Memorial Day Wall

[taxfree4]

This shot was taken at the Kings County Memorial Day Parade, one of the oldest in the nation now in its' 148th year, at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, N.Y.. This dog lost a leg from a land mine and they promoted him to sergeant in the Marine Corps. I've been going there every year for the past 20+ years and will be posting various shots from those years on this thread.

[taxfree4]

I never liked that bumper sticker "All Gave Some, Some Gave the All" as I don't think a soldier goes into battle saying "I'm only going to give some of myself". So I am changing it to reflect what I think is the proper homage due to those braver than I. I always found the following poem a great reflection and very fitting tribute:

These did not pass in selfishness;
they died for all mankind;
They died to build a better world
for all who stay behind;
And we who hold their memory dear,
and bring them flowers today,
Should consecrate ourselves once more
to live and die as they.

They were defenders of the faith
and guardians of the truth;
That you and I might live and love,
they gladly gave their youth;
And we who set this day apart
to honor them who sleep
Should pledge ourselves to hold the faith
they gave their lives to keep.

If tears are all we shed for them,
then they have died in vain;
If flowers are all we bring them,
forgotten they remain;
If by their courage we ourselves
to courage are not led,
Then needlessly these graves have closed
above our heroes dead.

To symbolize our love with flowers
is not enough to do;
We must be brave as they were brave,
and true as they were true.
They died to build a better world,
and we who mourn today
Should consecrate ourselves once more
to live and die as they.

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[taxfree4]

This a buddy of mine, Walter, WWII vet and widower - 3 times, give that man a round of applause :cheers: :clap2:

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Can't forget the Boy Scouts

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The Few, the Proud

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Vietnam Veterans

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Iron Workers are there every year, the best.

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Little Drummer Boy

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[taxfree4]

This Engine is dedicated to the 911 firefighters lost N0. 343

[taxfree4]

USO Girls

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21 y.o. - too young to die

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Cannon salute

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[choptop]

:icon_smflag::yes:

[Steve 0080]

:icon_smflag:

[53driver]

Thanks for that moment of reflection......

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate :yes:

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate :clap2:

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate :039:

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate .notworthy.

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate :icon_biggrin:

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate :shhh:

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate..

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate...

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate....

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.....

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate......

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.......

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate........

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.........

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate ..........

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate...........

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate............

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.............

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate..............

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate...............

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All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate ................

[taxfree4]

All Gave All, Some Gave the Ultimate.................

When I first moved to where I live now the gentleman below was an elderly neighbor who lived alone and sat in a chair outside, pretty much by himself most of the day. Never saw too many people say hello or talk to him. One day I invited him over my place to watch the Yankees, his favorite team. That became an every night routine for the next 6 years till he went in a home. Turns out Benjamin Weinberg was a WWII vet and was supposed to get out at the end of December 1941 until Pearl Harbor, had to stay another year. Saw Ty Cobb play baseball and when he was a kid used to watch Civil War veterans march in parades. He was born 9/11/12 and died 1/11/13 and I was glad to know him. Never had kids, outlived his whole family, just me and him at his funeral and his grave. Sometimes you really feel like God puts you in certain places at certain times just to see what you're going to do, or not do.

[ReserveBum]

+1 ......Thanks for posting.

[taxfree4]

Pleasure is all mine

[taxfree4]

Of course I would be remiss if I didn't post my parents:

Dad was a disabled WWII ARMY vet wounded in Germany (shrapnel from a grenade to the back and legs)
Mom was a Korean War NAVY Vet, member of the WAVES, stationed in Corpus Christi TX and went on to create the Women Veterans of America, along with 3 other women, of which she wrote the charter.

As a son that's a hard act to follow.