Memorial Day

Go a head and hug a veteran or thank an active duty service member for there service. Today isn't about them. It is about the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

They are somebody's son or daughter. They could be our neighbors. They are somebody's friend. To the Service Members they are Brothers and Sisters in arms.

I know several veterans and service members. I am proud and grateful for what they have done. Luckily I haven't known anyone who died in service. Pretty amazing if you think about it. Since for most of my life we have been involved in conflicts.

It is a different story for my parents. I remember going to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington with my parents. I remember them searching the wall for people they new. I would visit the Memorial from time to time. There always same to be Veterans there. The names on the wall is a great reminder of the human cost of war. It was neat to see what others had left for their fallen loved ones. You would see folks looking for names of people they knew just like my parents did.

An Air Force friend of mine also asked his friends to remember those who lost their life through their own hands. Sometimes war and returning home is too much.i certainly will add them to my prayers on this day.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Memorial Day Edition

Today's edition of Monday's Music Moves Me is a freebie. Since it falls on Memorial Day I thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute via music.

According to History.com "Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military."

Music provides a wonderful way to pay tribute. Provides a chance to take a timeout from enjoying the Holiday and reflect on the true meaning of the Holiday. To those who served and have lost a brother and/or sisters in arms I am sorry for your loss. To those who have a lost a family member due to the sacrifices of your family member I am sorry for your loss.

I'll start the music with David Ball's "Riding with Private Malone"...

Coffey Anderson "Memorial Day Song"..

George Jones "50,000 Names"

"Taps"

Enjoy the Holiday, enjoy the tunes, but remember the reason for the Holiday.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is so much more than an unofficial start of summer or an excuse for a three day weekend. It should be a somber reminder of the cost of war or conflict. A somber reminder that cost is measured in more than dollar and cents.

The day should be a reminder to the world to strive for peace. It should be a reminder for politicians to remember the sacrifice of conflict.  It should be a reminder that when diplomacy fails there is a price to pay.

Today is a day to remember those who have served in the military and who are no longer with us. Especially those who died in service. The people we remember were neighbors, friends, family members, loved ones, parents, someone's mom or dad. Yes they were Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines. Ues they served in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy and Marines. However, they were so much more. 

Some fall in the line of duty performing tasks, practicing, saving lifes, and just by performing dangerous tasks. Today is a day to remember them as well. 

Today is a day to remember their sacrifice and our Country's sacrifice. It is a day to pray and strive for peace. It is a day to remember and reflect.

Memorial Day Poem: Remember them on Memorial Day

They had a poetry contest at work for Memorial Day, I didn't win but that is okay since I can share it here.

Remember them on Memorial Day

They answered Uncle Sam’s call

Remember them on Memorial Day

For you and I they gave their all

So we can enjoy the American Way

Enjoy the cookouts with your family

Remember them on Memorial Day

Enjoy the swimming pool and the apple pie

Raise a toast for the ones not here today

Enjoy the company of loved ones

Remember them on Memorial Day

That is what they missed all alone

Place a flower where they lay

 I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day weekend. I hope at some point you will remember those who gave all.

Thanks for visiting and I will be back soon!

Reflections on Memorial Day

Memorial Day has become a holiday marking the unofficial start of summer. It is a much bigger day than that. It is a day to remember those servicemen who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It should be a somber reminder to all the cost for conflicts, military actions, and wars.

Politicians and diplomats need to be reminded of this cost before they decide to enter a new confrontation. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guards have highly trained personnel. They deserve our support and our gratitude.

Certainly their are times to fight. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made. Diplomats need to find peaceful solutions. Politicians need to seek out peaceful policies. Peace is what we should be looking for and fewer graves filled with young people who gave all.

A Thank You on Memorial Day

Today on Memorial Day I send out a simple thank you to all the military, police and fire fighters who have lost their lives in duty and to their families. I was humbled to write such simple words considering their great sacrifices. However, those are worlds often forgotten to be said when the heroes are alive.

Taps....

I hope you can take a moment and reflect what on the sacrifices these fine folks have made while you are enjoying you holiday. No long rambling post today, just a simple thank you.

Memorial Day

This blog will probably read like the blog I wrote last Memorial Day. I hope everyone has a safe Holiday, and have had a safe weekend so far. I hope between the cook outs, gatherings, and other good times that yo have the opportunity to reflect on the Holiday.

I'd like to say a thank you to those in the armed forces. Thank you for those sacrifices you all make. I know lots of them are still in places where it is not peace time. I hope peace comes to those areas and those who are there can come home safely. Even in peace time, these brave men and woman, make sacrifices to attend deployments, trips, trainings often leaving behind their families for days, weeks, and months. When the orders come they answer the orders.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard I am thankful for each and everyone of you. Some of you are lucky to have really cool jobs, some of you have the jobs that need to be done, you face the dangers most of us will hopefully never have to face(thanks largely to what you do), some of you do important research that makes the world better, you all make impacts on your communities (Toy for Tots-comes to mind but I know there are other programs), you help fight terrorism, you help with law enforcement, rescues, humanitarian efforts, and more. Even the part timers, the Reserves, I am proud of what you do. I am proud that you answer the Nation's Call. I am proud you step up in times of natural disasters and other emergencies and help so many. I am thankful and proud of the job you all do everyday.

To those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, I humbly thank you. I offer my condolences to your family and Brothers and Sisters in Arms.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day. It is time to say thank you to a veteran. It's time to remember the soldiers, Marines, sailors, pilots who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The brave men and woman who face the war zone everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan are heroes. Today is not a day of politics, though I think we all pray or wish for a time of peace. Even in peace, there are rescue missions. There are natural disasters where the National Guard put themselves in harms way for our protection. As you enjoy your Holiday take a moment to think about the ones we have lost. Take a moment to be thankful for the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. Take a moment to be thankful for the National Guard and reserves. May we one day have peace, may one day may all of our POWs and missing service men come home, and may we never forget the ultimate sacrifices which have been made.