While taking some time out from the baseball games and parties, at least take a moment to remember those who have allowed us to enjoy this day with our families. Every Memorial Day, I look at the work of Matt Matthews and reflect. This always moves me.
Thanks for starting this thread. An appropriate time to reflect on those who gave their lives because they responded when their country called. I may not have always agreed with the conflict that our government sent them into- but by god, they went there and did their best and should be honored for their sacrifices.
Memorial Day is really not as much about those who have fallen... they are at peace. It is a way for the living to remember and reflect on those who are no longer with us, as well as to try and give those people comfort in knowing that their loss is shared by others.
Yes, I believe Memorial day has great meaning, and I am glad it has been selected primarily as a memorial for our fallen soldiers. However, it seems that very few people (including myself until just a few days ago) realized the TRUE origin of this holiday, and it is NOT our troops. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/...istory-forgot-The-Martyrs-of-the-Race-Course#
History of Arlington National Cemetary... Arlington National Cemetery, and the fight over Robert E. Lee's home May 25, 2014 ~ Union Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs detested Robert E. Lee, who had once been his friend and mentor, even his idol. Once Lee defected to the Confederate side, Meigs turned against him with a vengeance. Because of that dynamic, today we have Arlington National Cemetery. See also: The story of Sergeant Stubby, WWI's most decorated dog May 24, 2014 ~ On July 6, 1921, a curious gathering took place at the State, War, and Navy Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. The occasion was a ceremony honoring veterans of the 102nd Infantry of the American Expeditionary Forces' 26th "Yankee" Division, who had seen action in France during the Great War. The hall was packed with dozens of members of the 102nd field clerks, infantrymen, generals but one soldier in particular commanded the spotlight. The attention seemed to bother him; The New York Times reported that the soldier was "a trifle gun shy, and showed some symptoms of nervous excitement." When photographers snapped his picture, he flinched.
This guy didn't die but his sergeant he tried to save and got up on a medi-vac, died days later. He then went back to recover four of his men that died when they got no assistance that was requested during a fire fight in Afghanistan. Swenson is a true hero and deserves to be remembered. This all happened in 2009. Then the military said they "lost" Swenson's papers. They were finally 'found' last year along with this helmet cam. Swenson was finally awarded the Medal of Honor last year. [video=youtube;eVhu4OsfvOs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVhu4OsfvOs[/video]