A Must-Watch Video on This Memorial Day Weekend: Honor Flight

[Valin]

The Corner:

Veronique de Rugy

May 25, 2012

 

World War II veterans deserve all the gratitude we can give them. I was raised in Normandy, near the beaches of the landing where so many soldiers lost their lives during the war.

 

In remembrance this weekend, watch and share this amazing video about the men who risked their lives during the war to save us all. The full-length documentary about Honor Flight’s activities will debut on August 11 at Milwaukee’s Miller Park.

 

It is produced by two incredibly talented young producers: former Reason TV’s Dan Hayes and Clay Broga through their company Freethink Media and Stars and Stripes Honor Flight of Wisconsin.

 

(Snip)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[clearvision]

Thanks @Valin!

[NCTexan]

Thanks @Valin

 

Our church supports and host the Raleigh area Honor Flight activities. The veterans and the Honor Flight volunteers meet there and have some ceremonies before and after the trip to DC.

 

A great program!

[Valin]

[Draggingtree]

May 26, 2012

It's Time for a National World War I Memorial

 

By Julian Saltman

On Monday, Americans will gather to celebrate Memorial Day, a holiday on which we honor those who have served, and fallen, in our country’s armed forces. Veterans and their descendants will participate in ceremonies and parades across the country, and many will be in Washington, D.C., to visit the national memorials dedicated to the wars in which they fought.

But there is one glaring exception: the First World War.

Despite nearing the centenary of the First World War’s outbreak, the United States still lacks a national memorial to the 4.7 million Americans who served during the conflict. Of those servicemen, nearly 117,000 perished during the war — 53,402 in combat — and another 204,000 were wounded. Many believe that the last man to die in the war was an American soldier, 23-year-old Henry Gunther of Baltimore. He was killed one minute before the 11 a.m. armistice of Nov. 11, 1918. In comparison, roughly 34,000 Americans died in combat during the Korean War, and some 47,000 died in combat in Vietnam.

The American casualties of the First World War are all the more striking because of the short time in which they occurred. The United States did not declare war on Germany until April 6, 1917, and most American combat troops did not see action until the late spring of 1918. By many standards of evaluation, the First World War was the third bloodiest conflict in American history, trailing only the Civil War and the Second World War.

Yet despite these appalling numbers, there is no nationally consecrated location in the United States where Americans can honor these sacrifices. Read More http://www.realclearhistory.com/articles/2012/05/26/time_for_a_national_world_war_i_memorial_15.html

[Draggingtree]

Tom Manion: Why They Serve—'If Not Me, Then Who?'

After more than a decade of war, remarkable men and women are still stepping forward.

 

 

By TOM MANION

 

I served in the military for 30 years. But it was impossible to fully understand the sacrifices of our troops and their families until April 29, 2007, the day my son, First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq.

Travis was just 26 years old when an enemy sniper's bullet pierced his heart after he had just helped save two wounded comrades. Even though our family knew the risks of Travis fighting on the violent streets of Fallujah, being notified of his death on a warm Sunday afternoon in Doylestown, Pa., was the worst moment of our lives.

While my son's life was relatively short, I spend every day marveling at his courage and wisdom. Before his second and final combat deployment, Travis said he wanted to go back to Iraq in order to spare a less-experienced Marine from going in his place. His words—"If not me, then who . . . "—continue to inspire me.

My son is one of thousands to die in combat since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Because of their sacrifices, as well as the heroism of previous generations, Memorial Day 2012 should have tremendous importance to our entire nation, with an impact stretching far beyond one day on the calendar.

In Afghanistan, tens of thousands of American troops continue to sweat, fight and bleed. In April alone, 35 U.S. troops were killed there, including Army Capt. Nick Rozanski, 36, who made the difficult decision to leave his wife and children to serve our country overseas. Read More

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577419973285034422.html?mod=opinion_newsreel

[Valin]

It Is The Soldier


It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Charles Michael Province, U.S. Army

[NCJim]

[Valin]

Here’s to All the Bernie Deghands

Author's note: This tribute was written by my good friend Steve Sheldon.

Doug Giles

 

This Memorial Day, while you are enjoying your class reunion, family get-together, outdoor barbeque, or an extra day off work, please remember all the Bernie Deghands who died serving this great country so that you can enjoy the freedoms that have been bought and paid for with real lives of real people. When the Stars and Stripes bows at half staff and flutters proudly in the breeze, think about their pain, their broken bodies, their final moments, see their faces, reflect on their sacrifice, pray for their families, remember their parents, wives, and children. This is why we have Memorial Day.

 

Bernie was a character of all characters. The only time that I wasn’t laughing at Bernie was when his sometimes cruel sense of humor was directed at me. He spared no one and his career paid the price many times. Bernie was demoted more times than I was ever promoted, even serving time in the brig for decking an officer. The only rank that Bernie didn’t have twice was Master Sergeant only because he was promoted posthumously. Bernie always did what needed to be done and said what needed to be said, regardless of who was offended. He was quick with an insult, which was uproariously funny as long as it was at someone else’s expense. That being said, he was also an excellent soldier.

 

One could always count on Bernie to show the way or to help you with a difficult task. He might have ridiculed you for not knowing, but I think secretly, he took great pride in helping out his teammates. There are far too many stories to share for this medium from the naked Bernie walking across the AO in his web gear, boots, and Kevlar helmet, to the all-pro wrestling moves, to the million practical jokes, to the fourteen stitches and scar on the top of my head resulting from a rock throwing contest which he probably won.

 

(Snip)

 

Obituary Sgt. 1st Class Bernard Bernie Lee Deghand