Memorial Day......

[ScoopJohnD]

Lest we forget, today is the day (actually every day should be the day) we give to remembering all those men and women who served, sacrificed and continue to do the same so that we can enjoy life.

You may question the leaders who send them off, or reasons they get sent off, but you can't question the commitment, sacrifice and courage of those who serve.

Here is a blog from one. He writes that he is not trying make a political statement and requests that it not be turned into something it's not. Please respect those wishes.

http://www.badgerjake.blogspot.com/

Prayers to all who serve and their families.

[Amy Winette]

YYR Scoop.

God bless them and all of their families :)

[Lester_leaps_in]

Ya gotta know that I appreciate your posting, Scooper. My war was Vietnam, which was even more thankless than the current one. Many people don't realize how very important not being forgotten is to those who serve.

Thanks.

[tangledupinblue]

I raise my glass to all who serve and have served. My Marine is working today.....keeping everyone safe in the skies!
I raise an extra glass for him.....as I take his beer out of the fridge! :)
My brother was in Vietnam, Father in WWII and Grandpa in WWI.

Love and prayers to all of you who serve!

[Amy Winette]

Gramps was WWII, Dad was Vietnam, Air Force

[ScoopJohnD]

My dad was a Marine in the Pacific in WW II.

On the Nightly News on NBC tonight they had a story about this man. In the story he was asked what happened when he returned from WW I.

"Nobody asked me where I was, nobody asked me what I'd seen and something about that didn't seem right."

He is SO right.

Last man standing

Posted by Andy Gross, NBC News Producer, Washington (11:38 am ET, 05/28/07)

When you are with 106-year-old Frank Buckles, you are in the presence of the 20th century. You are also sitting with the last remaining veteran of World War I who served overseas. It is this fact that afforded me the opportunity to spend a day with Buckles on his postcard perfect farm in West Virginia while preparing tonight's story with correspondent Bob Faw for this Memorial Day edition* of Nightly News. When asked if he ever thought that he'd be the last survivor among the 4 million men who fought in the Great War for the United States, he just chuckles and shakes his head. You get that a lot from Frank; bemused grace from a life that touched on many of the seminal moments of the last century. You see it all just sitting with him in his memorabilia-crammed study. Here are just some of his historical highlights: Watched Jesse Owens run and saw Adolf Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, was a POW of the Japanese for 39 months in WWII in the notorious Los Banos internment camp; and was rescued in a daring raid by the 11th Airborne Division. "I didn't ask for all of it, it just happened that way," Frank says of his remarkable life.

Born on his father's farm in Missouri in 1901 during the presidency of William McKinley, young Frank had a thirst for history. He was particularly interested in the exploits of Gen. John Joseph Pershing and tales from the Spanish-American War. When the war in Europe broke out, Buckles scoured the newspapers, trying to follow the action thousands of miles away. Lying about his age, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at 15. "If anybody asked how old I was, I told them it wasn't any of their damn business," he laughed. Desperate to get overseas before the fighting ended, Buckles signed up for duty with the ambulance corps, a branch that was short of men. He sailed for Europe in 1917 aboard the RMS Caparthia, a ship that earned fame five years earlier when it answered the distress calls of the Titanic and sailed full-steam through the night to rescue the stunned survivors.

Buckles remained in England for the next several months, only making it to France once the war was winding down. Later, when he had returned stateside, he had the chance to meet and chat with his boyhood hero and wartime commander, Pershing. The general, a known stickler for military appearance, noticed that Buckles was holding gloves in his hand. "What the hell was that corporal carrying gloves for in his hand? That is only reserved for the cavalry," said Pershing. But did Buckles apologize? "No," he laughs, his eyes twinkling at the long-ago memory of standing up to his hero.

Buckles is in fine shape for being one of the few remaining McKinley-era babies. He credits it to exercise and hard work.* Pointing out a giant charcoal-colored leather medicine ball sitting on the top shelf in his study, Buckles told me, "I got that in Germany in 1932. They don't make them like that anymore!"

