From the Chairman:
Back at Dover, the pitch-black night begins to yield to dawn, and the ramp lights fade behind a persistent mist. The flag-draped caskets are gone, and those in mourning retreat for a few short hours of rest before continuing their final journey home with their fallen loved one.
Nevertheless, the sun will soon rise. A new day will begin.
And on that day, troops will still be deployed around the world, still defending all of us. Sadly, some will come home to Dover, others to Bethesda and Walter Reed.
On Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who selflessly gave all to their nation. As we do so, we must also keep faith with our Wounded Warriors, forever support our Gold Star Families, and stand alongside those who still wait for the missing.
It is these efforts — not only on Memorial Day but every day — that truly make us a people worthy of their sacrifice.
From CNO:
While our sailors continue to make extraordinary contributions across the globe, it falls to us to ensure their personal sacrifices are not overlooked. This is why our Navy remains committed to support for those who have been wounded and the families of those who have given their lives, with the very best care our Nation can provide. This is why we prioritize family readiness and quality of life through housing, child and youth services, and education. And this is why we must not waiver in our commitment to provide sailors with the tools they need to perform the many missions we will ask of them.
It is my greatest privilege to lead the finest sailors in the history of our Navy – these distinguished Americans, these “fortunate few” answer the call to serve. In tribute today I ask you to join me in remembering, thanking and taking action on behalf of those who sail the oceans, serve on land and patrol the skies in the greatest traditions of the U.S. Navy and in the best interests of America’s future security and prosperity.
From the Commandant:
Our nation places our freedoms and hopes for a more peaceful world on the shoulders of these brave, young men and women who serve without complaint in dangerous places far from home. Our Marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, coast guardsmen and military families have been tested over this past decade at war, and they have measured up in every regard and been equal to every challenge. They have kept faith with their oath to defend the American people, and it is our duty as a nation to honor their sacrifices and keep faith with these noble warriors and their families — especially those who have been injured or fallen in combat. These young heroes represent the highest qualities of service to our nation and to its people. Let their example remind us all of what it means to be truly selfless and just how much the human spirit can endure, accomplish and overcome.
From a writer:
On Memorial Day, we pause at the graves of lost soldiers and make speeches that sometimes open to view the heartbreak and love that are their last traces. But this is not enough, because they do not hear, and because those who will have followed in the years to come will not hear. Love is not enough, rationalization not enough, commemoration a thin and insufficient offering. The only just memorial to those who went forth and died for us, and who therefore question us eternally, cannot be of stone or steel or time set aside for speeches and picnics.
We should offer instead a memorial, never ending, of probity and preparation, shared sacrifice, continuing resolve, and the clarity the nation once had in regard to how, where, when, and when not to go to war. This is the least we can do both for America and for the troops we dispatch into worlds of sorrow and death.
Amen.
From the President?
*crickets*
No msg from him at Whitehouse.Gov as yet… He had Biden give the weekly address, which talked about Chrysler’s ‘comeback.’
*crickets*
You noticed..
From the Memorial Day message by USAF’s leaders:
That deserves an Amen, too.
.
They went with songs to the battle
They were young, straight of limb,
True of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end
Against odds uncounted
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
(with respects to Laurence Binyon)
For those of you of the Anglican persuasion, a few years ago I was the reader for Prayers of the People the day before Memorial Day and wrote this:
Heavenly Father, on this day before Memorial Day let us remember the men and women who have served our nations military that are no longer with us.
We ask you for your compassion and peace for the families of service members that have entered the fields of conflict that have not returned and are missing.
Lord, we are especially thankful and grateful for those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardsmen that while in our country’s service have given of themselves the ultimate gift to protect and defend the freedom and rights we so richly cherish. As Your Son said “ Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.
On this day we pray for those who have served, gone missing, and died for our country. We offer special prayers for: (insert petitions)
Lord in your Mercy
Hear our Prayers
You just put it in, or did you run it past the pastor first? Mine’s cool with that, but some ….
Was run passed the Padre first, former Navy CPO and retired Army Reserve Chaplain with Iraq time. New pastor uses it himself now.
Deepest thanks to all who serve and have served.
