I hope every HAMBer has a great Memorial weekend! Please take some time to remember those that came before us and made all we enjoy possible and to those that are out there preserving that legacy! I want to personally thank each and every HAMBer that has served or is serving this great country so I could enjoy freedom and have the opportunity to raise a family, serve my community as an teacher, and work on my truck! Your sacrifices are priceless, appreciated, and never forgotten!!! God bless you and thank you!!! -DON-
I appreciate your sentiments, but please remember that Memorial Day specifically recognizes those who died in the service of our country. We have Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day for the rest of us. I like to remember those from my unit who were killed in action. Alfred Walter Arrington David Anthony Fasnacht Steve E. Auchman Juan Arturo Maldonado
I will be taking Boyscouts from my troop and placing flags on graves of veterans today. Hopefully this will cause the boys to reflect on the sacrifices that previous generations have made to protect our freedom.
Well said Doc. I'd like to remember my dad and Shoebox Mags dad Cpl. John W. Tully, USAAF, WWII Sgt. Frank L. Hassinger, USMC, WWII
As I can specifically appreciate AdjustableJohnsons for his service (thank you sir) and those who sacrificed along side and gave their lives, I choose to expand my personal memorial to honor all those that served (and the others still in service). I do this based on the powerful wording in the General Orders on May 30, 1868, "Decoration Day", that states: "Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledge to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon the Nation's gratitudethe soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." I taught my high school students a lesson this week on this very quote. I am moved to do so as I have Native American ancestry as well as European ancestry dating back to the Mayflower Compact. I am proud to recognize the hundreds of member of my family that fought and died for this country, a country they loved so dearly. We are a standing military family, my younger cousins are all about the world presently, but I can't ignore those members of my family that were first responders on 9/11 and other areas of service. Sadly, my nephew was killed three weeks ago in the line of duty, protecting our streets. Each and every one served under a flag, protecting the values of all those that came before and securing the freedoms and liberties for all those that follow. Their sacrifices allow my 4 year old to play in peace and for that I am forever thankful! My deepest gratitude goes out to all that serve, thank you!!! -DON- p.s. De-fenders, that's awesome! Thanks for helping those boys understand!
For those with two wheels the Run to the Wall is tomorrow, it is the most patriotic lifting event I think I have ever attended. Thank you to those who gave some, God Bless those who gave all! May all our troops come home safe! Happy Memorial Day everyone!
Army Sgt. James F. Hayes 1922-2002 Pacific Theater, World War II Sherman Tank pilot family man, policeman, photographer, car nut ('67 GT500)
I do thank all the Men and Women that have fought and died so we all can have this day to say THANK YOU ! We must NEVER forget them for what they gave , their life ! Thank you all so we can be FREE !
Lest we forget...remembering and honoring my Uncle and namesake Richard D. Stratton, He was building the Al-Can highway as a young man when the war broke out, enlisted in the Army and was in the Aluetian Islands when the Japanese attacked the Islands..also my Dad Bill L. Stratton, still alive and kickin..U.S. Army Air Corps B-17 and B-24 pilot in WWII and C-46 pilot in Korea..also Sallys Dad John F.Hickman, no longer with us, combat rated P-51 pilot in 1946..
Thank you to all those before me and the one who was taken due to our service: SPC Joshua Omvig, RIP Memorial Day is a sad holiday, but a great holiday for those appreciate the reason.
Good thread Don, sometimes people just take things for granted and forget how lucky we are! Thanks to all those who died fighting and any one else who served for our wonderful country. I dont care how bad the economy is I still rather be here than anywhere else.
No matter how bad the economy is here, remember that it is still the best economy in the best Nation on earth and has been defended by our finest young men, volunteers and draftees alike, from the first shots at Concord to the ongoing shots being fired in Iraq and Afghanistan this fine Memorial Day weekend. We salute our departed Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, CoastGuardsmen and their female partners in arms for their Service in our behalf across the 200+ years of our Nation's history. SALUTE!
I'd like to remember Cpl. Tyler Fey, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Killed in action in pre-dawn operations on April 4th, 2004 in Fallujah Iraq. 22 years old at the time. If you remember, this operation was in response to the 4 Americans who were Blackhawk security contractors that had their burned corpses hung from a bridge in Fallujah a few days prior. Tyler and my son met in boot camp at Pendleton, were assigned to the same company and became best friends. They were together at the time of Tyler's death. My son told me "he got shot in the face, I ran over to him and knew he only had seconds to live. I held him, tried to comfort him, told him everything was going to be OK, while his life's blood drained on to me" A huge salute to all the fallen service members that make our freedom possible but I'd also like to add..... FUCKIN' WARS
Exactly what I told my last class before the weekend......Please take a few minutes to remember all those who have died so we can be free.....Every Memorial Day I take few minutes to remember when I stood in the United States Cemetery in Normandy, France and cried my eyes out....I'll never forget it
God bless the all. My Dad was 20 years in Air Force, Korea and Nam, My oldest son was a Marine at Fallujah, and my 17 year old will be entering the Marines next year hoping to go to Afganistan. Special breed, and thanks should be made to all.
Since Operation Iraqi Freedom I (OIF I), 32 Soldiers from 2/502 Infantry Battalion have fallen in the line of duty. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/90jC5W8Foj4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/90jC5W8Foj4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Miss you guys
To Moccassin and Ironhead for their time in the Army. The survivors of combat carry the weight of memories leftover from seeing their brothers fall. When they receive their medals, they know a lot of men died getting them to that moment.
LowKat expressed something powerful... "A huge salute to all the fallen service members that make our freedom possible but I'd also like to add..... FUCKIN' WARS" Having lost three family members this year and 9 since this war began, I echo LowKat's gratitude and feelings, but I have to add... FUCKIN POLITICIANS ! ! ! Maybe they could stop using our loved ones like game pieces! I'm sorry HAMBers for getting upset. This morning when I started this thread I was reflective and tearful. Proudly I watched the sun rise and thankful that I watched its glory in freedom! As the day has progressed, having made dozens of calls to other family members... the stories, the smiles, and tears have left me even more proud to the core and angry as hell! I miss my fallen family! Please don't think me out of line, please read my initial posting and the follow up if you do, I certainly do not mean to diminish (nor could I) the glory of the willing sacrifices made... their blood shed paying my debt for freedom! God bless all, as we all have lost and know the sting of a holiday or reunion that just isn't the same! Take nothing for granted!
Last time I checked those of us who serve, past or present, do so to insure that you can think or say what you want.
bless them....last year for the first time ever i put up a flag on my house.it gave me chills just looking at it.its flying today.may God bless everyone of them ,rest in peace.........................dave
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