The older I get (63), the more I appreciate all that recent and much older gave to our country. I am not a vet (Draft lottery No. 276 around 1970 or 1971), but I totally respect all that those who have served have given to this great country.

Tomster

Thanks for posting it.
I agree 100%.
I hope most people take at least a second and thank a Vet. Many gave so much.
I watch now how were slowly losing our WWII Vets as their numbers dwindle and even the Vietnam era some of those Vets are in the 70's but time doesn't diminish what they gave.
THANKS VETS.

As is oft stated "Freedom isn't free" and has cost the lives of many young beautiful people who had promising wonderful futures.........from the founding of the country until this very day it has taken men under arms to secure that which many take for granted. Certainly the Vets are to be honored and those who do anything to dishonor them are to be despised.

Thanks for posting and Thank You Veterans!

Most of all a big thank you to those that gave their lives for us!!!

Ely Memorial High School’s graduating class of 2017 has 2 students going to West Point. And that's from a class of 37 people, half of what it was years ago. Ely has always had a very large number of its people join the armed forces. Thanks!!!

Forever grateful!

All gave some, some gave all.

quote mastertangler: "As is oft stated "Freedom isn't free" and has cost the lives of many young beautiful people who had promising wonderful futures.........from the founding of the country until this very day it has taken men under arms to secure that which many take for granted. Certainly the Vets are to be honored and those who do anything to dishonor them are to be despised. "

Well said, 1+

Thanks Dad - active duty colonel and physician in the Army.

Thanks Grandpa - drafted in Vietnam era, served in Germany.

Thanks to all who have given their lives, whether they have actually died or not, to protect this great country.

“You silent tents of green, We deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

MT,......well said.
Anyone who dishonored a vet will certainly get my boot up their azz...

I was proud to serve this great country! Marc

If anyone is interested about decent Vietnam books, two are:

"Vietnam - A History by Stanley Karnow" (Very long, but very good. Figure a week at least for this one).

"We Were Soldiers Once...And Young - Harold Moore and Joe Galloway": Also excellent. Long book, and the Mel Gibson flick "And We Were Soldiers" was very close to the book, of which the movie is a take-off of.

Tomster

Just a gentle reminder that Memorial Day is a day to honor the fallen.
Here are a couple from my area.

LCpl Jesse D. Tillery (USMC) 12-2-2006
Spc Matthew T. Grimm (USA) 12-7-2007

quote Unas10: "Just a gentle reminder that Memorial Day is a day to honor the fallen.
Here are a couple from my area.


LCpl Jesse D. Tillery (USMC) 12-2-2006
Spc Matthew T. Grimm (USA) 12-7-2007"

Gentle reminder? So far those that have posted here are quite cognizant of that fact.........surely you speak to those who are apathetic?

Tomster I wholeheartedly endorse your reading suggestion "We were soldiers once.....and young". A phenomenal inspiring read of the sacrifices and heroism of Americans. Has there ever been another people who have spent more blood and treasure than the United States to free other people from tyranny and evil? Our Memorial Day should be celebrated by the entire free world IMO.

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

Copyright Charles M. Province, 1970, 2005.
All rights reserved.

MT I don't want to speak for Unas10 but to add perspective some of my Veteran friends don't like being recognized on Memorial Day, it is a day to honor the fallen, for some being recognized brings up a painful memory to them that some didn't come back. Why do I know? Because last year I thanked one and he went off on me... he said "I made it back, thank me on Veterans Day but don't ever thank me on this day again it is for others who sacrificed more than me."

Not everyone feels this way, he never thought I was disrespectful, just didn't want me to thank him. I just heard a Minnesota Iraq hero John Kreisel say basically the exact same thing on the radio Friday as my friend.

With that said everyone's posts on here are repsectful and I am sure appreciated, just trying to add perspective. Thanks to all of you posting your respect.

Thanks Grandpa, Uncle Wally, Uncle Dick!

To all who gave their all, thank you so very, very much.

quote timatkn: "MT I don't want to speak for Unas10 but to add perspective some of my Veteran friends don't like being recognized on Memorial Day, it is a day to honor the fallen, for some being recognized brings up a painful memory to them that some didn't come back. Why do I know? Because last year I thanked one and he went off on me... he said "I made it back, thank me on Veterans Day but don't ever thank me on this day again it is for others who sacrificed more than me."


Not everyone feels this way, he never thought I was disrespectful, just didn't want me to thank him. I just heard a Minnesota Iraq hero John Kreisel say basically the exact same thing on the radio Friday as my friend.


With that said everyone's posts on here are repsectful and I am sure appreciated, just trying to add perspective. Thanks to all of you posting your respect.


Thanks Grandpa, Uncle Wally, Uncle Dick!





"

Amen.

Thinking today of my friend PFC Daniel G. Patrick, USMC who died in Vietnam on April 4,1967. 19 years old, so young and full of life. We both went in the service, me the Navy and he the Marine Corps. I came back and he did not. I think of him often.

quote quark2222: "The older I get (63), the more I appreciate all that recent and much older gave to our country. I am not a vet (Draft lottery No. 276 around 1970 or 1971), but I totally respect all that those who have served have given to this great country.

Tomster"

Thanks, I appreciate it. Both of my grandfathers and my uncle served in time of conflict and was right in the thick of it. They are the people who I think of in times like this weekend. I was in the Regular Army initially and then in the National Guard, where I did get called up for what is known as Desert Storm. I was involved in no conflict.

My son is a Reserve Officer and is going to Afganistan for a year starting in a few months. I've got a stomach ache.

This is one of my favorite pics from Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Don't remember who took it, but an awesome shot.