With this final salute.

But then in our hearts
You will always remain,
Your love everlasting
With no final refrain.

For a heart of devotion
A life such as yours,
Lives on forever
Without any pause.

You marched through the door
Of a mess room divine,
To be blessed with reward
Of life only kind.

To suffer no more
In a future secure,
Dearest one, we salute,
For you, ever endure.

By Rev. Dick Kozelka (ret)
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN.

Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?
Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your lovingkindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].
We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things' going meaninglessly well.
God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
Bless those whose dear ones have died
needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]
in accident or misadventure.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries
in the futility of combat.
There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Ultimate Sacrifice

In my heart this sacrifice isn't just all about
How they gave their every breath,
Their whole life, their soul
The gift of freedom to possess.

It isn't only about the courageous way
They left behind all that they loved,
Treasured memories, family
Though all of this would surely be enough.
It's not just how they gave up having
A future marriage, a lovely home,
Beautiful children, a satisfying career
Where they would never be alone.

It's never only how they turned from fear
To protect all of their own,
Standing up against invaders
Who would take away their homes.

It isn't even in how they fought in deprivation
With a will to win,
A passion to conquer the oppressor
The victory home to bring.

It cannot be held only in their sacrifice
Of every known comfort to man,
Home cooked food, a cozy bed, normality
Everything that they could understand.
For above all, what impacts my heart to tears
More than I can ever comprehend,
Is that they faced death of all, for me, my future
When they didn't even know I was their friend.

Lord Jesus, may heaven be overflowing with
such beautiful ladies and men.
Soft Whispers for their love from
Derry's Heart Poems © 2005
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au

Memorial Day is a U.S. holiday originally held in commemoration of soldiers killed in the Civil War (1868). Its observance later extended to all U.S. war dead. Most states observe the holiday on the last Monday in May, but some retain the traditional day of celebration, May 30. National observance is marked by the placing of a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.

Freedom isn't free I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it, And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil? How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night, When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times That taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free.

Cadet Major /Kelly Strong Air Force Junior ROTC Homestead Senior High Homestead, Florida 1988

I am not there!

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the Gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die.

-Author Unknown

Without the sacrifices of men of honor, we would not have our freedom. For man always has and always will do battle with one another.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matt 24:6

scarry scarney

05-28-2012, 01:31 PM

"A Veteran Died Today"
(Author Unknown)
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone. And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a Veteran died today.

No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way; and the world won't note his passing; 'tho a Veteran died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran, goes unnoticed, and unsung. Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life? The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to the service he gives. While the ordinary Veteran, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small. It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, went to battle, but we know. It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his every waffling stand? Or would you want a Veteran, who has sworn to defend, his home, his kin, and Country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common Veteran and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Military's part, is to clean up all the troubles, that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might say:

OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING FOR A VETERAN DIED TODAY.

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."