Arizoner
What these men accomplished gives meaning to the word heroic !
Kitten_Hasclaws in reply to Arizoner
My husband was part of the detachment that accompanied him on that trip. Just the mention of the name Ronald Reagan and you have to hear that story. ;-).
Arizoner in reply to Kitten_Hasclaws
This is just the short version. The complete speech is there also. I can't watch it without tearing up.
Connor Kenway
My Grandfather World War 2 tank commander that fought in the Pacific. He won two bronze stars for bravery in the battle field.
FoxRatingsRDominant
Plep
Thank you for that. Powerful images. You made me tear up in my Dad's memory.
I love this pic. The young guy is my Dad. The older guy is my Grandfather who emigrated our family here. He looks like Gestapo, but, that was the dress in Germany in those days and he carried it over to here.
TruthBeagle
My father spent 20 years in the Air Force, then an additional 20 with a contractor on a military base. I almost didn't know my father. He was in Korea when I was born. I was born a couple of weeks earlier than expected. He traded flights with a friend and came back early. The plane he was supposed to be on...only seat-cushions were found.
When he passed away, now over 10 years ago, he had a full Honor Guard funeral. I had grown up on a military base, but that was the first one I had seen. I have seen others since, but his was the longest. Unlike others I have seen, the military Honor Guard were the actual Pallbearers. It must have taken 20 minutes to march up to the hearse and remove the casket. A very solemn march with tiny side steps. I have never seen that again. Most are much quicker. Everyone should attend a 'With Honors' funeral. Maybe it will change some minds of people who take for granted the sacrifices of our Veterans.
In my hallway is a constant reminder of my father:
Posted by: President makes surprise visit to Iraq
Memorial luminaries at the National Cemetery I work at. A true honor and privilege to so do.
TTAS
With the upcoming holiday, I thought I'd post this. Memories are tough things sometimes.
I honor those in life and death,
in memory with reverent breath,
I wiped the tears from my brother's eyes,
held him close, heard his cries,
You're not forgotten fore I am here,
my brothers who shed those tears.
In peace shall all you lay,
I remember my brothers, every day.
Common Sense
From the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
High and clear and true in the echoes of the guns, a bugle lifted the old, old notes of taps, the lullaby for the living soldier, in death his requiem. Long ago some forgotten soldier-poet caught its meaning clear and set it down that soldiers everywhere might know its message as they sink to rest:
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day, cometh night,
And a star,
Leadeth all, speedeth all,
To their rest.
The guns roared out again in the national salute. He was home, The Unknown, to sleep forever among his own.
Posted by:
And every night, as TV stations across the country went off the air, I still can't help tearing up when I watch the sign-off:
