NationStates Jolt Archive

Today, in the United States, is Memorial Day. This is the day we officially remember and honor our service men and women and their sacrifices for our country. I wish to express my appreciation and dedicate my prayers to all of our military men and women, past and present. As a member of the Vietnam generation, however, I want to especially pay tribute to the friends, family, and peers who answered our country's call.

If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

http://thewall-usa.com/cgi-bin/slideshow3.pl?picnum=1&action=Next

http://thewall-usa.com/wallpics/patrol.htm


Please note...Do not turn this into ANOTHER US flame thread. You can bash the US all you want on numerous other threads. This is a memorial thread to pay tribute to and share remembrances of our military heroes. Any violations will be reported for thread hijacking.

So the yanks have anzac day too huh?

So the yanks have anzac day too huh?yep.

and Happy Memorial Day to all Veterans... no matter what country you're in or from.

So the yanks have anzac day too huh?

Yup. There are several claims as to the first "Decoration Day". It is agreed that it originated during the Civil War, but accounts differ as to whether it was patriots of the Union or the Confederate cause that first thought of decorating the graves of their fallen soldiers. If I remember correctly, President Johnson was the one who declared Memorial Day as a national holiday in honor of all of our military, living and dead. Memorial day is also recognized as the official start of the summer season and is celebrated with family gatherings and cookouts.

Yup. There are several claims as to the first "Decoration Day". It is agreed that it originated during the Civil War, but accounts differ as to whether it was patriots of the Union or the Confederate cause that first thought of decorating the graves of their fallen soldiers. If I remember correctly, President Johnson was the one who declared Memorial Day as a national holiday in honor of all of our military, living and dead. Memorial day is also recognized as the official start of the summer season and is celebrated with family gatherings and cookouts.


Yeah most public holidays are strategicly placed. Anzac day started a year after the event, but since has turned into a similar soldier honouring day to an extent since.

It is my sincere hope that people actually take the time today to consider the gifts that the sacrafices of our veterans have provided, as well as pnder the profoundness of their sacrafices.

It is more than just a long weekend.

I've been looking for a quiet ceremony to attend with my family, but they are not so easy to find. We may just have to do things ourselves, probably a bbq with friends and family with a moment of silence.

I have the honor of living in the same community as many pearl harbor veterans, including the one who was operating the radar that first spotted the Japanese aircraft.

This memorial day honor the fallen, but honor them the way they would wish, for the reasons they sacrafices, honor them while enjoying your freedoms.

It is my sincere hope that people actually take the time today to consider the gifts that the sacrafices of our veterans have provided, as well as pnder the profoundness of their sacrafices.

It is more than just a long weekend.

I've been looking for a quiet ceremony to attend with my family, but they are not so easy to find. We may just have to do things ourselves, probably a bbq with friends and family with a moment of silence.

I have the honor of living in the same community as many pearl harbor veterans, including the one who was operating the radar that first spotted the Japanese aircraft.

This memorial day honor the fallen, but honor them the way they would wish, for the reasons they sacrafices, honor them while enjoying your freedoms.

Well said BOzzy.

A Happy Memorial Day to all soldiers, who have fought for the protection of their homeland, to the original Patriots, to the Confederates of the US Civil War, to the youthful Germans defending the Hindenberg Line at the end of WWI, to the RAF fliers during the Battle of Britain, to the brave boys of Australia who fought on the Kokoda Trail in New Guinea, to the Soviet troops fighting in the slaughter house known as Stalingrad and Leningrad, to the UN and US troops in Korea, to the US troops in Vietnam, and finally, to the soldiers of both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. Have a happy Memorial Day.

knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free

I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died America can't you see

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all

Some gave all

billy ray cyrus and cindy cyrus

*snip*

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all


A song that personifies the determination and patriotism of the US, that so many from other countries don't understand, is "God Bless the USA".

http://www.brownielocks.com/godblesstheusaWAVE.html

And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.

I know there are other Americans here, who, like me, are just so damned proud to be citizens of the USA and thank God every day for the people in our armed services who defend us.

