Memorials

I haven't known anyone personally who has fought in a war, at least not for very long. But, I will never forget. My dad was in the military for 27 years, and that constant fear is also something I will never forget.

To all those who've given their lives.
To those who put themselves at risk every day.
To those who have served and continue to do so.

Thank you.

This seems like such a small thing, compared to what you have given. But know that I say thank you every single day of my life.
Every time I laugh.
Every time I see that magnificant flag.
Every time I hear someone complain about the state of this country.
Every time I look at my grandfather's face. And hear his stories.
I thank you for your sacrifices.

Every single breath that I breathe free.
I owe to you. It's something that is never far from my mind.

Thank you all so much.

i can't imagine what war is like ...and thank God i don't know but i say thank you to all those who have given the ultimate so that i don't know.....

my father served 23 yrs in the USMC .. when he was 16 he lied about his age, and joined... after being found out and sent home.. he rejoined again.. his service included several conflicts.. he recieved the purple heart, as well as having the privilage of standing guard for JFK before his election... and at his funeral.. he shook hands with many a great men... I remember his homecomming in 1969 very well.. while a great majority of the US did not welcome him with open arms.. we his children did.. his leaving the USMC was not easy for him... he left because my mother had an accident and was left wheelchair bound.. he came home to tend to his children.. pity was a man who served presidents was treated with distain... saddest part of all was after 23yrs of service.. he was killed in a car accident six months later ... My father may not officialy belong amoung those who died in conflict.. but he died way too young... and he died a Marine.. when I once ask him "daddy what is war like?" he very calmly stated, "war is not a thing little girls need to know" I am proud of the man my father was, proud of his service to his country.

To all our nations defenders,,thank you for my freedom.

Those of us who were born in the USA tend to take so many of our freedoms for granted.

But they were--and are continually being--bought at a very high price.

Thanks to all those who have, and do, serve this country.

it's all too easy for people of my generation (the 20 and 30 -somethings) to have no real understanding of what it's like for your nation to be at war. if you didn't know anyone who was personally in the Gulf War, it had virtually no effect on your life.

It's very humbling to remember that the world would be a much different place if it weren't for the brave efforts of the women and men of the armed forces, to appreciate those who serve now, and to honor the memory of those who've lost their lives.

Thank you.

As a veteran myself, I know a little about service, courage, honor and tradition. One of those traditions (known as "Colors" to sailors) is the raising and lowering of our Nation's Flag, at which time everyone comes to attention and salutes the flag, or stops their vehicles. May we all view our Ensign with honor and respect.
I'd like to share the following poem, which is an admonition to some, but is also a tribute to our fallen veterans. It was penned by an unknown author, yet the faded paper I'm copying it from has touched me and many others since I cut it out of a base paper as an E-3.

Somewhere a bugle softly sounds
The message of renown,
And men inside their buildings wait
Until the flag comes down.

And others run to get their cars
Quite harrowed or dismayed
Afraid they will not reach the gate
Before retreat is played.
Not thinking of the flag or men
Who fought to deep it flying.

How many would be glad to stand,
Whose bodies now are mute,
Or have no hand that they might raise
And stand in proud salute.

So accept it not as duty
But a privilege even more
And receive it as an honor
Instead of just a chore.

Peace and blessings to all.

I thank God for our freedom. I thank our brave men and women who fought so that we could have our freedoms. They left their family and friends not knowing what lay ahead. My father was one of those special people. He was also among the many who did not come back. He gave his life so that his unborn daughter and everyone in his family could have freedom. I thank you veterans. God bless you all.

As the parade passes by, and I stand and watch our magnificent men and women in uniform go by,carrying the flag of our great country, I will feel that lump in my throat and that ache in my heart and the tears in my eyes as I remember those who served and did not come home. My thoughts are with you and you are in my heart. Thank You!

in loving memory of my mom constance irving lassandro was in world war ll and served as a tec 5 it was common for my mom to speak with general eisonhower and general patton with communitions on a day to day basis my mom is and always be my best friend i will always remember that my mom had for children im truly blessed to have my mom in my life till we meet again god bless my mom and god bless america and the world that we live in

To the many Veterans who I know including my husband. And in memory of thoses soldiers who have given there lives, and the many soldiers that defend this country to day. I wish to say Thank you, Peace, and god bless you all.