I have the distinct privilege of being out here in the AFGHN with America’s best….the meaning of this weekend is not lost to them….proud to be here in their support…Thanks to all who gave the last full measure….we will not forget and we will persevere….
” I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God.”
FDR, December 8th, 1941 – Address to Congress
Gonna spend some time thinking about my Dad’s cousin Francis Riley, LT USN, who is still on patrol on the ALBACORE, to the north of Hokkaido, and my Aunt Marianne’s brother John, a Green Beret who died in Vietnam.
Cousin Frank:
http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/riley-f-a.htm
There is one young man I remember this year again. He was a friend of my son, and gave his life in Afghanistan to protect his patrol. He died in his hasty fighting position, facing the enemy, his rifle in his arms and his ammunition expended. The nation awarded him a Silver Star, but it seems such a small thing in light of his actions. My own son enlisted in part to honor his friend, a kid whom I had met only briefly. I am still humbled, and greatful, that our nation can produce such young men.
I wrote about PFC Andrew Small last year. I included his citation.
http://aw1tim.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/an-american-soldier/
God Bless them all.
Hey Lex – and all of you –
What beautiful, heart-wrenching words and thoughts and anecdotes and comments. Wow. Thank you all for sharing.
Don’t know if you remember me – the novelist who briefly popped up a couple of months ago and was so touched and entertained by this blog. I’ve had a couple of crises in my life (including the sudden deaths of 2 people close to me) so I’ve been out of most loops. I am actually still mostly un-looped… but…I was invited to be involved in something cool this weekend called the Blog Tour de Troops, and you all seemed like the right folks to mention it to. It offers free ebooks, and possibly free Kindles, to troops. If this is the wrong venue to be sharing this “plug,” I apologize. Otherwise, here’s how it works:
There’s about 30 writers involved, from all genres ranging from historical fiction (me) to mystery to YA books to (I am not making this up) paranormal erotic thrillers. This weekend, we are each posting a blog entry about what we are grateful for re: what Memorial Day represents. If you visit any or all of the blogs, and leave a comment with your email address, 4 things happen:
1 You get a free copy of that author’s ebook
2 A troop (well, ANOTHER troop) will also receive a free copy of that ebook
3 You’ll be entered in a lottery to win a free Kindle and
4 You’ll help contribute to a Kindle being sent to a (another) troop. (The authors put money into a kitty for this.)
If you’re intrigued, start by going to my blog (I haven’t posted for this yet – my “tour date” is tomorrow) and post a comment. The good people at HarperCollins (my publisher) will then send you a free e-copy of my novel CROSSED: A Tale of the Fourth Crusade.
The address is: http://nicolegalland.com/author/nicole-gallands-blog/
To collect all the free ebooks or just enjoy their civilian testimonals to all of you on Memorial Day, go to: http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com
(I don’t know the other writers’ work, but based on their blogs some of them are VERY witty)
I am so awkward about self-promotion; this is easy to talk up because it isn’t about me at all, really. However, to get you interested, here is a wonderful testimonial of CROSSED written by an OIF vet:
<>
Thanks, Lex, and apologies again if this is not the forum to be offering this.
Happy Memorial Day!
Nicki Galland
Niki, IMO use Facebook or another social media to promote yourself -this is usually not a forum for commercial or marketing purposes. Or partner with a group such as Soldier’s Angels who will vet and limit the consequences of affiliating with yourself or your commercial publisher.
Yes, I’m rather cynical.
Course- Lex’s site, Lex’s Rules.
Thank you for your response, Ron – the intention was not self-promotion, marketing or commercial purpose, but about giving something out to the troops as a Memorial Day thank-you gift – it just so happens that what I have to give is my (and other people’s) writing. But I understand your feelings about the use of the site. You say you are rather cynical; I know I am rather naive, so apologies again if it struck a sour note. And thank you for telling me about Soldier’s Angels. I’ll definitely check them out.
Best
Nicki
Oops, Mark’s critique of Crossed got left out somehow. Let me try again here:
As a Retired Army Officer, an avid historian, and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, “Crossed – A Tale of the Fourth Crusade” fascinated me on a myriad of different levels!
