Remember Memorial Day

Let's not forget them the other 364 days.

USN

 

 

 

Jerry

God bless the United States of America and all who have served our great Country. God bless all of the families who have suffered the lose of a family member so that we may be free today.

I couldn't have said it better.

Please take a few minutes of your time on Monday to remember those who have sacrificed their lives, or have been wounded both physically and mentally to provide us with our freedoms and all we have in this, the greatest nation on earth.

Don

Brian took the words out of my mouth.  I am a true American and have a great deal of respect for those who have served both past and present.  I am very happy to see people today respecting our men and woman who serve.  God bless those who have served and those who support them.

 

Fitzhenry, Martin E.  United States Navy.

Please remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

 

 

 

The overhead rail bridge at the entrance to the Alton & Southern's Gateway Yard in E. St. Louis, IL displays a banner honoring veterans.

 

Dan

Trainchief:

 

Thanks for sharing that beautiful and meaningful photo. Very fitting that an eagle stands watch.

Milwrdpaul said something I should have posted, Memorial Day is not one day but all year. Also Memorial Day is more than picnics, barbecues, Indianapolis 500, etc., these are well and fine, but also remember the kia, body bags, the physically maimed, the mentally maimed, our vets buried in Europe, the Pacific, at sea and stateside and all those who have served or are currently serving.

Semper Fi

thank you john ochab for posting this topic. i always felt memorial day was something you should observe,pay tribute to our fallen war dead, and not be another party weekend.one of our neighbors aways had a big booze party/cookout on the sunday before M.D. they finally stopped having it when all the area neighbors stopped supporting it. thank you,all military veterans!-jim

It is not necessary to preach to the choir.

Not preaching to the choir, glad you understand, how many people understand what we do!!!!!

Well stated John.

Hard not to remember; 3 years ago WWII Navy Veteran; My Dad, passed through my arms on his way to meet St Peter at 11:00 pm Wednesday May 25, 2011. The Doctor at the emergency room didn’t make the pronouncement until 12:05 am May 26.

 

Carl Dovis Rogers Jr.

WWII -           LST 581

Post War -       LST 1040

Morton Salt

E J & E

Bessemer & Lake Erie

Milwaukee Road

Soo Line

 

I agree Matthew, it's hard not to think about it.

 

Our oldest son is back in Afghan now on his second tour as a pilot.

Larry Sr.

thanks to those who serve and who served. God Bless America !!

 

A friend forwarded this email to me - don't know if it is true or not........don't care. 

 

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.

Let us remember all of our vets that took on all of our enemies through out history.