Many Americans will be doing their annual family gathering to BBQ and all other sorts of activities this Memorial day. The one thing that to many Americans will not be doing is stopping for atleast a minute or two to honor those who died serving this country so that you and I may have the freedom afforded us.
To my heart that is saddening. My Father served this country in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war. I've heard the countless horror stories of what war is like. I feel very blessed and fourtunate that my father was able to return home from such a horrible circumstance. Though he wasn't well recieved from the masses when he did. I know in my heart that what he and those that he served with all had one purpose. That is America though not perfect is the greatest country for any one individual and even more a family can live. Live with the most freedom one can have because they lost limbs and even their lives to be sure that it remained that way.
So please all my friends here if for even one minute stop and give thanks and prayers to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for all us Americans. Freedom isn't free at all.
Freedom Is Not Free
- Kelly Strong
I watched the flag pass by one day. It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine saluted it, and then he stood at ease. I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud, He'd stand out in any crowd. I thought how many men like him Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil? How many mothers' tears? How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night, When everything was still I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill. I wondered just how many times That TAPS had meant "Amen," When a flag had draped a coffin Of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free.
Thanks for bringing out the point freedom isn't free. Thank those that have passed and thank those that are still doing their job for the U.S. of A.
Those of you that read this remind others and help them Honor the Flag That the Military stands up to.
Thank You
gambitxxx
The horrors of war are grim and so too is the pain suffered that the families have to go through on both sides of the equation. And until our leaders deem it fit to use diplomacy more. Then it'll be forever a neverending circle of wars being waged and the innocent being sacrificed.
A soldier on the outskirts of Baghdad on Memorial Day of last year.
It's the respect and gratitude due that they're owed.
rampant' aka tophatal ..........
Last edited by rampantfanatic on May 25th at 10:10 AM.
fbh,
Thankyou for being more than a true American but most of all a true human with compassion and love for those who sacrificed everything for us all.
Rampant',
So true my friend, so true. I've read your post honoring those that sacrificed themselves for what is deemed the greater good for us all. Though war may be a horror story it is sometimes necessary and an all to true reality. Thx for your service in the British military. Thx and godspeed to your sibling who at this time is doing what he must to insure peace and stability in this world. He and people like yourself are true heroes even if the reasoning behind it isn't what's right. Soldiers fight for love of family and country, politicians start wars for greed and egos.
Having recently retired after 31 yrs in the Marine Corps i look forward to spending the Holiday with my family and friends. We never took holidays off. It was a 24/7 365 day a year commitment. I take my hat off to the men and women still serving and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend.
Gambit- Never Forget and Freedom isnt Free are more appropriate slogans today than ever before. Thanks to everyone who serves our country and protects our freedom. You have my utmost respect.
We should all remember the sacrifices of those who have fought so bravely for our country. My father in law is a WWII vet. And he still carries the shrapmetal that he got when a bomb landed in the area he was in.
From the Minute men during the Revolution War to the brave men and women of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
For without their sacrifices we are not free.
Thank you for reminding us of their great sacrifice.
lakersfan,
Thank you for your many years of service. You have my utmost respect and gratitude.
Kristen,
I agree and that's why I used that poem inpaticular to spread the messege that today isn't just about family gathering but mostly about those men that sacrificed their lives that we may be afforded the oportunity to enjoy our family and friends freely.
Tsfan,
On behalf of me and my family we thank your father in -law for his service. He's a very brave man and a true heroe in my eyes.
Lastly I want to say I am sorry for being so late to respond to your comments. I took the day to spend with my father and let him know as much as possible how much I truely respect him and appreciate his service. We both kneeled and prayed for each and every man who ever served and the ones serving today. I hope everyone in their own way did the same. Thx to you guys for reading and aknowledging that freedom comes with a hefty price. God bless each and every one of you and yours.
Thank you Gambitxxx...It was the life i chose and if i had to do over again i wouldnt change a thing. Thank you for reminding people of the ones that came before us and the ones that stand the post today. Have a safe and happy Holiday.
lakersfan,
No need to thank me my friend. I'm just an American who truely appreciates another American who sacrificed everything for us all. You men and woman are the bravest of the brave.
Nique
Dwindy1
gambitxxx
fuzzboss
fbh3342
lakersfan4life
Tsfanpc
kvlaus
At the end of the day what really counts is the gratitude that's shown to these men and women. So often however theyve been treated with little respect.
And what I really find intolerable is when I see the politicians using them as political gristle to furhter their own self importance. It pis*ses me of to no end.
I'd volunteered alongside several of my buddies to assist vets who've returned home from Iraq and have been unable to get the necessary help that they need from the VA and the federal government as a whole.
Our gratitude at this time ought to be enough but there's so much more that can be done that isn't being done to really assist these men and women !
Rampant'
I agree 100% my dad was severly hurt both physicaly and mentaly after serving in Vietnam. The Goverment hasn't done #### and it pisses me off as well. Not just because it's my Father but even more so because there are hundreds of men just like him. The time will come though that Goverment officials from every country will pay for their sins. God said "Vengeance is mine and I shall have it."
gambitxxx
What I hate is along the way you'll have the candidates running for high office making promises that in the end they won't keep.
In McCain you've got a guy who means well but he's out of his depths not only domestic issues but the international ones as well. As for him coming out saying he's going to school as to the rights and wrong of this war. It shows this man as the ingorant buffoon I've taken him to be all along. He's not got an original idea as to best to seek a resolution to this. But he'd still rather sacrifice the lives of the young men and women of this proud country to furhter his own ambitions.
We're no nearer to catchin' Bin Laden but yet this as*shole would still rather wage war against a country that's on it s hands and knees . Rather than seek out this country's most ominous enemy.
It suggests to me that if he's elected we'll be in for more of the same !
The perfect breakfast as I see it.
You’re sitting at the table and your son is on the cover of Wheaties, your mistress is on the cover of Playboy, and your wife is on the back of the milk carton.
