Remember Monday, flags at half staff and go visit our veteran brothers who've passed on. Especially now that those of us who are veteran survivors are faced with the controversy and troubles at the Veterans Administration. God bless our hero's.
Amen Mike! Just bought my new 4'x6' flag to fly on Monday, like you said, half staff-until noon I believe-- I always buy a new flag every year for Memorial Day, then hopefully it lasts until at least the 4th. of July, we got lots of wind out here.
God bless all our hero veterans, and active Military. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't enjoy life as we know it.
Tim
Half staff until noon, full staff the rest of the day. I will be at my local Memorial Day observance at 10:00 am.
My Mrs. and I are both Vets, we will be at the local Memorial Day Celebration.
Dennis, good to see you back.
Richard J. Kopsky - 1922-2010
Sq. 1, 64th Army Air Corp (AAF)
God bless all of us Vets! Thanks for posting.
Larry Smith, EN 1 (SS) USNR-ret 1964-1984
Dennis, as Dick said, glad to see you back. Hope all has been well. Dave
Door gunner/Crew Chief
271st ASHC (Innkeepers) Chinook helicopters
Can Tho, Vietnam
Army,'69-'71, RVN '70-'71
Like they said, Dennis.
I was:
Peace Time Punk
81-88
SGT E5, Combat Engineer
US Army
West Germany, Fulda Gap
Great pic Ken. I wonder how much longer it will be before the last living member of the Army Air Corp slips into the past.
My grandfather is 95 and was a member of the 101st Airborne and involved in the Battle of Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge). I will be calling him on Monday.
He was 14 when he drove the first time...and wrecked my great grandpa's Model T.
I could write a book about him and what he did for me growing up.
With the exception of a recorded interview I did with him in 1979 for a high school term paper, he never did talk much about the war.
Anyway, I digress.
From this veteran to all of you and yours, whether they be on this side of the dirt or otherwise, thank you.
Danial,Do people stationed in the Fulda Gap still recive extra pay?? Can you say Wildflicken?? Bud.
Just yesterday i went to a WW2 veterans funeral that I knew.
That group is getting small fast. It is thanks to them we aint typeing in Japanese or German right now.
Memorial Day
From the revolutionary Patriot to the present day, we owe so much to those we will not be able to thank in person. But who we can remember them with thankfulness.
A link to Tim McGraw’s song “If You’re Reading This”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d44YfiXxbqY “Click on skip advertisement” in the lower right hand corner when you get the chance – they seldom fit the theme of the song.
Gratefully submitted,
Hap l915 cut off
USAF
KTLA tv will be at our Old Bold Pilots breakfast Tues, broadcasting live at 0645 PDT, and repeating over the next three hours. www.KTLA.com
We have three regular attendees that flew P-38 in WWII, and survivors of Korea and Vietnam, as well as commercial and private aviation. It's two dozen old deaf guys yelling at each other. I try not to miss it.
rdr
Draftee - E-5, Nike Hercules missile test and repair 1966-7 Miesau, W. Germany
Private Pilot, 1974-2009
Avionics Engineer 1975-2014
@ Kenneth (Bud) Wildflicken - seemed like the coldest place on earth in the winter. We got no extra pay when I was there.
"It's two dozen old deaf guys yelling at each other."
I love it, Ralph...haha
Danial,What few know is The Fulda Gap is the only spot in northern Eruope where a force the size of a Divison could move from the East to the West!! Bud.
Bud here's a great link to the military history of Fulda Gap. I really had no idea that it was so historically significant. Interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulda_Gap
Germany and the rest of western Europe was interesting, especially for a history hound like me but after 4 years, I was sure glad to get back to the world. (For those not in the know, "the world" was parlance for CONUS for service guys overseas).
Every year on Memorial Day I remember to call and thank four very special veterans in my life. First my beloved father, who passed away last July, for his service in Korea. Second, my awesome son Adam who served in the Navy and is still serving as Master at Arms in the Navy reserves, third my good friend Bill Cusack who was decorated for service in Vietnam as commander of a two PT boats, one of which was blown out of the water. Lastly my Dad's cousin John Miller, 90 years young and was a lifer in the 82nd Airborne division and made jumps on D-Day, Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge, Korea and Vietnam. Thank God for men and women who sacrificed their youth and innocence for us and our future families. And thank you to all you T guys and gals out there who served honorably - this Patriot appreciates you and those who continue to serve!
I've got one of those too:
Howard Dennis
REMEMBER
Raise flag to top first, then lower to half mast.
If flag is up all the time, this is not an issue.
And, except for Memorial Day when it goes to full staff at noon, when flying the flag at half staff all day, it should first be raised to full staff and then lowered to half, and at the end of the day raised from half staff to full staff, then lowered completely.
On Memorial day 1951 I joined the Air Force at age 16, now that's 64 years ago. How time fly's when your having fun and tinkering with Ts don't
hurt either. Thanks to everyone that have served
Bob.
This weekend is always a sad and sobering day for me as we remember those service members that are no longer with us.
We are so blessed to be able to be living an enjoying our time when many of them left family members too early fighting for what we now enjoy.
Make some time to help out someone not so fortunate.
USNR Retired Chief 28 years total
"Peace Is Our Profession."