I can't let today go by, either, without remembering our POWs & MIAs. Bring them home, or send us back!!

http://www.rollingthunder1.com/

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my matilda all over
Then in nineteen fifteen my country said son
It’s time to stop rambling ’cause there’s work to be
Done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
And the band played waltzing matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the
Cheers
We sailed off to gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
<when> the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called suvla bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He <showered> us with bullets, he rained us with
Shells
And in five minutes flat he’d blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to australia
But the band played waltzing matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
And we buried ours and the turks buried theirs
Then <it> started all over again

Now those <who were living did their best to survive>
In <that> mad world of blood, death and fire
And for <seven long> weeks I kept myself alive
<while the corpses around me piled higher>
Then a big turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, <christ> I wished I was
Dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
<and> no more I’ll go waltzing matilda
<to> the green <bushes so> far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded <and>
Maimed
And they shipped us back home to australia
<the legless, the armless>, the blind <and> insane
Those proud wounded heroes of suvla
And as our ship pulled into circular quay
I looked at the place where <me> legs used to be
And thank christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
And the band played waltzing matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
<and they> turned all their faces away

And now every april I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
<i see> my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving <the or their> dreams of past glory
<i see the old men, all twisted and torn>
The forgotten heroes <of> a forgotten war
And the young people ask <me>, what are they
Marching for?
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays waltzing matilda
And the old men <still> answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
Who’ll <go> a-waltzing matilda with me?

I surely don't owe the western Allies my freedom.

*hangs up a Soviet flag and honours the hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers who died defeating the Nazis and liberating many occupied countries, who fought the Nazis basically singlehanded until the invasion of Italy, who also brought the important turning points in the European theater; and the communist Chinese who drove the Japanese eventually out of China, just to get the Brits back into Hong Kong, lesigh*

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my matilda all over
Then in nineteen fifteen my country said son
It’s time to stop rambling ’cause there’s work to be
Done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
And the band played waltzing matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the
Cheers
We sailed off to gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
<when> the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called suvla bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He <showered> us with bullets, he rained us with
Shells
And in five minutes flat he’d blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to australia
But the band played waltzing matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
And we buried ours and the turks buried theirs
Then <it> started all over again

Now those <who were living did their best to survive>
In <that> mad world of blood, death and fire
And for <seven long> weeks I kept myself alive
<while the corpses around me piled higher>
Then a big turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, <christ> I wished I was
Dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
<and> no more I’ll go waltzing matilda
<to> the green <bushes so> far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded <and>
Maimed
And they shipped us back home to australia
<the legless, the armless>, the blind <and> insane
Those proud wounded heroes of suvla
And as our ship pulled into circular quay
I looked at the place where <me> legs used to be
And thank christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
And the band played waltzing matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
<and they> turned all their faces away

And now every april I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
<i see> my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving <the or their> dreams of past glory
<i see the old men, all twisted and torn>
The forgotten heroes <of> a forgotten war
And the young people ask <me>, what are they
Marching for?
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays waltzing matilda
And the old men <still> answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
Who’ll <go> a-waltzing matilda with me?

That song gets to me when I think that if I was born a few decades earlier, that would have been me.

I surely don't owe the western Allies my freedom.

*hangs up a Soviet flag and honours the hundreds of thousands of Soviet soldiers who died defeating the Nazis and liberating many occupied countries, who fought the Nazis basically singlehanded until the invasion of Italy, who also brought the important turning points in the European theater; and the communist Chinese who drove the Japanese eventually out of China, just to get the Brits back into Hong Kong, lesigh*

In spite of past differences, the Russian contribution to the world is honored in our country. if you don't believe western influence was instrumental in the freedoms that the people of the former USSR enjoy, you might start another thread on that topic. It would be very interesting.

yep.

and Happy Memorial Day to all Veterans... no matter what country you're in or from.
"When cast we once that long, last glance at those we've left behind, it's not the issues we remember; what lingers in our mind. It's faces, laughter, sacrifice, a helping hand along the way."

"So if you strove and struggled, on this Memorial Day, it matters not the reasons, nor what the 'great ones' say; we all are brothers/sisters for the price we had to pay."

No one likes my lil verse? :(

No one likes my lil verse? :(


I do. It reminds me of the conferences between our former combat troops and former enemy troops in Japan and Vietnam. I understand some lasting friendships have resulted from these meetings and sharing of memories and ideas.

"When cast we once that long, last glance at those we've left behind, it's not the issues we remember; what lingers in our mind. It's faces, laughter, sacrifice, a helping hand along the way."

"So if you strove and struggled, on this Memorial Day, it matters not the reasons, nor what the 'great ones' say; we all are brothers/sisters for the price we had to pay."
*swings*

got a beat with that?

*swings*

got a beat with that?

Works with Amazing Grace. Course, so does House of the Rising Sun. Try it up tempo....like New Orleans dixieland.

