Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I'm sorry but any attempt to make light of this holiday just doesn't work for me.
I have ****** and friends who have risked and given the ultimate sacrifice in performing their duty to protect the freedoms of Americans and many other nationalities alike. My grandfather was seriously wounded and was made permanently disabled as a result of injuries he suffered as an infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. He suffered PTSD (back then they just called you "crazy") as a result and ended up with serious dementia prior to his death many years ago. People used to make fun of him when I was young. It was sad to watch this as a ***** growing up and not understanding until it was essentially too late. Yet, he was quite willing to sacrifice his own future in order to liberate France and help rid the world of the tyranny that was **** Germany. He'll always be my hero.
I had another friend who was ****** in Vietnam when his unit was pinned down during a firefight near Kontum during a Viet Cong offensive. He was called upon to do his duty and, whether one thinks the war and the American presence in the conflict was justified or not, he was willing to lay down his life for what he believed was a legitimate cause to bring freedom and democracy to Vietnam. I was in serious disagreement with him about this at the time but now I simply try to honor his memory every Memorial Day in the hope that somehow his death was not in vain....even though I feel great anguish over the stark realization that it, in all reality, actually was. He'll always be my hero.
The best man at my wedding was also a ground-pounder in 'Nam. He was an infantryman who was attached to an Air Cav unit flying Hueys near the DMZ in 1970. One day on patrol he was hit by shrapnel from a "Bouncing Betty" that almost ****** him. They airlifted him out in time to save his life but they had to amputate his right leg above the knee. His eyes still well up with tears when he tells the story about what happened. However, the tears are for his dead comrades who didn't make it out, not for himself. To this day, he feels a great sense of guilt over the fact that he survived while so many of his friends didn't. He'll never get over it. He'll always be my hero.
I remember the first time I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard. I was there with my 9 year old *** and we silently watched the riveting ceremony together. I still remember his shocked amazement when he looked up at me and saw tears running down my cheeks as the bugler played a haunting rendition of "Taps" that absolutely put the hook right through me. He didn't understand my actions at the time but, thankfully, he sure does now. He told me that he will never forget that moment as long as he lives.
I'd like to offer my deepest and heartfelt personal gratitude to all the brave men and women who have given or been willing to give the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty. This day is for you. You'll always be my heroes and heroines.
I urge all of you who care to please not forget them this Memorial Day.
I have ****** and friends who have risked and given the ultimate sacrifice in performing their duty to protect the freedoms of Americans and many other nationalities alike. My grandfather was seriously wounded and was made permanently disabled as a result of injuries he suffered as an infantryman during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. He suffered PTSD (back then they just called you "crazy") as a result and ended up with serious dementia prior to his death many years ago. People used to make fun of him when I was young. It was sad to watch this as a ***** growing up and not understanding until it was essentially too late. Yet, he was quite willing to sacrifice his own future in order to liberate France and help rid the world of the tyranny that was **** Germany. He'll always be my hero.
I had another friend who was ****** in Vietnam when his unit was pinned down during a firefight near Kontum during a Viet Cong offensive. He was called upon to do his duty and, whether one thinks the war and the American presence in the conflict was justified or not, he was willing to lay down his life for what he believed was a legitimate cause to bring freedom and democracy to Vietnam. I was in serious disagreement with him about this at the time but now I simply try to honor his memory every Memorial Day in the hope that somehow his death was not in vain....even though I feel great anguish over the stark realization that it, in all reality, actually was. He'll always be my hero.
The best man at my wedding was also a ground-pounder in 'Nam. He was an infantryman who was attached to an Air Cav unit flying Hueys near the DMZ in 1970. One day on patrol he was hit by shrapnel from a "Bouncing Betty" that almost ****** him. They airlifted him out in time to save his life but they had to amputate his right leg above the knee. His eyes still well up with tears when he tells the story about what happened. However, the tears are for his dead comrades who didn't make it out, not for himself. To this day, he feels a great sense of guilt over the fact that he survived while so many of his friends didn't. He'll never get over it. He'll always be my hero.
I remember the first time I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery and watched the changing of the guard. I was there with my 9 year old *** and we silently watched the riveting ceremony together. I still remember his shocked amazement when he looked up at me and saw tears running down my cheeks as the bugler played a haunting rendition of "Taps" that absolutely put the hook right through me. He didn't understand my actions at the time but, thankfully, he sure does now. He told me that he will never forget that moment as long as he lives.
I'd like to offer my deepest and heartfelt personal gratitude to all the brave men and women who have given or been willing to give the ultimate sacrifice in defense of liberty. This day is for you. You'll always be my heroes and heroines.
I urge all of you who care to please not forget them this Memorial Day.