No sir, they sure don't, and they don't make them like Frank Buckles anymore either.

[grisgris]

Thanks to all the vets past, present & future. Thank yall for a job well done.

[bluesmama]

love to all you vets & all family members of vets
the war in Iraq really hit us hard this year, the son of our former choir director was killed
he leaves behind a son only a few months old


God bless you each & everyone

[Zydekitten]

I'll gladly raise a glass and my thanks for those who serve - I wish you weren't there, but am grateful for the service.

My Granddad was in WWII (Navy - South Pacific), Dad in the Army (learning Russian to listen to the Soviets in the 60's) and Uncle in the Air Force, as well as a Great-Uncle, who was a an Air Force General helping rebuild in Europe with the Marshall Plan.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o67/Zydekitten/Holiday20Punch.jpg

[ibjamn]

I saw that interview with Mr. Buckles - amazing.

My dad joined the army as a skinny 16 y/o elemnetary school drop-out, served in WWII, Korea, received an education and retired full Colonel.

[ScoopJohnD]

I saw that interview with Mr. Buckles - amazing.

My dad joined the army as a skinny 16 y/o elemnetary school drop-out, served in WWII, Korea, received an education and retired full Colonel.

The best part of that interview was seeing his reaction to the letters schoolkids sent him.........and knowing that schookids were sending him letters. History should never be forgotten.

[ibjamn]

There was some great coverage on our local news of our WWII museum and the vets who volunteer there. How much they love talking to the kids...

[ScoopJohnD]

There was some great coverage on our local news of our WWII museum and the vets who volunteer there. How much they love talking to the kids...

I HAVE to visit that museum. That stuff facinates me. Any type of history. Not so much the big picture aspect, but the individual stories, that's what resonates with me, no matter the subject.

And bless those who take the time to impart what they experienced and those who listen.

[Papins]

Ya gotta know that I appreciate your posting, Scoooper. My war was Vietnam, which was even more thankless than the current one. Many people don't realize how very important not being forgotten is to those who serve.

Thanks.
Welcome home. Some of the guys I ride with are Viet Vets. The way this country treated you upon your return home was an obscenity. Thank you for your service to our country. May we as a nation never treat Vets the way Korean and Viet Vets were treated.

[NeenAtlanta]

One of the women that I manage at work, is over in Iraq right now. She joined the army after 9/11 (her best friend was on one of the Boston flights). She came back to work after her tour was over.

Then she got called back up for a 2nd tour. This girl is one of those angels-on-earth people. She is always upbeat and smiling and singing. She charmed everyone at work. In fact, during basic she got in trouble a lot for smiling and singing at first.

I am so in awe of her and what she is doing. The same with any person who goes to war.

Anyway, I was thinking of her today and thought I'd share a couple of recent photos she sent. I think it shows the two-sides of Lynn very well.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/NeenAtlanta/100_0047a.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/NeenAtlanta/100_0130b.jpg

[ScoopJohnD]

Thanks Neen, that's what it's all about. Faces like that doing the work knowing full well what's involved........and doing it anyway.

[mightyradgumbo]

Little late to chime in, but as a former Marine I would be remiss to thank all the Vets before me and all after me for their service. It is definitely a day to put what political beliefs you have and remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

[rosetree]

Little late to chime in, but as a former Marine I would be remiss to thank all the Vets before me and all after me for their service. It is definitely a day to put what political beliefs you have and remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for this country.

mrg: It would be remiss of ME to not thank you and Lester and all of those who served to uphold and protect the basic principles set forth by our forefathers. Vets deserve much more than what we have given them the last 60 or so years. Thank you.....

[TheGuzilla]

yep... Like many of you, have family who served, friends currently serving, and a whole heartload of gratitude for their doing so to protect our ability to do things like attend Jazz Fest.

so a deep & hearty thank you.

