Memorial Day

[Rapier]

To the guys and gals standing on the wall, those that have and to the ones that can no longer

FREEDOM AIN'T FREE SOMEONE PAYS

[Dan Morris]

Well spoken sir!
Dan

[Aim to maim]

Thanks for the much-needed reminder. I hope you don't mind if I add just a little to your fine post. Below is the text of an email message I sent out to my friends who understand your point about freedom not being free:

"Many of you who are receiving this have been touched at some point in your lives by the loss of one who served this Nation in uniform. Some died in that uniform, others lived long and productive lives after their service was done.

I suggest you take a moment over the upcoming three-day weekend to remember those who have gone from us, not to mourn their passing, but to be thankful for their service and for the good fortune to have known them. If the opportunity presents itself, let those still among us know that we appreciate them as well. To you who are currently serving or have served, young and not so young, I extend my gratitude now.

My best wishes to all for a safe, enjoyable and meaningful Memorial Day."

...They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them....

...As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon

[Rocky Raab]

I'll add some lines as well. I just heard this on the Glenn Beck radio show, and had never heard it before. Trace Adkins performed it in 2006 for Memorial Day.

Read this now, and again on Monday, will you?

Courtesy of Trace Adkins.

I never thought that this is where I'd settle down.
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown.
They gave me this plot of land,
Me and some other men, for a job well done.

There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road.
The man inside, he cried the day they brought me home.
They folded up a flag and told my Mom and Dad:
"We're proud of your son."

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

I remember Daddy brought me here when I was eight.
We searched all day to find out where my grand-dad lay.
And when we finally found that cross,
He said: "Son, this is what it cost to keep us free."

Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him.
He recognized me on the first day I came in.
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels,
And saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done.
We can rest in peace;
'Cause we are the chosen ones:
We made it to Arlington.

Yeah, dust to dust,
Don't cry for us:
We made it to Arlington.

[BILLY D.]

All

The first time I heard that song, it grabbed me by the throat and I cried.

Just brought back a flood of memories.

Another gut wrencher is "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus. I call into our local radio station on the special holidays and request these be played.

I don't wallow in pity but I like to see the subjects of the songs honored and remembered.

To all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, you will never be forgotten, not as long as this old curmudgeon is still kicking.

My undying gratitude

Bill

[Rocky Raab]

BTW, you can hear that song at this link>

Arlington

[Dan Morris]

Went over to Ft Logan early this morning, visited a couple of friends and watched Boy Scouts placing flags on all the sites.....
just had some silent memories!!!!Sure was quiet at that hour.
Dan

[Rocky Raab]

BTW, for all you military guys, there's a place to make an incredibly cool, personalized "signature" logo. It's at militarysignatures.com

Here's mine:

[fabsroman]

Rocky,

I've heard that Trace Adkins song a bunch of times. It is a great, but sad song. My wife loves country and loves that song. Me, I have some serious trouble listening to country because it literally makes me cry, but that is a good thing. Thankfully, it is one of the most popular music genres in the US. It is also one of the only types of music that I am willing to listen to that my daughter can actually listen to without me having to worry about what she is learning.

To everybody that contributed to this thread, thank you, and this is coming from a non-military guy. Most of all, thanks to all those who have sacrificed to keep this country free.

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by fabsroman
Rocky,

I've heard that Trace Adkins song a bunch of times. It is a great, but sad song. My wife loves country and loves that song. Me, I have some serious trouble listening to country because it literally makes me cry, but that is a good thing. Thankfully, it is one of the most popular music genres in the US. It is also one of the only types of music that I am willing to listen to that my daughter can actually listen to without me having to worry about what she is learning.

To everybody that contributed to this thread, thank you, and this is coming from a non-military guy. Most of all, thanks to all those who have sacrificed to keep this country free.

Fabs

Back in the days of yore most of what precluded "country Music" were Irish, Scot and British melodies.

These people were mainly in the Southern States and held true to their former customs in the countries where they emigrated from even though they assimilated into the American way of life.

Back when I was young a lot of country music was featured on the "Pop Charts" of the day. They were called cross over hits. One of my favorite singers of the time and who made a living making these type records was Connie Francis. She was fluent in seven different languages and knock down drag out dead gorgeous. Shes also Italian if that interests you.

I am a study in contradictions. My first love was classical music, country and then at the time what was called progressive jazz. Eckstine, Kenton Brubeck and their ilk.

I really became a "Country" fan in the sixties because I could not, would not and still not stand the Beatles and such groups. Their music made the hair on my arms stand up.

I loved the pop music from the War years through the early 60's. It's still my favorite and I still listen to it. Thanx to re-recordings and CD's I still can. Even Limewire comes through every once in awhile.

But mainly may radio stays tuned to a country station.

Best wishes, Bill

[fabsroman]

Bill,

If the Beatles made your hair stand up, you should listen to stuff like 50 Cent, 2 Pac, Biggie Small, Eminem, and the other rappers out there. They would make you throw up.

[Aim to maim]

As long as we're on the subject of country music and the meaning of Memorial Day, may I offer one more?

I'm Already Home

- Tim McGraw

You're reading this, my mama's sittin there
Look's like I only got a one way ticket over here
I sure wish I could give you one more kiss
War was just a game we played when we were kids
Well I'm layin down my gun and hanging up my boots
I'm up here with God and we're both watching over you

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my mama always prayed that it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home

If you're reading this halfway around the world
I won't be there to see the birth of our little girl
I hope she looks like you
I hope she fights like me
And stands up for the innocent and the weak
I'm layin down my gun and hanging up my boots
Tell dad I don't regret that I followed in his shoes

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my mama always prayed that it would go
And if you're reading this
I'm already home

If you're reading this, there's gonna come a day
When you'll move on and find someone else, and that's ok
Just remember this
I'm in a better place
Where soldiers live in peace and angels sing Amazing Grace

So lay me down
In that open field out on the edge of town
And know my soul
Is where my mama always prayed that it would go
And if you're reading this

If you're reading this...
I'm already home

[Rocky Raab]

Some of us wear little ribbons; the real heroes are draped with a whole flag.

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Some of us wear little ribbons; the real heroes are draped with a whole flag.

Outstanding and well spoken. They will not be forgotten.

Bill

[grayghost]

A salute to them all....