Going into this Memorial Day weekend, with all of the parades, BBQ's and other celebrations I hope that all can and will take time to remember the brave men and women of our military of the past and present and what they do every day to protect our way of life and freedoms that we all too often take for granted.

Lets especially remember the ones that gave the utimate sacrifice.....their lives for our country.

Freedom is not free.

 

Also, if you know a vet, person in our military take the time to tell them thank you for their service.

 

So..........to all of our BGP members of the military past and present......Thank You :thumb:.

Just a reminder - if you fly a flag, do so at half staff from dawn to noon.

Old Rambler, I echo your sentiments!

 

All too often the last monday in May has became the official start of summer vacations and cookouts, but few remember those it was meant to honor. We are free to do the things we do because of those lying under the earth, here and abroad, who sacrificed their futures so we could have one. Our freedom was purchased with their sweat, blood and lives.

 

Our thanks go to those who can no longer hear them. Remember them the next time you see a white marble stone or bronze military marker in the cemetery. They have earned our respect and deserve to never be forgotten.

Thanks OldRambler for this thread. This Memorial day weekend will be a bit special to me. My 19 year old son will be heading off to basic training next week. So for the first time in my life Memorial Day won't be just another day.

 

I would like to thank all those who have served and who are serving our great nation.

 

God Bless!

:thumb:

Going into this Memorial Day weekend, with all of the parades, BBQ's and other celebrations I hope that all can and will take time to remember the brave men and women of our military of the past and present and what they do every day to protect our way of life and freedoms that we all too often take for granted.

Lets especially remember the ones that gave the utimate sacrifice.....their lives for our country.

Freedom is not free.

 

Also, if you know a vet, person in our military take the time to tell them thank you for their service.

 

 

 

:thumb: Couldnt of said it better myself.

Old Rambler, I echo your sentiments!

 

All too often the last monday in May has became the official start of summer vacations and cookouts, but few remember those it was meant to honor. We are free to do the things we do because of those lying under the earth, here and abroad, who sacrificed their futures so we could have one. Our freedom was purchased with their sweat, blood and lives.

Our thanks go to those who can no longer hear them. Remember them the next time you see a white marble stone or bronze military marker in the cemetery. They have earned our respect and deserve to never be forgotten.

I agree on there are those who look at it as a celebration. I guess in some ways it is but Memorial Day is not a happy holiday for me, some special thought about some special people in my life (both living and have passed) take over.

 

Thanks OldRambler for this thread. This Memorial day weekend will be a bit special to me. My 19 year old son will be heading off to basic training next week. So for the first time in my life Memorial Day won't be just another day.

 

I would like to thank all those who have served and who are serving our great nation.

 

God Bless!

Don't thank me my friend, thank a vet:thumb:, it is their service that gives me along with all of us the right to post on here.

Make sure that you thank your son for his servrvice from oldrambler and Gods speed to him. These men and women of our Military along with Fire Fighters, Police, ER Doctors, Nurses and EMt's - Para Medics are the heroes, not porfessional athletes or actors/entertainers.

Mr. Charles Durning. I believe he was the only surving member of his unit that hit Omaha Beach.

 

These men and women of our Military along with Fire Fighters, Police, ER Doctors, Nurses and EMt's - Para Medics are the heroes, not porfessional athletes or actors/entertainers.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself, oldrambler. We can't forget 9/11 either.

My father-in-law's funeral was this morning. He served in the Pacific Theater in WWII with the Seebees. Our family will be thinking more along the lines of observance rather than holiday this year, that's for sure.:thumb:

These men and women of our Military along with Fire Fighters, Police, ER Doctors, Nurses and EMt's - Para Medics are the heroes, not porfessional athletes or actors/entertainers.

 

Couldn't have said the stuff in this thread any better myself oldrambler. Every time I go to the cemetery and see the graves of veterans, it sends a cold chill down my spine. I don't know if that is normal for everyone or not. It may be because most of my family served in some branch of the military, most during times of war. My father was in the Navy during WWII, he lied about his age and went in at 16 years old, I could not imagine being at war when I was 16, but I suppose many did it.

 

My brother was in Vietnam in the Air Force, all of my uncles were in the Army in WWII. I strongly considered entering the military myself. My father hardly ever spoke of the war, but one of only three occasions that he talked about it, he said, "I fought so you wouldn't have to". As for all three times he spoke to me about the war, he had a tear in his eye, he was not an emotional man, but just the thought of what happened during the war would make tears run down his face. He was at five major battles, including Iwo Jima.