I promise to never let my fellow Americans forget that their freedoms were paid for in blood and tears. I will never let them forget what our Flag means. It isn't just a piece of cloth, the flag of the United States of America is a little piece of each man who died and bled so we could stay free. Those colors mean something, blood and bruises and lives given so you could live in a nation where your voice counts.
Thank you for giving of yourselves.

Both of my grandfathers served in the military, one during WWII on a destroyer, the other in Korea in the infantry. Grandpa, Paw Paw, and all the others who fought for their country: I thank you.

Today my uncle is lying on his deathbed, weak, his body overridden with cancer. Every day, his lungs lose more and more capacity to breathe. This man is miles away and I am so sorry I cannot tell him to his face, "Thank you".

This man was a Marine who fought in Korea. He was hit in both legs by shrapnel and somehow instilled the fear of God into two enemy soldiers and forced them to carry him to safety.

He's not my hero just because of his bravery or that he was awarded a Purple Heart (I didn't even know he had one until I was a teenager. It was never on display and he never spoke of Korea). It is because he was among millions before and after him, who gave life and valor to uphold our Constituion, our Flag, our God-given rights and freedom.

It is also because he stepped up to plate and cared for his grandchildren when their mother couldn't. He was the kind of father God wants all men to be and so many are unwilling or unable to be.

He had a stern way about him, very initmidating, but his smile and laugh was infectious and sunshine. As I write this, instead of being sorrowful that I can't physically be there, I remember him at this moment with pride, gratitude and happiness.

Thank you, Tio Lupe, God bless you.

And to the Veterans out there who think, does anyone care, do people realize what we went through...We civilians have the luxury of not knowing personally the hells you each endured. However, I pray for all of you every day and thank God for you, for the sacrifices you made (and continue to life with) so that I could be born on this land of Liberty, where the only fear I have is fear of God. Thank you. God bless all of you.

To my cousin, my inspiration, my hero, Eddie Mello. I sit here tonight, half a world away from where you fell, only a little older than me. I sit here, two hours away from where your name is inscribed upon a wall that is our nation's conscious. It is a black mirror in which we see the flower of our youth staring back at us, boys who never had the chance to become men, only heroes. The suffering of these heroes bought a great prize--our freedom. My dear Eddie, there is rarely a day that goes by that I do not think of you, do not see you staring out of my mirror, through my eyes, through the cousin you never knew. The daughter of your best pal, and your spitting image. I wish I could tell you how much what you did for your men and for America means to me, but I can only pray that you know, and you smile when I think of you. Peace to you, my cousin, and love always.

To Dr. Martin Luther King, and all others who gave their lives to end all wars.

It was years after I left Vietnam that I learned of your deaths. I promised each of you that we would go home together or not at all. I'll never forget the four of you. Not a day goes by that your not in my thoughts. Until we meet once again....

..."freedom has a taste to those who fight that the protected will never know. I've studied politics and war that my sons might study philosophy and mathematics. (Viet Nam vet and John Adams/President's quote.
God grant us the wisdom to know the right and the courage to walk in it.
SFC Randy Goo, Transportation Corp.; United States Army - Europe

This is in honor of David Jerome Geiser, better known as Jerry. He was my dad's best friend since the age of 5 & died at the age of 20 in a battle on the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Although I was born 10 years after Jerry's death, he has been an important part of my life, thanks to my dad & other family members who keep his memory alive. Thank you, Jerry; may you rest in peace.

To all my buddies in 47th Medsom BN that served with me in the Persian Gulf War: I will never forget any of you for being so brave and inspiring me when I missed family and home. I could not have survived without any of you. Although we have moved on, those memories will be with me always. All of us served our country proud and let us not forget those who did not come home with us. Loving memories, SPC WOODS

I was to young to remember the war but i can under stand the fact of the loss of a buddie be cause i have lost many. And all i can say to the men that lost their lives over there is thank you for giveing so much so that we may enjoy the freedom we have today.And to those who lost your best freinds over there you have my deepest sympathy for i know that is a void that you can never fill but take comfort in the fact that you will see them again one day in Glory. thank you again to all the ones who lost their lives and to the ones who didn't for i know you gave and lost so much.
Russell W Massie

REMEMBERING RICHARD MILANE,
WHOM I NEVER KNEW,BUT WILL NEVER FORGET!
ED MAcALVANE REMEMBERED IN LOVE, AND BRAVERY,AND FOR SAVING ALL LIVING THINGS WHERE EVER HE WENT.
NEVR FORGETTING YOU..AF