Remember what Memorial Day and Weekend are about.

The brother-in-law I never got to know.  He and my father-in-law had a nice HO/slot car layout when he entered the army.  My father-in-law kept that layout up for many years as his way of remembering him.

In Hawaii there is a beautiful Memorial every year.  Prayers are offered for victims of war, water-related accidents, natural and manmade disasters, famine and disease. On the island of Oahu, it’s the weekend to light a different kind of fire. This year five thousand floating lanterns were set out, all with notes written on them. Don

Texas Pete posted:

I can tell you what I know Memorial Day is NOT about:  It's not about $ale$ of anything - not furniture, not cars, not toy trains, not anything!  I will NEVER buy anything, not trains, not any dam thing from a business that promotes a Memorial Day $ale.  IMO all businesses should be CLOSED on Memorial Day.  Memorial Day is a time for somber contemplation as to the reasons so many have been made to sacrifice their lives for our country, and to appreciate what they have done.

Pete

You will be happy to know Aldi's was closed. How is it that a German company is closed on Memorial Day yet American businesses are open with half vast sales?

Schofield Army Post Cemetery

Considering how many previous generations of men in my family served, I'm surprised none died in wartime (all but one of my uncles on Dad's side were in WW2 and my Mom's only brother was in 'Nam). I feel for anyone who lost anyone like that, of course.

As for businesses being open, I work for the insurance industry and more than half of us have to work on any weekday holiday. We're crazy top-heavy with seniority, so even with 14 years in, I have the least seniority. That means I'll never get a holiday off unless it's on a weekend.

Ironically, I'm the only one in my department who served in the military and regularly does stuff with and for vets, yet I had to be at work, twiddling my thumbs and doing nothing.

Yeah, I'm more than a little bitter about that.

My great uncle and four of his brothers went off to WW1. They all got gassed. Two could never work again. I never could get any of them to talk about it. I was young then and didn't understand why they wouldn't talk. Don

I lost my great uncle in WWII, he stayed behind while his platoon got out. 26 August, 1944 I believe, somewhere in Normandie. As such I never met him. My grandfather was in Vietnam, he came home safely. My great grandad was in the CB's in 1950's. He saw no combat, came home safe. I lost a great great (great?) uncle in Italy in 1916, his niece(?) (my great grandmother) just died the other year. I do not know of any others in my family who served, yet I feel that they probably did. 

scale rail posted:

My great uncle and four of his brothers went off to WW1. They all got gassed. Two could never work again.

My Mom's uncle had the same thing. The man who came back wasn't the same one who left for France in 1917. In fact, my great grandmother (his own mother) didn't recognize him when he showed up one day after the war was over. He spent most of his life in a VA hospital, never realizing for sure who my mother really was.

Ironically, he as the favorite of several sons, the one who was treated so much better than my Grandfather. In fact, Granddad always made a point of spending time with me when I was a kid, as I was the youngest on either side of the family, as he'd been, and he wanted to be sure I didn't get treated like he'd been as a kid.

From Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, across the Potomac River from DC,  yesterday.  My wife's Sweet Adeline group sang at the Air Force memorial.  I was privileged to be their roadie for the weekend.   There are so many.   Note the flowers on some of the stones.  All the flags were placed  before the weekend.     

It is somber and sobering to remember.  Probably our most important holiday, to remember those who gave all, for those of us who remain.  I only heard my dad talk about WWII four times in 65 years.  We are truly a blessed nation to have had so many willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

aussteve posted:

I only heard my dad talk about WWII four times in 65 years. 

While I understand this (even in peacetime, I saw some stuff that messed me up and I don't talk much about even to this day), it's sad that so much history is gone forever.

My grandfather was in WW1 and I think my Dad carries the regret of not pressing for info on his time in France.

When it comes to vet stories, most of what we'll have to go by are boring cold-war floor buffer experiences. I've found that what someone will discuss about their service is always disproportionate to their willingness to talk about it.

In other words, the guys who never did much won't shut up about it.

I was shot in the leg, chest, and hand in a contact in Vietnam.

I was winched out with support by American gunships.

I don't attend Anzac Day (memorial day) I stay home by myself, my mates understand.

I have an American flag on my workbench.

I survived.

Roo.

Reinstitute the draft, that'll put some thought back into these days of remembrance. I'm past sick and tired of listening to talking heads tell me how they support the troops but have no skin, blood or guts in the action. It's one thing to sit on the sidelines spouting superlatives it's something else to have you tail hanging over the bob-wire.

Go team, yea!

OK, I gotta go to Home Depot.

Bogie

I disagree. The last thing a professional soldier wants is to deal with draftees. Ask anyone who had to deal with NATO European forces through the cold war, conscription didn't exactly make for stellar militaries there.

As an Army officer, I dealt with a comical level of disciplinary problems as it was, there's no way any of us wanted to handle draftees!

p51 posted:

I disagree. The last thing a professional soldier wants is to deal with draftees. Ask anyone who had to deal with NATO European forces through the cold war, conscription didn't exactly make for stellar militaries there.

As an Army officer, I dealt with a comical level of disciplinary problems as it was, there's no way any of us wanted to handle draftees!

Interesting. I got drafted in late 1964, and would up as the Personal Driver for the Colonel, Commander of Division Artillery, 2nd Armored Division. The Colonel and I encountered quite a number of "offices" that were unable to pour using out of a boot, even if the instructions were on the heel! The Colonel would ONLY eat in the Enlisted Man's mess when out in the field, and as a WWII HIGHLY decorated veteran, he was a pleasure to work for and EVERYONE in the entire command liked him and respected him. Colonel Billy Kerr was a walking mathematician when it came to artillery, from obvious experience in WWII, and as a graduate of the University of Missouri, he volunteered for the Army as an enlisted man. He received a battle field commission in North Africa, as well as the DSC, Silver Star, Bronze Star, three Purple Harts, and heaven only knows what else. He generally didn't have much use for 2nd Lieutenants, stating many times that "Good Sergeants were the key to a successful unit.".   

p51 posted:

I disagree. The last thing a professional soldier wants is to deal with draftees. Ask anyone who had to deal with NATO European forces through the cold war, conscription didn't exactly make for stellar militaries there.

As an Army officer, I dealt with a comical level of disciplinary problems as it was, there's no way any of us wanted to handle draftees!

Well said Lee, From what I know and it's not a lot. The moral of the people I served with were much more happy to be doing what they were doing. They took pride in there job and trusted the man or woman next to them. I would always stand strong with someone who wanted to be there to serve there country. It is a PRIDE thing if you know what I mean!