*Hangs up British flag, takes off hat, and sings these songs:

When Britain first, at heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
Arose, arose, arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter, the charter of the land,
And guardian Angels sung this strain:

Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
Must in their turn, must in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.

and

The British Grenadiers

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules;
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these;
But of all the world's braves heroes, there's none that can compare
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal;
But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusees, and we with hand grenades;
We throw them from the glacis about the enemies' ears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

And when the siege is over, we to the town repair,
The townsmen cry, Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier.
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears,
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers,
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health to those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loupèd clothes;
May they and their commanders live happy all their years,
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.

and one more

There'll always be an England,
While there's a country lane,
Wherever there's a cottage small
Beside a field of grain.
There'll always be an England,
While there's a busy street,
Wherever there's a turning wheel
A million marching feet.
Red, white and blue,
What does it mean to you?
Surely you're proud
Shout it aloud.
Britons awake!
The Empire too,
We can depend on you,
Freedom remains
These are the chains
Nothing can break.
There'll always be an England,
And England shall be free,
If England means as much to you
As England means to me.
"This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in a silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house
Against the envy of less happier lands
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm
This England"

*Takes a moment of silence for the British men that have died fighting for King/Quenn and country.* :(

People are free; they decide what they do, where their allegiance lies, and pledge what they want to what and whom they want, as long as it's constitutional.

People are free, only because others have died defending that flag.

It is only a symbol, but it is the symbol of a sum greater than it's parts.

Greater than the few who resort to deceit to gain power.

Greater than the many who toil through the day to day struggle for life's blessings.

Greatness symbolized in words, that giving one's life for has been a duty and an honor, to our fathers, and thiers, since landing on these shores.

When we fail to observe a moment of honor for that which they have left to us, we refuse to give thanks for the blood they spilled in preserving for us the greatest of lifes blessings.

Who among us will turn their backs on the silent rows of white stones marking their final resting places?

Who would not bend a knee, and say a quiet 'Thank you.' to those who's lives are summed with

That this nation shall not perish from the earth.

When anger at the few who relish power blinds us to the terrible greatness of what has been given by so many, where then does one turn to nourish one's heart?

To whom would one give thanks?

Who then would want to live as such?

Not I.

Not to get too technical here, but this day is not to honor veterans. I made the same mistake in a thread over the week-end. Veterans actually have their own day. Memorial day is to honor those who gave their lives. To honor the dead. Not to honor the military in general or to honor living veterans.

So, I will honor the dead soldiers of WWII today. Because there hasn't been a war since that has had anything to do with our freedom.

I really hope nobody comes in here and starts America/soldier bashing. It's not the time, and no matter what you feel about a war, those brave enough to serve always deserve respect, and those who unfortunately died always deserve honor.

He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: All quiet on the Western Front.
He had fallen forward and lay on the earth as though sleeping. Turning him over one saw he could not have suffered long; his face had an expression of calm, as though almost glad the end had come.
-All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque

Happy Memorial Day everyone

Right, so we're honouring the dead, not the ones that came back?

Not to get too technical here, but this day is not to honor veterans. I made the same mistake in a thread over the week-end. Veterans actually have their own day. Memorial day is to honor those who gave their lives. To honor the dead. Not to honor the military in general or to honor living veterans.

So, I will honor the dead soldiers of WWII today. Because there hasn't been a war since that has had anything to do with our freedom.

With a little research, I found that you are right. I had it in my head that Johnson renamed Decoration Day to Memorial day in honor of all of our troops. It is actually for those who have fallen and Veterans day is for those who came home. What the heck...I choose to honor them all on both days.

Amazing, the 'baby killer' shouters havent invaded.

I remeber a while back I learned that my great-great and possibly an additional great grandfather won the medal of honour during the Civil War. He led his squad against a Confederate cannon battery with nothing but bayonnetes, saved something like 5,000 men the trouble of attacking under heavy cannon fire.
I dont recall if he survived or not, but its still a cool story :)

*Hangs up British flag, takes off hat, and sings these songs:

[ snippage ]

*Takes a moment of silence for the British men that have died fighting for King/Quenn and country.* :(
[ Salutes. Takes off hat and joins you. ]

... there hasn't been a war since that has had anything to do with our freedom.
And those who died are somehow "unworthy" of your respect because they died in the "wrong" war? Spare me. :rolleyes:

And those who died are somehow "unworthy" of your respect because they died in the "wrong" war? Spare me. :rolleyes:

No, you're right, I'm wrong. It is not the troops fault. I should not of said that. I'm sorry. I suppose my anger should be with the politicians. It's just I have hated every war since Korea. It was all just politics and Iraq, bah, I won't even get into that.