Originally Posted by
Cherokee_Mountaincat
Memorial Day-08
While sitting here and listening to Charlie Daniel’s song Saigon, I had a smart ass from another group ask me if I was going to post the same worn out, tired litany about Veterans as I do at Memorial Day and Veterans day. Well guess what? Yes I am, and if anyone is offended by my “Flag-Waving, Vet Hugging” views, then I suggest that you bite my rosy red, and click onto another topic. (Yes, Your Cat is a hard nose when it comes to my Vets.)
Only a couple of you here that know me well, know that I worked for 15 years in the Veteran’s Administration in California, as a Veteran’s Representatives Aide, and was married to a Vietnam Vet with P.T.S.D. for nearly 30 years. I worked primarily with Vet’s from Korea/Vietnam, Granada, Desert Storm, Persian Gulf and Iraq. I gained an immense love and respect for these men and women, and hold that view close to me. It didn’t matter what war, it didn’t matter what branch of service, I loved and respected all of them equally.
I respect them for the sacrifices that they made, and make everyday, so that each and every one of us can revel in, and enjoy our own personal freedoms that we possess today.
Think about it for a moment…Do you realize what all they give up for Us? They are/were away from Their own families, and personal freedoms so that we in turn may live ours, and so that our children, grandchildren, and future generations can live free too. They put their lives on the line for us every single day, without as so much of a Thank Ye Sir or Ma’am from many of us.
They don’t expect fancy parades when they return home, they don’t expect to be paid honor and homage, all they want is your admiration and respect, as it should be. In Washington D.C there is a huge black marble monument with the names of
58, 900 men and 9 women who gave the most ultimate sacrifice anyone could give in the duty for their country and fellow Americans. And there is estimated that there are over 2,000 POW’s and MIA’s who gave of themselves for us as well.
This is a testimony to their love, honor, and respect to all of us, is it too much to return that honor once in a while by remembering them, and the past generations of men and women who gave their lives for us? No. Not in my humble opinion it is not.
So, today on this Day, please take time to do something. Go to a cemetery of your choice and lay a flower or wreath at the base of one of the Veteran’s Memorials, attend a Veteran’s Memorial service pit on by one of the local Veterans associations or hang your flags proudly. Take a scant second honk at some of the many people who stand with dedication on over passes around the country. Or simply do a Native American way of respect; Say a prayer at sundown to the setting Father Sun and say, “Job well done Soldier, and Thank You. You will never be forgotten.”
I salute every military man and woman in this country, Past, Present, and Future, and if that makes me a Vet Hugger and a Flag Waver, oh fucking well. :}
Happy Memorial Day to all of you Veterans, and those that love you.
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