Memorial Day USA

…and we are just days away from the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a day in which many lost their lives in search of world freedom.

John from PA
USNR

Out of all of man's inventions war is the stupidest ever and the wars continue to go on and on and on. Stupid. Really stupid.

For explaining to those that don't know..

I did and do

Thanks for sharing

Happy Memorial Day - offer a minute of silence for those that paid the ultimate price. Freedom isn't free. Soon all the WWII survivors will be gone.

Richard Schweir, Ronald Coates and Jerry Leak. The first took his own life after returning from Vietnam. The other two lost their lives in Vietnam. I will remember them as long as I live.

I remember as a kid growing up on a farm in NW Iowa, the holiday was referred to as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. My parents always visited the cemeteries to put fresh grown flowers from our yard and garden on the graves. Also remember Poppie Day (which I guess is the Friday before). I had a weekly allowance of 25 cents which I usually spent at the dime store in Ft. Dodge on cashews. But on Poppie Day, the Legion families would be standing out on the sidewalk in front of the McLelland dime store handing out poppies to put on your lapel, so I would give my quarter to them for the poppie. Simpler times back then.

I remember visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day for the wreath ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Even at that young age, it brought tears to my eyes.

Still does today.

When my neighbor, a WWII Chief Petty Officer passed, I traveled to Arlington for her funeral. Her husband, a Naval Officer, had passed previously and was already buried at Arlington. I was impressed by the presence of a distinguished looking woman. I later learned she was an Arlington Lady. They are present at every funeral to ensure that no soldier, sailor, airman or coastie is buried alone. To read more about the Arlington Ladies, go to https://militaryfamilies.com/military-life/arlington-ladies-....

…my commanding officer called me into his office one day. Upon entering his office he asked me if I would like to be transferred to DC. I asked where to and he stated that the Old Guard at Arlington was looking for tomb guards. It seems that they had sent out a request for all commanders to forward to the Old Guard the names and service records of all persons who would be interested in serving as a tomb guard. I had all of the requirements that they were looking for. Right height, weight, rank, etc. I had been in the Army long enough to know that before volunteering for anything, one should do some checking on the position being offered. I called a fellow soldier in DC to check on the duty schedule and other aspects of being a tomb guard. I found out that their duty schedule is extremely strenuous and dedication to their job is paramount. I would like to say that I took the recommendation and became a tomb guard, but I turned it down because I would have had to extend my time in service and I also had a girlfriend at the time that I was extremely fond of. Alas, that was not in the cards either. So I lost the woman and the extremely prestigious job of being a tomb guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I still regret that decision today!

maddog67, you would probably enjoy the book “Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery” by Senator Tom Cotton. Quite good and dispels many of the myths that circulate about the assignment to the Old Guard.

Before we leave this wonderful Memorial Day and Arlington discussion, I wonder if any of you are familiar with the song "Arlington" by the Wailin' Jennys. It is one of my favorite songs and I listen to it often. I discovered the Wailin' Jennys (a female country/folk vocal group from Canada) years ago on the Garrison Keillor PBS radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" and have been a fan of theirs ever since.

If you have never heard the song "Arlington", I encourage you to listen (in a quiet place) and comprehend the lyrics. Everyone I know who has listened has a different interpretation of the lyrics.

Although I am not a veteran and have no connection to the Arlington cemetery, I have requested my family that it be played at the time of my passing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Sbfa8N7q0

Being from Canada, much respect goes out to the US for creating such amazing memorials for their fallen - they always do such an amazing job.

I will try and find that book. I think it would be an interesting read. A number of years ago I was serving on the Ohio State Highway Patrol and there was a guy on there who had been a Tomb Guard. I talked at length with him about his time at the Tomb. He served a total of 18 months at the Tomb. He stated that it was a very stressful position and physiologically testing. On another note; ‘The Wall’ by the Statler Brothers is another good song that is about the Vietnam Wall.