Memorial Day Weekend

[Magicman]

 

 


 
Or maybe more properly called Remembrance Day. A time for us to Remember and to Thank those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Freedom

[doc henderson]

God bless America!

[Nebraska]

Amen!

[Bruno of NH]

We should never forget 

[Jim_Rogers]

I get emails from the Governors' office telling me what days to fly the flag at half staff and the reason why, such as a fallen soldier being laid to rest in MA.
I got one this week reminding us to fly the flag at half staff from sunrise to noon time.
And then from noontime to sundown at full staff.
I just thought I'd pass that information on to all who fly their own flags.
Jim Rogers

[nativewolf]

I get emails from the Governors' office telling me what days to fly the flag at half staff and the reason why, such as a fallen soldier being laid to rest in MA.
I got one this week reminding us to fly the flag at half staff from sunrise to noon time.
And then from noontime to sundown at full staff.
I just thought I'd pass that information on to all who fly their own flags.
Jim Rogers

Many thanks Jim. 

[Corley5]

My Grandma Whittaker always called it Decoration Day.

[samandothers]

 

[Gary_C]

Here is a good article and interview to remind us of the sacrifices that brought us to this Memorial Day in this year of no celebrations.

POW survived hell, and became an inspiration

"Here I was, locked in a grimy, tiny five-by-six-foot cell, and he (the guard) was walking around unrestrained outside," Thorsness wrote. "But I knew I was the lucky one. In my 35 years of freedom, I have had a better, fuller life and had done and seen more than he ever would. A thought stuck in my mind that never left me in the years I was a prisoner: If I die now, I am way ahead of the game."
"Five courageous officers were tortured, but I think they believed it was worth it," Thorsness wrote. "From that Sunday on until we came home, we held a church service. We won. They lost. Forty-two men in prison pajamas followed Ned's lead. I know I will never see a better example of pure raw leadership or ever pray with a better sense of the meaning of the words."

Leo Thorsness, 85, died on May 2, survived by his wife of 64 years, Gaylee, his daughter Dawn, and two grandchildren. Like many of his fellow POWs, he made the most of his life after liberation. The better and fuller person he'd become was unfailingly good-humored, loyal, and a source of inspiration.

The humor came through in the way he spoke about life after captivity: "If the doorknob is on the inside, it's a good day."

The inspiration took many forms, but is clear from this motto he often shared — one he more than lived up to:
"Do what's right, and help others. If people live by those words, their life is going to be OK."

[WV Sawmiller]

   I just finished watching the latter half of "The Great Escape". Great movie and I remember going to a military affairs lunch one time when I was stationed at the USMC Logistics base in Albany Ga. when they asked Col Jerry Sage to speak. He was a professor at a small college in Enterprise Ala at the time. Col Sage was in the OSS before it became the CIA. He was the man they patterned Steve McQueen's "Cooler King" after on the Great Escape movie. He was a big bald or shaved headed man with big hands and long fingers. He talked about making camel dung bombs out of plastic explosives so Rommel's famous camel corps had to sweep up behind them to keep from blowing the tracks off the tanks following. He was a POW in Germany and made several escape attempts. He said as long as one POW was loose the Germans had to tie up several hundred soldiers looking for him. He did finally escape and finished the war with the Polish underground. He said they had a "mutually beneficial working relationship". He said they would darn the holes in his socks and he would go kill some local mayor or other official collaborating with the Nazis. There are several books about him. "Sage" was one I later bought and read. A very interesting and impressive man. I'd love to have been a student in one of his classes.

  I hope you all are having a great Memorial Day with family and friends and remember the meaning.

[Resonator]

Local VFW honor guard giving 21 gun salute ceremony, complete with taps played by 2 trumpets (call and answer). The church bell also tolled for those who served and are buried there. Freedom wasn't free.

[Don P]

I'm deeply indebted and grateful to and for those who gave all. Little Sis sent this this morning




I'd like for us to also remember those who gave all helping us. Of those who survived, many could never go home. I give thanks and remember them today as well.