In Honor Of This Monday On Memorial Day ...

[ABC-2]

I can't really say "Happy Memorial Day".  It doesn't sound quite right.

It is more of a solemn day to give thanks to those patriots, while fighting for this country ...

Made the ultimate sacrifice and died while doing so.

May they rest in peace.

~ ABC

[Eupher]

I can't really say "Happy Memorial Day".  It doesn't sound quite right.

It is more of a solemn day to give thanks to those patriots, while fighting for this country ...

Made the ultimate sacrifice and died while doing so.

May they rest in peace.

~ ABC

Exactly right, ABC. It's a day of reflection and remembrance. I'll be attending a PGR mission at the local Veteran's Cemetery on Monday. It's the least I can do.

[ABC-2]

 While looking up suitable songs to post for Monday, came across this one
'19' from  WAYCROSS Georgia.

Warning, it is a real tear-jerker, but will post it anyway, to show the importance of the remembrance needed on this special upcoming day ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qal8lrzFs0&t=192s

~ ABC

 

[ABC-2]

Euph thanks so much for coming in to my OP  on Memorial Day darlin' 

And also for  writing ...

"I'll be attending a PGR mission at the local Veteran's Cemetery on Monday. It's the least I can do."

Will once again post this most touching song on Monday.  Had never even heard of it before, and it brought tears flooding to my eyes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qal8lrzFs0&t=192s

~ ABC

[dutch508]

I can't really say "Happy Memorial Day".  It doesn't sound quite right.

It is more of a solemn day to give thanks to those patriots, while fighting for this country ...

Made the ultimate sacrifice and died while doing so.

May they rest in peace.

~ ABC

I'll be thinking about my men we lost in Afghanistan and Iraq, and my good friend Todd Clark, who was KIA in Afghanistan during the tour I didn't go on.
Plus this year, my Dad, who passed away this year in January.

Least we forget.

[ABC-2]

I'll be thinking about my men we lost in Afghanistan and Iraq, and my good friend Todd Clark, who was KIA in Afghanistan during the tour I didn't go on.
Plus this year, my Dad, who passed away this year in January.

Least we forget.

Least we forget.

Thanks also to you Dutch ...

Sorry to hear of the men you  lost in Afghanistan and Iraq, and your good friend Todd Clark, who was KIA in Afghanistan during the tour you didn't go on.

Bless your boots, for coming in darlin', re this most solemn day coming up tomorrow!

~ ABC

[ABC-2]

Ok, one more time for this one as promised ... and another prayer on this day for the friends & families of those who gave their lives fiighting in all the wars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qal8lrzFs0&t=192s

~ ABC

[ABC-2]

And now one for all the brave patriots of our fighting forces!  Bless you all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKfr8G04Qc

~ Hugs ABC

[ABC-2]

Rats!  Posted the wrong one!

Here's the one I meant to post!  Oh well, here it is now ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YeD4KmHBqw

~ ABC

[DefiantSix]

I don't know who originally said it (t'weren't me), but...

"I do not grieve these men (and women) who made such sacrifices for me. I only thank God that He granted such as these to live amongst us in such times as these."

[ABC-2]

Hell's bells!  I give up ... I do, I do!  Still *not* the correct one.

Must go, tonight's dinner is calling me into the kitchen!  Argh! 

Can't say I didn't try!   

See ya! ~ ABC

[Eupher]

It's the day after Memorial Day, but I dare say nobody will complain if I post this story. THIS is why we have Memorial Day and why we honor those who have given themselves for their partners-in-arms and for US.

“Fire it. There’s more of them than there are of us.”

Part of me doesn't want to be "that guy." You know, the "ackshully" guy that feels the need to inject himself to correct everyone over a common misconception. But I'm going to do it anyway because this is important.

Today is Memorial Day. It's not Armed Forces Day. It's not Veterans Day. There is a distinction between all of them, and it matters. Maybe it's because I grew up in a military family that this is something that I feel strongly about, but if we aren't going to pay proper respects to the various groups we're honoring, then why set aside a day to honor them at all?

A quick primer:

Armed Forces Day – always the third Saturday in May, recognizes with gratitude those who are currently serving the United States in one of the branches of our country's military.
Veterans Day – always November 11th, recognizes with gratitude all those who have served sometime in the past, the United States in one of the branches of our country's military, including those who have since died after having served.
Memorial Day – always the last Monday of May, recognizes with gratitude those who died while serving the United States in one of the branches of our country's military.
Memorial Day is not just a day of honor, it's a day for mourning. It's a day to remember those who left behind empty seats at family tables, an unoccupied side of the marriage bed, a vacant spot in the hearts of children who would grow up without their mom or dad. It's a day to mourn those whose death left loved ones stretched sorrowfully over a fresh grave, desperate for one more conversation, one last glance, one more touch. It's a day to remember those who gave what Lincoln appropriately called the "last full measure of devotion" to a country, to a cause that they saw as greater than them.

It's a day to honor men like John Robert Fox. I wrote about this unsung hero in my weekly Memo today. I remember it was my senior year of high school when then-President Bill Clinton honored Fox posthumously with the Medal of Honor for what he did in the small village of Sommocolonia in Tuscany during the winter of 1944.

Fighting World War II in a segregated black division, the artillery officer Fox was ordered to remain in the village as it was being overrun by Nazis. As American forces were in retreat, Fox used a high perch to radio movements, locations, and vital information to his commanding officers, allowing the bulk of our troops to escape catastrophic destruction.

Sensing that the Nazis were amassing to launch what could be a fatal pursuit of American forces, Fox did the unthinkable. He called for an artillery strike to be launched on his own position. When the officers manning the American artillery responded that they could not launch an attack that they knew would kill Fox, the 29-year-old uttered his famous last words:

"Fire it. There's more of them than there are of us."

The rest of the story? The artillery barrage wiped out hundreds of Nazis and actually allowed the fleeing American forces to regroup and launch a successful counterattack. The taking of Sommocolonia became part of the massively significant liberation of the Italian peninsula several months later.

Scripture teaches that no man has greater love than the one who willfully lays down his life for a friend. Few in history have had the love for his fellow countrymen exhibited by John Robert Fox. Let's honor him this day. Let's honor them all.

[ABC-2]

It's the day after Memorial Day, but I dare say nobody will complain if I post this story. THIS is why we have Memorial Day and why we honor those who have given themselves for their partners-in-arms and for US.

“Fire it. There’s more of them than there are of us.”

Hugs Euph!!! Perfect ending to this Memorial Day weekend ...

Peter Heck's May 29, 2023. NottheBee.com article

The famous last words spoken by John Robert Fox, the ones that grabbed me by the throat and did me in!