MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY MAY 30 2016

[Steve 0080]

http://thechive.com/2016/05/25/eyes-...ero-94-photos/

[taxfree4]

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

[stroguy]

Good stuff Steve. Many in the country cannot fathom the dedication to duty so many give. Where does that sense come from? Pic 76 is a bittersweet one. A hero and a zero. The zero cannot comprehend honor, country, integrity.

[Retired Army]

Just a Serviceman
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Am. vets,
Telling stories of the past.


Of a war that he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a Serviceman died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.



He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way,
And the world won't note his passing;
'tho a Serviceman died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Serviceman,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,

To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Serviceman,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Serviceman,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin, and Country,
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Serviceman

And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Serviceman's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SERVICEMAN DIED TODAY"
Author unknown

[53driver]

Thanks to all on this forum who have served our country as military, police, fire-fighters, first-responders, and upstanding citizens ready to do what is necessary.

Slainte!

[Steve 0080]

http://thechive.com/2016/05/28/pass-...ons-53-photos/

[Steve 0080]

https://www.facebook.com/willis.mcco...6564535041271/

[taxfree4]

Raining cats and dogs but we'll get er done.

[taxfree4]

The rain subsided for the duration of the ceremony, saw an F6B and a Valkyrie. The slideshow is 13 minutes long so that means - great bathroom video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWmCSN4TGo8

[53driver]

...very moving....
Thank you.