GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Memorial Day Weekend

POSTED BY: JONNYQUEST
UPDATED: Friday, May 25, 2007 13:18
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Friday, May 25, 2007 9:08 AM

JONNYQUEST

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"


Many of you may already have seen this but for those who haven't or those who may want to see it again, here is a YouTube that's been floating about since November 2006. It was put together by a 15 year old girl and has had over 7 million hits. It goes to the heart of what we are observing this holiday, not celebrating.



And then if you have the stomach for it, go to http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_current.htm to see the roll of the ones we commemorate just in our present conflict, nearly 3500 of them now. Check there ages.

Along with the War-dead are the wounded, too numerous to list by name. Think about them, too. They didn't die, but many have lost their lives. They won't be able to return to the life they left behind. Not the way it was.

And say thank you to a Vet. Just because they didn't die doesn't mean they didn't give. They faced the same risks, they just got lucky. Lucky? Many of them won't be the same as they were when before they went over either. We can't thank our dead. But we can thank the living.

And don't forget all of the past conflicts either. Whether we agree with the causes or not, someone was fighting, for you, so you wouldn't have to.

Go ahead and have a barbeque, invite your family and friends. There's nothing wrong with that. Just at some point during the day, think, remember, and be grateful.



"If I were dying, my last words would be, Have faith and pursue the unknown end." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

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Friday, May 25, 2007 10:08 AM

WACKYNEPHEW


Sobering. Shame on me for forgetting. Thanks for the reminder.

Vote for Firefly at http://richlabonte.net/tvvote/index.html


"The lion and the calf shall lie down together but the calf won't get much sleep." Woody Allen

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Friday, May 25, 2007 10:18 AM

KELKHIL


Thank you for posting this thread JQ.

I look at that list every month. I have friends from my old unit that are in Iraq and Afganistan and communication is pretty limited so that is how I make sure that they are alright.

To all the Vets who have passed, who are out now (injured or not) and who are still protecting us somewhere: Thank You and

Kelkhil

The Shirtless Paladin


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Friday, May 25, 2007 10:20 AM

PIRATECAT


Yep I agree. Very good post. We do slip into forgetfulness on this day. Summer officially starts, long weekend, barbeques, racing, and war movies. Its Americana. I am an ex vet who has his experiences so at every sporting event I go to I never like to miss the national anthem. Just alittle respect for the flag and country for a few minutes. I will say the Coca Cola 600 this year will have a very fine tribute to are men and women in uniform, they always do. Its a great event for family and patriotism display. I know one thing about young people in America they rise to the challenge in any time even if its an unpopular war. I'll be sucking down some chili dogs but I won't forget Old Glory.


"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Friday, May 25, 2007 10:37 AM

JONNYQUEST

"Did he just go crazy and fall asleep?"


Had to be said,Kel. I check it pretty often myself--since CMH is the only active-duty I know the real name of, I feel kinda ghoulish, but I promised I'd keep up on him as much as I could and at the moment this is the way that's available.

Cheers to you, my friend and all our browncoats like you (I know there's a few; I know NVG and Causal and a few that have faded from my mind at the moment. Just like I know ManWithPez is out there somewhere now.)

Thank you too, PirateCat. That's all I'm saying. Don't spend your whole Thanksgiving thinking about the Pilgrims and Indians, but give a nod to why we're not at work that day.

EDIT: No shame, Wack. You remember now.


"If I were dying, my last words would be, Have faith and pursue the unknown end." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

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Friday, May 25, 2007 11:00 AM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN


Great post JQ, thanks.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Friday, May 25, 2007 11:38 AM

STEAMER


Glad to see somebody else thinks of it same as I do. It's called 'Memorial' Day for a reason that's sadly lost on too many of them as celebrate it with beer and barbecues. I count myself damned lucky to have met and talked with several gentlemen for whom this Monday is a special day indeed - they fought with a lot of people in a lot of battles and they remember their fallen a lot more clearly than we ever will. So let's not let anyone say we didn't try.



Zoe fought till
War was through
Fights with hubby
Sometimes, too
FIREFLY

Captain of the New England Browncoats

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Friday, May 25, 2007 1:18 PM

NCBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by JonnyQuest:
Many of you may already have seen this but for those who haven't or those who may want to see it again, here is a YouTube that's been floating about since November 2006. It was put together by a 15 year old girl and has had over 7 million hits. It goes to the heart of what we are observing this holiday, not celebrating.



And then if you have the stomach for it, go to http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_current.htm to see the roll of the ones we commemorate just in our present conflict, nearly 3500 of them now. Check there ages.

Along with the War-dead are the wounded, too numerous to list by name. Think about them, too. They didn't die, but many have lost their lives. They won't be able to return to the life they left behind. Not the way it was.

And say thank you to a Vet. Just because they didn't die doesn't mean they didn't give. They faced the same risks, they just got lucky. Lucky? Many of them won't be the same as they were when before they went over either. We can't thank our dead. But we can thank the living.

And don't forget all of the past conflicts either. Whether we agree with the causes or not, someone was fighting, for you, so you wouldn't have to.

Go ahead and have a barbeque, invite your family and friends. There's nothing wrong with that. Just at some point during the day, think, remember, and be grateful.



"If I were dying, my last words would be, Have faith and pursue the unknown end." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.



Another idea. go to the nearest Memorial Day ceremony in your area. They are held in every community by the VFW, American Legion, the DAV and other organizations.

While you're there talk to a vet. My most memorable conversations while I was on active duty and as a miltiary spouse were with WWII veterans at Ft. Ord, CA and Vietnam and Gulf War vets at Ft. Hood, TX in the 1980's and 90's.

A tradition I've started at home is to watch "Saving Private Ryan" the Sunday evening before Memorial Day. By the end I'm usually crying and so grateful to the "Greatest Generation" that is rapidly leaving us.



http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/



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