Memorial Day

[BillB]

I hope I don't hear any "Thank you for your service" tomorrow, but I'm sure I will.
People have lost sight of what Memorial Day is all about.
It isn't a day to honor veterans, although most people think it is.
It's a day to honor those brave men who never became veterans- our fallen warriors.
God Bless them and may they rest in eternal peace.

[Red Oak]

I agree, it is a day to honor the War Dead.

[BigTex]

I thought it was a day to get a good deal on a mattress.

[grouchy]

It is now officially Memorial Day. On that note.....

In loving memory of HM 3 Michael Joseph Mueting. Feb 8, 1968.

He never got the opportunity to know the love of a wife, the joy of having children or the unbelievable love of grandkids. He would have been excellent in handling all those things.
He was a little scrawny guy with a wonderful sense of humour. He was also one heck of a man.
We lost over 50,000 Mickeys but he was my friend for over 14 years.
God bless you Mickey.

[millergrovesue]

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

[tx3653]

I watched the president lay the wreath at the tomb of the unknown at Arlington National Cemetery this morning. As I watched I remembered the day I stood in front of that tomb looking out over the stark white grave markers in a perfectly maintained memorial park. It takes your breath away and bring tears to your eyes as you think about all the families whose lives were changed by each of those markers. The heart wrenching cost of freedom.

[millergrovesue]

Well said and amen.

[planosteve]

Today is my anniversary. 3 years ago today while putting down grub control on my lawn I had a heart attack. Next day I had angioplasty and a stent in the artery that supplies 40% of the blood to the heart. It's called the "widow maker". It was 99% blocked.

[BillB]

Today is my anniversary. 3 years ago today while putting down grub control on my lawn I had a heart attack. Next day I had angioplasty and a stent in the artery that supplies 40% of the blood to the heart. It's called the "widow maker". It was 99% blocked.

I'm glad you're okay.

[planosteve]

Today is my anniversary. 3 years ago today while putting down grub control on my lawn I had a heart attack. Next day I had angioplasty and a stent in the artery that supplies 40% of the blood to the heart. It's called the "widow maker". It was 99% blocked.

I'm glad you're okay.

Not as glad as I am.

[grouchy]

Today is my anniversary. 3 years ago today while putting down grub control on my lawn I had a heart attack. Next day I had angioplasty and a stent in the artery that supplies 40% of the blood to the heart. It's called the "widow maker". It was 99% blocked.

Glad for you and all those who love you. Your wife,your kids,your neighbors. Heck, even GfB.

[millergrovesue]

Not as glad as I am.

Blessings and congrats, Steve.

My BIL had triple bypass and a Maze procedure last week. Thanks to my sister's care of him, during the 3 years they have been married, he is recovering at blinding speed and will be going home tomorrow - 3 days sooner than most bypass patients. We are all very thankful.

[grouchy]

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

Sue, that is beautiful. I enjoyed reading it.

[grouchy]

Not as glad as I am.

Blessings and congrats, Steve.

My BIL had triple bypass and a Maze procedure last week. Thanks to my sister's care of him, during the 3 years they have been married, he is recovering at blinding speed and will be going home tomorrow - 3 days sooner than most bypass patients. We are all very thankful.

[millergrovesue]

Sue, that is beautiful. I enjoyed reading it.

I thought so too. Heard it on WBAP yesterday morning and had to look up the poem. I had never heard it before. Sent it to everyone I know especially my veteran husband and BIL.

[truep]

I honor PFC Wolfe, whom I escorted from San Francisco to Detroit for his funeral in 1967 every year. It was an honor.

[millergrovesue]

I honor PFC Wolfe, whom I escorted from San Francisco to Detroit for his funeral in 1967 every year. It was an honor.

That's emotionally tough duty I'd imagine.

[ann jusko]

I thank God for the Patriot Guard. Any veteran who dies will be honored by the patriot guard IF they are asked. These men and women give up their days to provide this honor to our veterans. Most of them are veterans themselves. I wish I could still do it.

[BillB]

I thank God for the Patriot Guard. Any veteran who dies will be honored by the patriot guard IF they are asked. These men and women give up their days to provide this honor to our veterans. Most of them are veterans themselves. I wish I could still do it.

Is the Westboro bunch still picketing funerals?
I haven't heard much about them since Phelps died.