Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

God bless Gen. Patton.

pkirschl

AND.....THEIR lives so that we can have the lives we have.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Although it is a cute comic it has a very poignant meaning. Our freedoms began long before we were born. As for the men and women who have made so many sacrifices so that we can enjoy our freedoms, we MUST bow our heads and thank all who have served whether they are with us or not. If you wish to see the true price of freedom, please visit a Veteran's Hospital.
To all those who don't like this country and what we stand for, you are allowed to your opinion. God permits that. If you don't like us, please leave. Nothing else will be uttered by all who love and support this Great Nation.
Have a somber Memorial Day as you barbecue your food.
My father was in the US Army and my father-in-law was in the US Navy. My older brothers were in the US Army as well. While I didn't serve, I wanted to do so. Yet, I was too young to enlist.

Even if you don't like our politicians that is okay. You are still granted the Freedom To Assemble and The Freedom Of Speech.

There are not many other countries in the World that give you that right. Criticizing our officials is permitted here. In other countries, you will be gifted free housing in a small darkened room with little chance for adequate sunlight. You can't do much photography under those circumstances.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

To those who served and died and an ungrateful nation does not admit to giving their all.
Numbers compare to WWII. This is not counting Vietnam but operations around the world in other actions.

The following information is Copyrighted 2002 by The Associated Press. " COLD WAR 2 September 1945 - 21 August 1991 Participants: Classified: POWs: Classified: MIAs: 343: Deaths In Service: Classified: Deaths In Service: 407,316
It's known 124 U.S. soldiers are listed missing in action from 10 separate Cold War Covert Operations during the War.
USSR Several Hundred: It's hard to estimate how many Died In Captivity resulting from former USSR's actions in transporting U.S. POWs to Soviet bloc nations during and immediately after WW II, Korea and SEA.
There is no doubt some unnaccounted-for US POW-MIAs ended up in Soviet Gulags, Psychiatric hospitals and third-party nations such as Czechoslovakia.
We know several hundred men were interrogated by the Soviets, interrogation reports are present, but men never returned.
Cold War: We have no reporting on those who Died In Captivity that is reliable or would meet POW medal requirements that we are aware of. Most Cold War losses went unacknowledged until a decade or so ago.
We still have classified cases. There is evidence a number of Cold War losses fell into adversarial hands and ultimately died, and we just have no way of knowing who at this time.

fantom Loc: Colorado

I remember as a child traveling to my grandparents' home every Memorial Day (Decoration Day as mt grandmother called it).

We would attend the ceremonies in the vey small rural town's cemetery, that took place beneath the statue of a Civil War soldier. There was music, speeches, rifle volley and taps. Taps was the most impressive thing on the agenda. The bugler would blow taps and from the trees or from a distant sport in the cemetery another hidden bugler would blow the echo. We little kids would almost wet our pants with wonder and excitement at this. This was in the late 40's and early to mid 50's and tears were not unusual among the attendees.

As a side note, my grandmother was the one who unveiled the Civil War statue for the first time because her grandfather had served with Abe Lincoln in the Blackhawk War. (Don't have many details but great great granddaddy left the unit with some buddies to join "the spies", which apparently was an informal cavalry unit). I'd attach pix of the statue cemetery but it looks like we are about to loose power in a nite hail and lightning storm so gotta g0.

God Bless the Vets

kemosabe

I think Patton put it the right way: Let the enemy die for his country and you live for yours. A little liberty taken with the quote but essentially what he said.