Happy Memorial Day weekend.. Price of Freedom

[Hog]

RIP to the 22 US Veterans who killed themselves in the last 24 hours.
And RIP to my brothers/sisters in arms who have passed on both sides of the border. And best wishes to the injured/serving, it IS a hard road.

[John Boothby]

Every Memorial Day for the last 45 years, I remember stepping off the medi-vac C-141 at Travis AFB and watching 42 silver caskets holding the bodies of dead American's being off-loaded. They just pulled a fork lift up and hauled them off like any other cargo. No Honor Guard, no flags and no one to receive them in a proper manner. This has always stuck with me. Times have changed, thank God!!

May those guys rest in peace!!

[John Boothby]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qt57c7rnHM

I don't think that anyone who has ever witnessed war would wish it upon anyone! However, it is the price we must pay for our freedoms!!

[John Boothby]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqo55xnEcMY

No words necessary.

[A26B]

Over the last two+ decades, I have had occasion to read statements, articles, books attend veterans reunions, hear accounts first hand, read heroism award citations, read commentaries for the KIA's listed on the "Wall" and memorials on Together We Served. I also remember those who didn't come back and those who did, the dead, the alive and those somewhere in between with lives so shattered one wonders who received the most mercy.

During those times of recollection, knowing we were all changed from the young men, boys really, that we were before, I wonder who I might have been today without that experience. I was one of the very lucky ones. I feel incredibly blessed but I also feel guilty that others were not so blessed.

On Memorial Day, I recall my memories, the good and the bad. The good are fading some now, but the bad are indelibly etched. I am not alone in that regard. Our duty continues to remember, honor the service of all veterans of war, the dead, wounded and living, and continue in our duty to preserve our constitutional rights of freedom. The cost has been horrific.

United States Marines
Vietnam 1967, 68 & 69
My special unsung heros, My Scout Dogs; Kaizer, KIA & Stormy (left behind, fate unknown)

[John Boothby]

I hear you Jerry.

The older we get the more those memories are ingrained in us.

U.S. Army 1965-68
Vietnam '68

[HIZNHRZ]

Happy Memorial Day.

For many it's a day off or a long weekend. It's the perfect time to get together with family and friends or just relax. Maybe it's a day to do absolutely nothing.

At the very least, take minute in prayer for those who are not able to take the day off, or have a long weekend, because they are serving right now.

Pray for their safe return. Think about what it might be like (or remember what it was like) to have a loved one deployed and in harms way. Pray for the families of those who serve. Pray for them to pull together and to remain strong.

Find someone you know who serves or is a verteran and personally thank them. Say a word of thanks and remember those men and women who have lost their lives protecting yours.

[gbrtng]

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/05/26/...gn=dailydigest

Memorial Day - it's hard to be happy today.