I was amazed at Ms. Galland’s ability to combine tenacious and accurate historical research with an amazing sense of fictional flair to weave this tale. “Crossed” presents the reader with an excellent insight into the military, political, and economic dynamics surrounding the Fourth Crusade and its transition from a morally wholesome intention to a morally corrupt manipulation of trust and power. The reader is able to follow the campaign from its inception through the series of events that changed its purpose and direction. The journey’s objective becomes so muddled and diluted as the situation develops that the final outcome becomes an ironic juxtaposition from the original vision.
“Crossed” should find its way onto the reading list of anyone who has an interest in military history. In addition to providing insight and analysis into the contemporary relevance of the Fourth Crusade, it is just a darn good read!
CPT Mark Judson, USA (Ret.)
“We Will Remember Them”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ektQbe-dOU
Moving.
And,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWrMeBR8W-c&feature=related
Thank You all for your service!
On the bond that those of us who never served will never fully understand:
THE SAME CANTEEN by Private Miles O’Reilly
There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours,
Fetters of friendship and ties of flowers,
And true lover’s knots, I ween;
The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss,
But there’s never a bond, old friend, like this,
We have drank from the same Canteen!
It was sometimes water, and sometimes milk,
And sometimes apple-jack “fine as silk;”
But whatever the tipple has been
We shared it together in bane or bliss,
And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this,
We drank from the same Canteen!
The rich and great sit down to dine,
They quaff to each other in sparkling wine,
From glasses of crystal and green;
But I guess in their golden potations they miss
The warmth of regard to be found in this,
We drank from the same Canteen!
We have shared our blankets and tents together,
And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather,
And hungry and full we have been;
Had days of battle and days of rest,
But this memory I cling to and love the best,
We drank from the same Canteen!
For when wounded I lay on the center slope,
With my blood flowing fast and so little hope
Upon which my faint spirit could lean;
Oh! then I remember you crawled to my side,
And bleeding so fast it seemed both must have died,
We drank from the same Canteen!
This poem, which was printed without attribution in the second issue of Confederate Veteran magazine in February 1893, was actually written by “Private Miles O’Reilly” of the 47th New York Infantry (the Washington Grays). “Private O’Reilly” was the pseudonym of Charles G. Halpine, a Union Army officer.
I’ve always liked that one. I have it set in with a few other writings by my bedside.
Niki, nothing personal in my reply, though I should also have pointed out that there is nothing “Happy” about Memorial Day as it is a day to remember those who have died in the service of our country. Somber, poignant, reflective: many other adjectives might apply, but Happy is not one of them except for those who only see it as a paid three day Holiday. Memorial Day is not Veterans Day.
Not denigrating giving a Kindle as a gift, though at only $114 each, it is not a bad trade for the authors to get increased blog traffic and awareness, and an increase of email addresses for the author and/or publishers.
Though much in my personal life is improving, I’m probably a bit irritated in not being able to participate in Rolling Thunder and similar events this year, and tomorrow will be my third day of leaving a Slim Jim and a can of PBR (a favorite treat when I was in) at a few local memorials and headstones. My way of saying that I have not forgotten -a gesture that has become more important to me as the decades roll on.
Soldier’s Angels, VFW, Rolling Thunder, USO, AnySoldier, Warrior Legacy: a few minutes on Google or clicking on the links on the left hand column of this site, will give you a great deal of information on groups with which you and your fellow authors can share your talents with the troops.
Respectfully,
Memorial Day… I have to thank many to still be alive. This song tears me up every time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqjpG9xYjOc
About to make the journey to one of our local Jewish cemtaries where, each year, our small congregation pauses in our daily endeavors to remember those who fell and those who served and lived on for many years. WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam all are there, as they are at the other local cemeteries. In attendance today will be a quiet, charming woman who has been widowed since March, 1945 when a kamikaze wiped all trace of her husband of six short months from the face of the earth. We will gather near a monument erected to our most recent KIA, lost when his F-4G was lost over North Vietnam, he remains missing to this day.
Of note, as the winds blow cold off Lake Superior and rain and thunder roll through our community, is that to date at least 44 known Americans of my faith have paid the last, full measure of devotion while in service to their country since September 11, 2001. Our numbers may be quite small, but our service to our nation continues.
I see the President made time to make it to the Arlington wreath-laying today.
Just before golf.