Let us not forget

[DenverChief]

Today while we BBQ in our backyards and drink our favorite adult beverages while chatting with good friends and family that it was all made possible by those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms -- let us also not forget those that have served and come home to be our neighbors and those that cannot be at home because they are protecting our freedoms abroad -- thank you my fellow veterans for all you have done and a very special thank you to the families that have lost sons/daughters/brothers/sisters/mothers and fathers for your sacrifice is much appreciated by a grateful nation --Happy Memorial Day Everyone

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Amen brother!

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Today while we BBQ in our backyards and drink our favorite adult beverages while chatting with good friends and family that it was all made possible by those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms -- let us also not forget those that have served and come home to be our neighbors and those that cannot be at home because they are protecting our freedoms abroad -- thank you my fellow veterans for all you have done and a very special thank you to the families that have lost sons/daughters/brothers/sisters/mothers and fathers for your sacrifice is much appreciated by a grateful nation --Happy Memorial Day Everyone

Remember our policemen and fire fighters who died in the line of duty as well.

[patteeu]

Hear! Hear!

[mikey23545]

Ditto.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Heading to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (pictured) here in an hour or so to visit the gravesite of my Grandfather, who was a Naval Officer during the Korean War.

When I was 9, he taught me how to play golf, and some of my fondest memories of childhood are of being with him on the golf course.

So every Memorial Day, I head to the cemetery, and tee up a golf ball in front of his headstone.

Here's to the others who have served this country so proudly.

Happy Memorial Day to all.

[Bugeater]

Thank you to all that have served, past present and future. If not for the sacrifices you have made the rest of us would not have the freedom to act like complete douchebags. God bless America!

[big nasty kcnut]

Happy memorial day to my granddads and my dad if i didn't have this cerebal palsy i would of joined up. One of my heros is dwight eisenhower. So thanks for serving and god bless.

[DJ_is_the_realdeal]

God bless are soldiers. Without you there would be no America. Keep on the strong fight. Stay safe and may God be with you and your family.

[stumppy]

Thank you to all of the men and women who protect our way of life.

A special thanks to my Father, a WW2 and Korean War vet. RIP
And my Stepfather, a WW2 vet. RIP

[Smed1065]

Thank you all for serving!

[Adept Havelock]

Thank you to all who wear the uniform of this Nation, past and present.


THE 'EATHEN by Rudyard Kipling

The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone;
'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own;
'E keeps 'is side-arms awful: 'e leaves 'em all about,
An' then comes up the regiment an' pokes the 'eathen out.

All along o' dirtiness, all along o' mess,
All along o' doin' things rather-more-or-less,
All along of abby-nay, kul, an' hazar-ho, *
Mind you keep your rifle an' yourself jus' so!

* abby-nay: Not now. kul: To-morrow. hazar-ho: Wait a bit.

The young recruit is 'aughty -- 'e draf's from Gawd knows where;
They bid 'im show 'is stockin's an' lay 'is mattress square;
'E calls it bloomin' nonsense -- 'e doesn't know no more --
An' then up comes 'is Company an' kicks 'im round the floor!

The young recruit is 'ammered -- 'e takes it very 'ard;
'E 'angs 'is 'ead an' mutters -- 'e sulks about the yard;
'E talks o' "cruel tyrants" 'e'll swing for by-an'-by,
An' the others 'ears an' mocks 'im, an' the boy goes orf to cry.

The young recruit is silly -- 'e thinks o' suicide;
'E's lost 'is gutter-devil; 'e 'asn't got 'is pride;
But day by day they kicks 'im, which 'elps 'im on a bit,
Till 'e finds 'isself one mornin' with a full an' proper kit.

Gettin' clear o' dirtiness, gettin' done with mess,
Gettin' shut o' doin' things rather-more-or-less;
Not so fond of abby-nay, kul, nor hazar-ho,
Learns to keep 'is rifle an' 'isself jus' so!

The young recruit is 'appy -- 'e throws a chest to suit;
You see 'im grow mustaches; you 'ear 'im slap 'is boot;
'E learns to drop the "bloodies" from every word 'e slings,
An' 'e shows an 'ealthy brisket when 'e strips for bars an' rings.

The cruel-tyrant-sergeants they watch 'im 'arf a year;
They watch 'im with 'is comrades, they watch 'im with 'is beer;
They watch 'im with the women at the regimental dance,
And the cruel-tyrant-sergeants send 'is name along for "Lance".

An' now 'e's 'arf o' nothin', an' all a private yet,
'Is room they up an' rags 'im to see what they will get;
They rags 'im low an' cunnin', each dirty trick they can,
But 'e learns to sweat 'is temper an' 'e learns to sweat 'is man.

An', last, a Colour-Sergeant, as such to be obeyed,
'E schools 'is men at cricket, 'e tells 'em on parade;
They sees 'em quick an' 'andy, uncommon set an' smart,
An' so 'e talks to orficers which 'ave the Core at 'eart.

'E learns to do 'is watchin' without it showin' plain;
'E learns to save a dummy, an' shove 'im straight again;
'E learns to check a ranker that's buyin' leave to shirk;
An' 'e learns to make men like 'im so they'll learn to like their work.

An' when it comes to marchin' he'll see their socks are right,
An' when it comes to action 'e shows 'em 'ow to sight;
'E knows their ways of thinkin' and just what's in their mind;
'E knows when they are takin' on an' when they've fell be'ind.

'E knows each talkin' corpril that leads a squad astray;
'E feels 'is innards 'eavin', 'is bowels givin' way;
'E sees the blue-white faces all tryin' 'ard to grin,
An' 'e stands an' waits an' suffers till it's time to cap 'em in.

An' now the hugly bullets come peckin' through the dust,
An' no one wants to face 'em, but every beggar must;
So, like a man in irons which isn't glad to go,
They moves 'em off by companies uncommon stiff an' slow.

Of all 'is five years' schoolin' they don't remember much
Excep' the not retreatin', the step an' keepin' touch.
It looks like teachin' wasted when they duck an' spread an' 'op,
But if 'e 'adn't learned 'em they'd be all about the shop!

An' now it's "'Oo goes backward?" an' now it's "'Oo comes on?"
And now it's "Get the doolies," an' now the captain's gone;
An' now it's bloody murder, but all the while they 'ear
'Is voice, the same as barrick drill, a-shepherdin' the rear.

'E's just as sick as they are, 'is 'eart is like to split,
But 'e works 'em, works 'em, works 'em till he feels 'em take the bit;
The rest is 'oldin' steady till the watchful bugles play,
An' 'e lifts 'em, lifts 'em, lifts 'em through the charge that wins the day!

The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone;
'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own;
The 'eathen in 'is blindness must end where 'e began,
But the backbone of the Army is the non-commissioned man!

Keep away from dirtiness -- keep away from mess.
Don't get into doin' things rather-more-or-less!
Let's ha' done with abby-nay, kul, an' hazar-ho;
Mind you keep your rifle an' yourself jus' so!

[JohninGpt]

Thanks fellow Vets, and those still serving.

[WilliamTheIrish]

I gotta tell ya, those stills of parents, wives, children at these funerals just cuts right through me.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

I gotta tell ya, those stills of parents, wives, children at these funerals just cuts right through me.

Me too.

And today, while most of us are BBQing and enjoying a cold adult beverage, there are families getting that unthinkable knock on the door by someone in a military uniform...