OT: Thinking of Troops Past and Present on this Memorial Day Weekend
Nam vet here, spent yesterday with others from my VFW post at several cemeteries in the area placing flags on veterans headstones.
Thank you veterans for your service. Memorial day should be a solemn time to remember those who served our great country and those we lost defending our freedom. Not about BBQ and vacation trips or sales.
Memorial Day has really suffered from "holiday drift." It's specifically set aside for remembrance of those who served and died. If anything, it's supposed to be sober, reflective, and thoughtful. How it got entirely conflated with beer, swimming pools, mattress sales, and BBQ just sails right past me.
This isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'm binging Ken Burns' The Civil War this weekend. Talk about sobering. The single day totals of war dead by today's perspective are just unfathomable.
Burns' work is a great way to spend this day. The Sullivan Ballou letter and Sam Watterson's reading of The Gettysburg Address are the parts that always get to me.
I can't imagine what it must have been like to live what you describe. I've read several books on the soldier experience in Iraq and Afghanistan (and other wars) and I'm always left in awe. You and your brothers were every bit as brave as anyone who came before you and you all have the greatest level of respect and appreciation from me.
Thanks for your service.
This is a day for those who have have passed. Wait til Veterans Day, or literally any football game.
Agreed. How quickly we forget those who are no longer here.
I guess I’m not understanding this reply. Forgive me. My post was meant to honor those that have died, especially some that I served with. Perhaps my post was a tad long, but it’s really the only way I can make sense of it.
Thank you to all Veterans for your service.
The countless brave that have given their lives for us should always be remembered and honored.
I can't wait for tomorrow's stirring Twitter tribute from the Commander in Chief
dickweeds who down voted any comment in this thread.
GOD bless AMERICA
Thank you for your service. All gave some, some gave all.
I like to remember and honor the innocent civilians affected by war as well. Many pay the ultimate price during wartime.
Is that your polite way to not thank our troops?
Don't give him an outlet. Let him drown in his own poison.
You’re right.
Ah yes, the poison that is valuing human life. I’ll drown in that all day, every day.
our troops are not worthy of respect this weekend because they are war criminals. He just doesn't have the balls to say it directly.
Exactly
If that’s what I wanted to say, I would say it. I think my original post was pretty clear in saying all I wanted to say. Had an uncle with a Purple Heart and my grandpa fought in the Battle of the Bulge. But fuck you.
As well... As in "as well as thanking our troops."
If you do some talking to actual combat veterans many will speak to the loss of innocent civilians. It's not as if remembering those lost on memorial day is a novel concept. Not sure why that comment would seem unpatriotic in any way unless you are really reaching.
especially if you are a teacher.
I spent a long time in the Army. Civilians, enemy combatants, friendly combatants, and friendly accidentals - all tragic in their own ways.
Did you ever stop and consider the possibility that people do honor the troops but also think about the affected civilians as well?
Jesus H Christ this country has to always be so effing black and white. So sickeningly politically correct. If we don’t directly say we’re for you and your beliefs, you’re just going to assume we’re flag-burning terrorists.
No, it’s my way of saying we should remember the cost of war. Both of troops and of innocent civilians.
But.... are they innocent if they let Hitler or Stalin take over their country?
If we are going down that line, there’s no such thing as an innocent American civilian either. We’ve had our fair share of elected officials commit genocide or other wretched things.
Most civilians don’t ask for war on their front door. But it comes to them anyways. Plus, I imagine roughly 40-50% of civilians are children. So yeah, they really get what’s coming to them.....
And for all who've fought for our freedom and our way of life. God bless and keep you.
for your service and for coming here to share your thoughts.
Who was a bombardier shot down and killed in Italy in 1943. I remember all our brave veterans who died defending our freedom.
Brendan Eskey was a tank gunner in my platoon who lost his life in an ammunition fire at Grafenwoehr, Germany. The next year during Operation Desert Storm 1st Armor Division memoralized Sergeant Eskey by naming a range for him. This year, as every for the last 29 years, he'll be in our memories during our Memorial Day remembrances.
and honoring him.
But never mistake the cabal of lying, civilian, pond scum, regardles of political affiliation that sends them into harm's way year after year after year after year after ... for the patriots that they fashion themselves to be.
Wanna do something good for the people serving so honorably in our military? Eschew virtue signalling and get to work getting their asses home from the shit holes our pissant excuse for a government keeps sending them into.
1000 Amens.
“Something in me died at Peleliu. Perhaps it was the childish innocence that accepted as faith the claim that Man is basically good. Possibly I lost faith that politicians in high places, who do not have to endure war's savagery, will ever stop blundering and sending others to endure it.” -EB Sledge
As a friendly reminder (SIAP, but I didn’t see it). The SMU game has an option to donate tickets for vets... everyone needs to do it! I’m donating my 2 season tickets and will buy more. It’s the least we can do for people who allow us to enjoy the life we live. Thank you all for your service!
I’ll remember a Marine I looked up to. Unfortunately he was forgotten by our government and died of his injuries in 2015.
that is one of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever read. RIP to your friend and all our fallen.
I like to sit back and remember all the other Sailors I served with. There were great times and bad times but they are always in my memories. Go Navy.