I was in SAC at Little Rock AFB (B-47s, then B-58s, plus Titan IIs) from 1963 to 1967.
Thinking of you Mike! ws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyZ9b4My6NU
My Dad at 22 years old...facing the Nazi's in a over powered P51 Mustang. He will always be a hero to me...Miss you Dad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcU8GHg03Kk
Don't forget to put out your flags tomorrow morning guys! If you have a flag pole, half staff until noon.
Retired Navy CWO4 1972-1997
Orting Soldier's Cemetery. Rest easy Shipmates.
The dogs and I three years ago
A great many here from the Spanish American War.
Paying Respects.
I found seven men marked this way but there could be more. That's a great many for such a small town as we are.
Sitting here watching the National Memorial Day Concert on tv. Just finished reading the July issue of Hemmings Classic Car. A very interesting article about a 1947 Oldsmobile from a little known program of General Motors to build hand control vehicles for veterans who returned from WW II with loss of limbs. Seems like a very fitting article for this weekend.
Howard Dennis
Just wanted to send a note out to my dad this close to Memorial day..He was a tank mechanic in the U.S.M.C. and taught me everything i know about mechanics..Love you dad, happy memorial day.
The fellow I went to his funeral friday, Alan Forsyth, flew a P51
My Dad, a WW2 vet stationed in the South Pacific. Passed away in1999. He was absent from the family for five years before his death. When he died on Dec 5th none of us knew he was gone. He was married to a woman from Pennsylvania and living in Florida. She sent his ashes to my brother (another vet) who, in turn put them in a closet and ignored them for 10 years. Finally because of pressure from my Dad's brothers he was becoming perturbed about the fact they kept asking about them. It's a tradition in my Dad's family to have a funeral and family reunion with all the family criers and the potluck and a good old time. My brother wanted to avoid that and also wanted to spite my Dad's family and take care of getting rid of Dad's ashes without them knowing where he was buried. He called me and I told him to either spread the ashes in the iron mine where my Dad worked all his working life and was very proud or bury them with our Mother in the family plot. He chose to do the latter and put them with my Mother. So he quietly contacted the caretaker at the cemetery and working through him buried my Dad with our Mother. That was four years ago. And for four years I felt it wasn't right for Dad to not be recognized for his service and decided it was time for him to receive veterans honors. During the Winter I contacted our County Service Officer and made arrangements for my Dad to have a plaque placed on his grave and receive veterans honors on his birthday, June 17th. After 15 years of being in limbo my Dad will receive the recognition he deserves. Though I'll more than likely be the only family member at Dad's memorial I feel as a veteran I've not only done something right for my Dad but also brought my Father the honors he so desperately deserves. It's been 20 years since I've seen my Dad and longer since I've done anything for him. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. My greatest regret is it took 20 years to thank my Dad for all his hard work, his caring heart and sacrifices for his country. So tomorrow, as you're lowering your flag to half mast say a quiet thank you for my Dad and his brothers in arms. My family has served when called all the way back to my Grandfather during WW1. My Dad, his brother, my brother, myself and several cousins are combat veterans who never turned our back when our country called and it's made me very proud to be part of such a great bunch of guys.
Well said Mike, you and your family will be in our thoughts.
Mike, as John said, we will be in your thoughts. I have many WW2 vets in my family that have passed on, and I have no idea what they did or what they went through because my family did not talk about it. Dave
A special day for all Americans. A time to remember those who have gone before us and those that serve today in far away and lonely places around the world. God Bless them all.
Steve Blancard
Chief Petty Officer, USN, Retired
Today I carried a 93-year-old WWII vet in our town's little Memorial Day parade. He was in the Navy. After seeing combat, his ship sailed into Shanghai and up the Yangtze at the end of the war. Neat guy, still spry and alert, great to talk to.
Unfortunately, I was in my1912 Buick, not my Model T. So I guess this is an OT post.
Our family has been fortunate not to lose anyone.
My late Dad was in the next group to be drafted when WWI ended.
Oldest brother 3 years in Army: D-day+5; Battle of the Bulge, etc. 89 and doing fine.
Second brother: Bronze Star for heroism on the USS Franklin that almost sank. 20 years Navy. 88 and doing ok.
Third brother: Joined just after Korean War. 20 years Army, including 6 mo. Vietnam. 80 and ok.
Of our 17 uncles, several served, including a B-17 tailgunner.
I feel extra fortunate and I pause longer today when compared to guys like John Regan. This is the day to honor those who didn't return - and their families.
We veterans have our day in November.
Our local VFW Post does military honors at 3 local cemeteries beginning at sunrise. We then do the big city ceremony at 830, fire rifle volleys over the wreath laying in the river for the navy at 9 Am followed by a huge 2 hour parade at 930. Free beer sodas and hot dogs follow !
USMC 2000-2005 Operation Enduring Freedom. Picture is of my Nana and I on my graduation day from beautiful Parris Island.
. .and when I used to live in New Braunfels, TX our American Legion post placed flags on the graves of all veterans at first light on Memorial day. Then a Boy Scout bunch fairly ran through the cemetery that evening picking up the flags and returned them to the post. However, not all our deceased veterans received an American flag. Around a dozen Stars and Bars were also placed in the ground.