 

To all the people who served, are still serving, or will serve, thank you, your sacrifice, no matter how small, or how big, will not be forgotten, and will be thought of often by this American as long as I am alive. Thank you, God bless you, and may you have the protection, and strength that is needed to protect others.

 

I have read the definition of "Love" as the following: "the irrational disregard for one's self, for the betterment of another". I man could have no more love, then a person that lays down their life for their friends, family, and people they have never met.

Couldn't have said the stuff in this thread any better myself oldrambler. Every time I go to the cemetery and see the graves of veterans, it sends a cold chill down my spine. I don't know if that is normal for everyone or not. It may be because most of my family served in some branch of the military, most during times of war. My father was in the Navy during WWII, he lied about his age and went in at 16 years old, I could not imagine being at war when I was 16, but I suppose many did it.

 

My brother was in Vietnam in the Air Force, all of my uncles were in the Army in WWII. I strongly considered entering the military myself. My father hardly ever spoke of the war, but one of only three occasions that he talked about it, he said, "I fought so you wouldn't have to". As for all three times he spoke to me about the war, he had a tear in his eye, he was not an emotional man, but just the thought of what happened during the war would make tears run down his face. He was at five major battles, including Iwo Jima.

 

To all the people who served, are still serving, or will serve, thank you, your sacrifice, no matter how small, or how big, will not be forgotten, and will be thought of often by this American as long as I am alive. Thank you, God bless you, and may you have the protection, and strength that is needed to protect others.

 

I have read the definition of "Love" as the following: "the irrational disregard for one's self, for the betterment of another". I man could have no more love, then a person that lays down their life for their friends, family, and people they have never met.

 

Great post Ram! Probably one of if not the best post on this thread, my feelings exactly!

Going into this Memorial Day weekend, with all of the parades, BBQ's and other celebrations I hope that all can and will take time to remember the brave men and women of our military of the past and present and what they do every day to protect our way of life and freedoms that we all too often take for granted.

Lets especially remember the ones that gave the utimate sacrifice.....their lives for our country.

Freedom is not free.

 

Also, if you know a vet, person in our military take the time to tell them thank you for their service.

 

So..........to all of our BGP members of the military past and present......Thank You :thumb:.

 

Great post Oldrambler!!!:thumb:

There are several great posts on this thread, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly. Our Vets, as well as our Emergency Responders, deserve more than just one day a year, but since this is what is set aside for them, please try to give them a years full of thanks. Without them, our country as we know it, our freedom, our rights, etc. would be non-existant. I, too, have family members in the armed forces, as well as retired vets. I try to thank them for what they have done every chance I get.

 

As others have said, "Freedom isn't free". These men and women have given sacrifices that I couldn't imagine for millions of people who they will never know, all because it was the right thing to do. They have laid their lives on the line so that complete strangers can go to bed each night feeling safe and secure knowing that they are protected from those who wish to demolish our lives.

 

To all of our Vets, both active and retired, here on BGP: Thank you with all of my heart. Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed. I will do my best every day to show you that your blood, sweat, and determination was not given in vain.

One of the items that we found in my father-in-law's effects is a really neat book called "Patriots of Kentucky - World War II". It has pictured and brief bios (date of entry into the service, branch, where stationed, high school and church affiliation, relatives, etc.) of thousands of Kentuckians who served in WWII. Amazing to me is the number from the little towns in Greenup County - Argillite, Worthington, Wurtland, Raceland, South Shore, South Portsmouth, etc. A fascinating book. I also found out that my father-in-law skipped a year of high school and entered the service, shall we say, at a younger age than he reported. I believe that this was a common practice.

 

Next time I'm at an event and one of my fellow BGPers wants to have a look at this book, shoot me a PM.

One of the items that we found in my father-in-law's effects is a really neat book called "Patriots of Kentucky - World War II". It has pictured and brief bios (date of entry into the service, branch, where stationed, high school and church affiliation, relatives, etc.) of thousands of Kentuckians who served in WWII. Amazing to me is the number from the little towns in Greenup County - Argillite, Worthington, Wurtland, Raceland, South Shore, South Portsmouth, etc. A fascinating book. I also found out that my father-in-law skipped a year of high school and entered the service, shall we say, at a younger age than he reported. I believe that this was a common practice.

 

Next time I'm at an event and one of my fellow BGPers wants to have a look at this book, shoot me a PM.

 

I would love to see a book like that. My grandfather was in the Navy during WWII, and his ship was hit by torpedoes and sank. He said that he had to spend a few days in a life raft waiting to be rescued. We also have a Medal of Honor receipient living in Wurtland.