Memorial Day weekend, did everyone

A. Make it home in one piece and
B. Thank a veteran?

Not to rain on the parade, but thanking a Veteran would be for Veterans day. Today is for remembering those that did not make it. In that case, I did pray and thank them as I drove past cemetery's that I'm sure held at least some. Not to mention I was at the greatest ever tribute to them: The Indy 500.

As for the first part of your statement, I am deeply saddened to report that the mother one of my very best friends passed away in a car wreck Sunday afternoon

Overall, a lousy damper on a great weekend.

Respectfully, today is not Veteran's Day. Not that the respect isn't appreciated, but Memorial Day is for our fallen heroes.

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

It seems like a trivial thing, but the ones who made that ultimate sacrifice deserve their own holiday and respect. I am listening toa re-run Podcast of Talk of The Nation, they are talking of the official notifications when a military member has been killed while on active duty.

In a previous life, I joined the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. An additional duty (meaning we still had work to do) our primary purpose was military funerals. We were repsnsible for most of Nebraska, all of Iowa and a small piece of Kansas. From 1994-until I went into ROTC in 1998 and again for 6 months as a Lt in 2000, I performed over 300 military funerals.

It matters. We were there to show the family and the world that the service this person performed mattered, Active Duty or Veteran. Their work had been important. Obviously we took a great deal of pride in our work, but it was at times, exhausting.

There wasn't a war per sea at the time. But in addition to the retired members ofthe area of veterans of Korea, Vietnam and even WWII, I remember services for victims of Kobar Towers, a young aircraft technician who died when the plane he was working on was struck by a freak bolt of lightning and a host of others, some local to the base, some from elsewhere and natives of Nebraska or Iowa.

So I apologize if I sound like I am lecturing, I just want to underscore the importance of what Memorial Day celebrates.

As I just said on my post, because I was lectured by someone else somewhere, I don't think that there should be only one day out of the year to either thank our veterans or remember the fallen.

I always thank a veteran on any Armed Forces related holiday.

Veterans Day and Memorial Day

I have walked some of the National Cemeteries placing flag more than once.

In reply to Flight Service:

There is really no way to thank them enough, living or not.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to Flight Service: There is really no way to thank them enough, living or not.

understatement of the year my friend, understatement of the year.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: As I just said on my post, because I was lectured by someone else somewhere, I don't think that there should be only one day out of the year to either thank our veterans or remember the fallen.

Agreed, there isn't just one day that their sacrifices are deserving of our respect and thanks.

I do choose to consciously stop, go off by myself, and spend a few minutes thinking about those that lost their lives in service of our country on Memorial Day.

On veterans day I sneak off by myself and have a shot of tequila to honor my brothers who have or are currently serving.

We all have our own way to express that we care and no matter how different it may be, the important thing is that we honor them in our hearts and minds and not just on those two days.

lots of people DO remember to say thanks on more than Memorial Day and Veterans Day ... pretty much anytime I wear my Navy Veteran ball cap, someone (usually a stranger) stops me and thanks me for my service

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: As I just said on my post, because I was lectured by someone else somewhere, I don't think that there should be only one day out of the year to either thank our veterans or remember the fallen.

Then you misunderstand what Memorial Day and Veterans Day are. They are not singled out as the only day to think of the dead or to give thanks to a person for their service. Instead, they are lifted higher than other days, a day of special tribute to those who died or have served.

they really seem to be days that remind folk about their veterans ... most days go by without our thinking about the vets ... including those of us that DID serve ... I'm sure I'm not the only one that goes for days without conscience thought about the veterans around us

wbjones wrote: they really seem to be days that remind folk about their veterans ... most days go by without our thinking about the vets ... including those of us that DID serve ... I'm sure I'm not the only one that goes for days without conscience thought about the veterans around us

Agreed here.

I worked, my wife got to visit her brother.

A post I made on the FB:

Strike_Zero said: Did you grill today? Did you hang with your homies? Did you sleep all day? Did you do all those things without a care in world? Say a thank you and have silent moment of rememberance for the cats that laid it down for you to do so. Remember, they answered the call when others hung up or act like they weren't home/available. This pause is for all the peeps before me that put it down so I can do what I do. Without your sacrifice, the freedoms I have wouldn't exist. I pray that your souls and spirit rest in arms of the Lord . . .

I get calls and txts of thanks during all military affiliate days.

foxtrapper wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: As I just said on my post, because I was lectured by someone else somewhere, I don't think that there should be only one day out of the year to either thank our veterans or remember the fallen.

Then you misunderstand what Memorial Day and Veterans Day are. They are not singled out as the only day to think of the dead or to give thanks to a person for their service. Instead, they are lifted higher than other days, a day of special tribute to those who died or have served.

Oh no, I totally understand what the two days are about. The problem is, I got lectured on Memorial Day about thanking our Veterans, that the day is ONLY about remembering the fallen. I don't feel that way. I think it doesn't matter what the particular holiday is, all who have served, alive or deceased should be remembered and thanked for all that they have done and sacrificed.

In other words, on Memorial Day, I will remember the fallen and thank the veterans. On Veterans Day, I thank the Veterans and remember the fallen.

We get so busy in our daily lives that we forget. I admit that I do.

We had a good long weekend. Saturday got the dog groomed, bought a car, sold a car, then went camping.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I think it doesn't matter what the particular holiday is, all who have served, alive or deceased should be remembered and thanked for all that they have done and sacrificed. In other words, on Memorial Day, I will remember the fallen and thank the veterans. On Veterans Day, I thank the Veterans and remember the fallen. We get so busy in our daily lives that we forget. I admit that I do.

Well said