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| 8th August, 1918 Will Longstaff |
They are the dead, they fought and they died. Does anyone remember why? Do they remember?
Will they be remembered at some dim point in the future? Long after their sacrifice, when even the history books have faded into memory, will anyone remember them?
I will ...
Yes, this is a rerun, a post I have done for a few years and will probably use again. But it expresses how I feel about Memorial Day, I remember those who have gone before, I cherish their memories.
It is Memorial Day weekend, a time to remember, to honor those who died for us. Let it not have been in vain. What matters politics once the Last Post has sounded? Once the trumpet falls silent, once the last note of Taps fades into the stillness, it matters more that these brave men and women are remembered.
Always ...
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They were people, just like you and me.
They had hopes, they had dreams, they had people who loved them.
One day they went out to do their duty ...
And never came home.
Remember them, say their names ...
I remember these fine men, always, but particularly at this time of year.
I knew some, I miss them all.
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| Captain Carroll F. LeFon, Jr. United States Navy |
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| Lance Corporal Kurt E. Dechen United States Marine Corps |
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| Major Taj Sareen United States Marine Corps |
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| Lieutenant Nathan T. Poloski United States Navy |
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| Private Robert Bain Royal Scots Fusiliers (Source) |
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| Private First Class Albert J. Dentino, United States Army Photo courtesy of Kris in New England |
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| SP5 Wayne S. Bates, "Doc" United States Army |
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| LCpl Gary Arthur Holsclaw United States Marine Corps |
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| SSG Brian T. Craig United States Army |
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| Captain James Albert Graham United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor |
When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow,
We gave Our Today
- John Maxwell Edmonds
Enjoy the day, but take a moment to remember ...
Honor the dead, honor those that served. All gave, some gave all.
ReplyDeleteYour oath of service doesn't have an expiration date.
For those who gave all......
ReplyDeleteA rerun, but ever fresh.
ReplyDeleteThree pieces of music I think are appropriate for this Holiday.
Memory Eternal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGU-0iElko&pp=ygUbbWVtb3JpYWwgZGF5IG1lbW9yeSBldGVybmFs
The Vacant Chair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXtjE9KaMYI
Last Post & Rouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9lbv7DQgGA
Thanks, as ever Sarge. I will honor the day with my Brothers tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMark Knopfler noted once about his song "If this is goodbye" that those phone calls from the Towers never had any message except love; there were no words of politics or other messages. When death appears imminent, thoughts go - or should - to those we love.
It saddens me when people speak of the recently fallen as having died for "us"; since most of.our recent combat casualties have been primarily for others; other people, not generally Americans.
I will remember our Fallen, and I will insist we not give anymore blood to a cause save Liberty or our own nation's survival.
Boat Guy
OMG, another year has flown by...again.
ReplyDeleteWe can't honor them enough.
Repeating this message every year is totally appropriate as their memory and honors should be eternal. Even though we add more names to the list every year. Thankfully this year the addendum is relatively small, mostly from losses in training or from mechanical failures rather than enemy action.
ReplyDeleteIn November we can honor ALL who served, and thank them again, but this day is for those who died in service.
Let those who are responsible for sending our citizens into combat never forget the cost they are passing on to people and families they do not know.
Remember the words of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur:
"...[T]he soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
May God bless them all.
John Blackshoe
As always, thanks Sarge.
ReplyDeleteSic transit gloria mundi.
I think of my Dad's cousin Francis Albert Riley LT USN, who died when the USS ALBACORE was lost with all hands, after hitting a mine off of Hokkaido, in November of 1944.
ReplyDeletethank you for that reminder. i am grateful to them all.
ReplyDelete