Memorial Day--War Memorials
May 24, 2019 13:32:20 #
This is not my first post of the Vietnam Memorial in Winfield, KS. I suppose it may be the time of year to take a few moments in reflection, beyond the family festivities, photography, and entertainment to remember those playground friends and classmates whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial Walls and other such war memorials throughout the country. My main Memorial Day wish is for a time in which our American youth will no longer have to serve in combat.
May 24, 2019 13:36:51 #
May 24, 2019 15:05:32 #
In Britain every town and almost every village has a WW1 memorial and an annual march-past. Recently there was a move to change road names to honor those servicemen that lived in particular streets and died in WW1. We had tin silhouettes of WW1 servicemen dotted everywhere a 'trace' of a serviceman's home 'probably' was or to show support (Hospitals and Council Officers).
What about the wars since 1918....?Those 'conflicts' fought overseas or in the skies above us. WW2 gets little recognition beyond individuals attending the various War Graves at home or abroad. That generation is dwindling away to a few individuals...Suez, Korea, Malaya, The Falklands, Bosnia, The Gulf and more recently Afghanistan to name but a few. These seem to be the 'forgotten' generations that died.
In fact 'The Vietnam War' highlighted the need to support returning Veterans of conflicts. But 50 odd years on Ex-Servicemen still make up a large % of our homeless. We celebrate our paraplegics when they represent our country, but are silent about those broken men and women who daily suffer away from the media and the Various Charity's donations hype.
Armistice Day is supposed to represent every serviceman's actions only because there is very little, on home soil, to show where those since fell and those still living abide.
As 'conflicts' seem to be becoming more about unmanned rockets and targeted strikes; Computer Graphic's rather than Regimental Maneuvers to the general public: Perhaps it becomes more important to recognize that Government sanctioned conflicts still have a human cost.
We really should start 'updating' our memorials to include ALL those that died in service' and' start insisting in providing better care packages for those that return scarred by what they have been tasked to do on our behalf.
Perhaps the true costs 'shown to the public' might ensure a slower response by politicians in the future...
What about the wars since 1918....?Those 'conflicts' fought overseas or in the skies above us. WW2 gets little recognition beyond individuals attending the various War Graves at home or abroad. That generation is dwindling away to a few individuals...Suez, Korea, Malaya, The Falklands, Bosnia, The Gulf and more recently Afghanistan to name but a few. These seem to be the 'forgotten' generations that died.
In fact 'The Vietnam War' highlighted the need to support returning Veterans of conflicts. But 50 odd years on Ex-Servicemen still make up a large % of our homeless. We celebrate our paraplegics when they represent our country, but are silent about those broken men and women who daily suffer away from the media and the Various Charity's donations hype.
Armistice Day is supposed to represent every serviceman's actions only because there is very little, on home soil, to show where those since fell and those still living abide.
As 'conflicts' seem to be becoming more about unmanned rockets and targeted strikes; Computer Graphic's rather than Regimental Maneuvers to the general public: Perhaps it becomes more important to recognize that Government sanctioned conflicts still have a human cost.
We really should start 'updating' our memorials to include ALL those that died in service' and' start insisting in providing better care packages for those that return scarred by what they have been tasked to do on our behalf.
Perhaps the true costs 'shown to the public' might ensure a slower response by politicians in the future...
May 24, 2019 19:09:55 #
Bigmike1
Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.
Monday is Memorial Day here. I will be working in the morning so won't be able to attend any services. I think they will be honoring the dead from all wars.
May 24, 2019 20:05:02 #
Barn Owl wrote:
This is not my first post of the Vietnam Memorial in Winfield, KS. I suppose it may be the time of year to take a few moments in reflection, beyond the family festivities, photography, and entertainment to remember those playground friends and classmates whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial Walls and other such war memorials throughout the country. My main Memorial Day wish is for a time in which our American youth will no longer have to serve in combat.
Roger that!
May 25, 2019 10:05:15 #
Barn Owl wrote:
This is not my first post of the Vietnam Memorial in Winfield, KS. I suppose it may be the time of year to take a few moments in reflection, beyond the family festivities, photography, and entertainment to remember those playground friends and classmates whose names are on the Vietnam Memorial Walls and other such war memorials throughout the country. My main Memorial Day wish is for a time in which our American youth will no longer have to serve in combat.
Amen to that...and a beautiful photo to remind us of the memory of those who gave their lives for our freedom!
May 25, 2019 10:46:54 #
May 25, 2019 10:56:16 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
Let us never forget those who gave all so that some of us could come home, and all of us could enjoy the freedoms that we now have.
May 25, 2019 11:04:48 #
Bigmike1
Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.
I honor all those, who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. That being said I am thankful that I can honor them instead of being one of them. I was on active duty in the early days of Vietnam and served a total of 30 years in both the army and army national guard. I almost went to Saudi Arabia in the Gulf War. I'm glad I never had to go into a combat zone. I watched my buddies go and wept for them.
May 25, 2019 13:31:46 #
God bless all who served and honor all those who made the supreme sacrifice. I spent 20 years in USAF 1960-1980, but never went to SEA so am not a "Vietnam Vet". Like Bigmike1, I never was shot at and am grateful for that, but highly honor those who were--especially those who died.
I think every US citizen needs to visit a military cemetery. The ones in Europe are astounding--reverent, perfectly maintained, peaceful. Arlington here in the US is a very emotional experience, too.
This photo of a memorial is just one outstanding example of many around the nation.
I think every US citizen needs to visit a military cemetery. The ones in Europe are astounding--reverent, perfectly maintained, peaceful. Arlington here in the US is a very emotional experience, too.
This photo of a memorial is just one outstanding example of many around the nation.
May 25, 2019 16:30:00 #
For what it's worth, Memorial Day was originally created in the US to honor those soldiers who died serving with the northern, "Union" forces in our Civil War (1861-1865) but now honors all those who gave their lives in military service.
What is known as Armistice Day in Britain is called Veterans Day in the US and honors ALL military war veterans (and, more generally, all service members). It is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, when, in 1918, the armistice between Germany and the western allies was signed.
What is known as Armistice Day in Britain is called Veterans Day in the US and honors ALL military war veterans (and, more generally, all service members). It is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November, when, in 1918, the armistice between Germany and the western allies was signed.
May 26, 2019 12:43:45 #
RichinSeattle wrote:
For what it's worth, Memorial Day was originally c... (show quote)
Additionally, at the original dedication there was special emphasis placed on the nation's duty to honor and assist the families of those who fell in service to our country.
May 26, 2019 15:24:21 #
I took these at the America Cemetery and Memorial, near Cambridge, UK, a couple days before Memorial Day, 2016. It honors nearly 9,000 American airmen who lost their lives in combat in World War II. More than half of those remembered here are merely names on a great wall, as their bodies were never recovered.
Although, I believe the upkeep is payed for from US-sourced funds, the British groundskeepers do a marvelous job caring for it.
Although, I believe the upkeep is payed for from US-sourced funds, the British groundskeepers do a marvelous job caring for it.
May 26, 2019 19:32:37 #
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is on record as saying "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in. . . ."
Suffice to say that those cemeteries, wherever they exist, are kept up in fastidious condition. Yes, the US pays for the upkeep, but the work is done by locals and they are always in exemplary condition. We owe our dead no less.
Suffice to say that those cemeteries, wherever they exist, are kept up in fastidious condition. Yes, the US pays for the upkeep, but the work is done by locals and they are always in exemplary condition. We owe our dead no less.
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