It's currently Fleet Week here in NYC and during this time you'll see a lot of military walking around. over the last few years, my wife & I have sort of developed a little tradition of our own. feel free to adopt...

if we're out at a restaurant or a bar and see some of these men & women, we'll ask the waiter or waitress to send them a round or two and put it on our tab. But NOT TO tell them who did it. just tell them whoever it was wishes to remain anonymous, but just to tell them "Thanks."

let 'em think the whole bar was grateful. as they should be...

Thanks again to all of our veterans... those that are still with us, and those we've lost. not forgotten indeed...

[festbabe]

Cheers to all vets and active personnel. As previously stated, no matter your opinion, support the individual men & women on the front lines. My step son is in Navy out in the big blue ocean right now (at an "undisclosed location"). His wife just had their baby girl last night in Houston (where we are hanging out currently). He got to talk to her last night via satellite phone.

I'll try to attach pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/519879149/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/51987http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/519879149/9149/

[festbabe]

if we're out at a restaurant or a bar and see some of these men & women, we'll ask the waiter or waitress to send them a round or two and put it on our tab. But NOT TO tell them who did it. just tell them whoever it was wishes to remain anonymous, but just to tell them "Thanks."

let 'em think the whole bar was grateful. as they should be...

Thanks again to all of our veterans... those that are still with us, and those we've lost. not forgotten indeed...

Great idea - I'll put it to practice. :)

[ozzie]

Cheers to all vets and active personnel. As previously stated, no matter your opinion, support the individual men & women on the front lines. My step son is in Navy out in the big blue ocean right now (at an "undisclosed location"). His wife just had their baby girl last night in Houston (where we are hanging out currently). He got to talk to her last night via satellite phone.

I'll try to attach pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/519879149/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/51987http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmccamey/519879149/9149/

Beautiful pic! SO pleased our service men and women can communicate with loved ones these days.

In loving memory of 'Doc' Younger. WW11. A rascal of a barber who found himself in the role of medic.

[mangoon]

It was Fleet Week here in NYC so there were a many members of the Armed Forces in the bars this weekend. On 3 seperate occasions Saturday we asked a bartender to send a round over to some Servicemen and Servicewomen and were told to get on line because they were already backed up with three or four rounds. People were getting up in the bars as soon as these fine people came in and giving up their chairs.
This was so great to see because it was people from both ends of the political spectrum who were doing this. Politics were clearly not an issue. Respect, admiration, support and thanks were. I'm repeating myself but it was a really great ,heartwarming thing to see.

[Zydekitten]

Yeah, the Pacific Fleet Week out here in S.F. is in October (when we're having Indian Summer there) and even though S.F. is a very liberal/left town politically - we're always happy to see the servicepeople come and visit and they're treated with respect and honor.

Especially in the Castro [KIDDING!] ;)

[KeyWest Bruce]

LOL Zydekitten! I used to live in San Francisco for many years....and near the Castro for most of them....and I always looked forward to Fleet Week.;) Not too many of them made it up that way (some did)...but sailors were everywhere and it was great to have them. I toured ships on different occasions.

[pokerchick66]

What a wonderful blog, Scoop! Thank you so much for posting. God bless our troops and veterans.

[ScoopJohnD]

What a wonderful blog, Scoop! Thank you so much for posting. God bless our troops and veterans.

Glad you liked it. A columnist in the the paper up here wrote about it. Unfortunately he couldn't respect the soldiers wishes about turning it into something it's not, but when I read the actual blog it was wonderful. Just a normal guy trying to make his way through and in the process of telling his thoughts educating us about what it's like.

You should e mail him and tell him how much you like it!!

[pokerchick66]

Glad you liked it. A columnist in the the paper up here wrote about it. Unfortunately he couldn't respect the soldiers wishes about turning it into something it's not, but when I read the actual blog it was wonderful. Just a normal guy trying to make his way through and in the process of telling his thoughts educating us about what it's like.

You should e mail him and tell him how much you like it!!

Good idea.

[bluedog]

Thank you to all of our veterans and active troops and their families & friends ... for your courage, strength & sacrifices. God Bless you all!