Memorial Day Thoughts....

[ilovhywd]

As I'm sitting here reading everyone's comments and sharing their anticipation of future cruises, I'm also watching some of the memorial services on TV and realizing how fortunate most of us are to live in the countries we live in and to have the means to take our families on beautiful vacations.

 

So I'd like to express some of my thoughts....

 

To anyone who has a child or relative serving overseas, may they return safely and soon!

 

To anyone who had a relative serve in WW II - thanks to them for liberating Europe.

 

And to anyone who has lost a family member, our sincere sympathy and great appreciation for their service to our country.

 

* * *

Question for Britsbest? Does England have a similar memorial day? When is it?

[mtaylor04]

I concur with you ilovhywd. I think that sometimes we only see this as a three day holiday and not what it really represents.

 

God Bless those who protect us day in and day out.:)

 

I pray that God will grant peace to those who have lost loved ones in their efforts to protect us.

 

Mary

[CAPinBoynton]

Thanks ilovhywd for the post. In addition to the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, past and present, I'd also like to thank the spouses and children who also gave up so much so we can be free.

 

My son chose the Army as his career, and he recently returned from 12 month's duty in Baghdad, Iraq. As a thank you to his wife, they will be leaving on their very first cruise next week. I can't think of a better present than a nice, relaxing getaway on a ship.

[NitaBcruising]

Thanks for this thread! :)

 

I have something we do every Memorial Day. When we go to the cemetaries to clean up around the graves and put flowers out, we also clean up an extra grave or more, and put a flower, usually on a veteran's. Makes us feel better! Just our Random Act of Kindness every year! We noticed this year again, how overgrown the older sections get, some graves completely overgrown!

 

We also take out DDs and grandkids, so hope they'll go in the future, as most of the people we see at the cemetaries are older than us!

[LL-UK]

Our equivalent is Remembrance Day - 11 November. It is on this day as it was the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11 month that the armistice was signed at the end of WW1. It is a day though to remember all those from all wars.

 

Poppies are worn as a symbol of remembrance and respect. Services usually take place on the Sunday nearest 11 November.

 

I have a son-in-law who is in the USAF so we remember each other's day.

[SuzyQ75]

With both my DH and I having served in the Marine Corps, we teach our children about the holiday and why we have it...not just for the day off from school. We try to instill in our children a 'patriotic duty' so to speak. We are so lucky to live in this country and we don't want them to forget it or the ones who have gone before us and given their life for what we have today.

[CAPinBoynton]

LL-UK,

 

In the U.S., November 11 is called Veterans Day and is in honor of all veterans of all wars. Here in the U.S., it is also a day of poppies.:)

[yancycruiser]

Thanks for the posts. My heart goes out to all those families who have lost loved ones in the service of their country. And to all those who are currently in harm's way.

[LL-UK]

Looks like I've got a bit confused here - sorry. In that case, we don't have an equivalent to Memorial Day.

 

Lyn

 

ps Just been looking at your photos of Bergen and Gerainger. I was there last year on Aurora. Great photos. I'm off to look at some more.

[ilovhywd]

As you enter the American Cemetery at the landing beaches (1944) in northern France, this poem is on a marble column:

 

"Look how many of them there were

 

Look how young they were

 

They died for your freedom

 

Hold back your tears and keep silent."

 

Walking through the rows and rows of crosses and stars of David was when the impact of WW II first hit me. Since I was born after the war, it was not real to me until my first visit to the landing beaches.

[Coolmama_1]

Every year in church, we read a list of members who have served our country. We honor those among us and remember those who have passed on.

 

Since our church is in the South and is 150yrs old, we have past members who were in the Confederate Army. They were all so young.

 

Today is a day to be thankful for our freedom. God Bless those who have serverd our country.

[jhannah]

I join in offering a heart-felt thanks ... to those who have gone before and to those who serve today, in both military and civilian roles, so we may continue to enjoy our freedoms.

[Cruisewoman79]

As I'm sitting here reading everyone's comments and sharing their anticipation of future cruises, I'm also watching some of the memorial services on TV and realizing how fortunate most of us are to live in the countries we live in and to have the means to take our families on beautiful vacations.

So I'd like to express some of my thoughts....

To anyone who has a child or relative serving overseas, may they return safely and soon!

To anyone who had a relative serve in WW II - thanks to them for liberating Europe.

And to anyone who has lost a family member, our sincere sympathy and great appreciation for their service to our country.

* * *

Question for Britsbest? Does England have a similar memorial day? When is it?

What a great thread for today. Odd that I am on, but I have to share. My Dad was only 17 in WWII and in 3 weeks he is going with me, my dh, and 2 of my sisters on the Golden 10 day Europe. One of the highlights will be the Normandy DDay beaches. Very special time.

I honor all those who served and those who are currently in Iraq.

[dec]

The Primary 7 pupils in my school (age 11) won a competition recently. They designed a website about WW2. The prize was a trip to Normandy to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day - (V E Day). The children visited Omaha, Juno and Sword beaches where the American, Canadian and British troops landed on D Day. They also visited American, Canadian and British war graves. Adults and children alike found this to be an unforgetable and very moving experience.

If anyone would like to visit the website then just follow the link below.

 

www.stjosephswarproject.ik.org

[98Charlie]

An American Soldier's Creed

 

``I am an American soldier. I proudly serve my country in a noble cause.

 

I am prepared to keep our nation free. I will keep myself fit to perform my duty and can be trusted to do my best.

 

Other soldiers can depend on me, and I will follow my leaders faithfully.

 

In battle, I will never falter.

 

Brave soldiers of the past would be proud of me.

 

I am an American soldier.''

 

 

I watched and listened as my son recited those words more than four years ago during his basic training graduation ceremony at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Since that date, he has been to the DMZ in Korea and on into the heated Sadr City battles of Baghdad as a member of the Army's 1st Cavalry.

 

Through all of his army missions, the phrase, ``Brave soldiers of the past. . .'' has kept him to his pledge that ``other soldiers can depend on me.'' As he serves his country, he has some brave soldiers of the past as guardian angels - 3 grandfathers (2 army, 1 navy) WWII; a great-great uncle (chaplain, WWI); great-uncles, (Korea) and many relatives from wars before who are all deceased.

 

 

May we always remember and never forget those brave men and women who have given of their lives to give us the freedom to honor their deeds, mourn their deaths and fly the American Flag daily from our homes, government offices and over our National Capital every day.

 

Dianne

[DannyMac]

Thanks to all who served. To my two buddies who died in VN, you are still with me. To my father (USN) thanks for 21 great years, I will carry what you taught me forever.

[yancycruiser]

The Primary 7 pupils in my school (age 11) won a competition recently. They designed a website about WW2. The prize was a trip to Normandy to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day - (V E Day). The children visited Omaha, Juno and Sword beaches where the American, Canadian and British troops landed on D Day. They also visited American, Canadian and British war graves. Adults and children alike found this to be an unforgetable and very moving experience.

If anyone would like to visit the website then just follow the link below.

 

www.stjosephswarproject.ik.org

 

Thanks for posting this link. Great job regardless of the age of the student who created the web. But the fact it was done by an 11 year old is wonderful. I sent the link to my father-in-law was in the war at that time. I know he will enjoy it.

[ilovhywd]

I enjoyed reading everyone's personal contributions to this thread. Thanks, everyone, for keeping it going.

 

To dec in Scotland: We visited Scotland on a non-cruise driving trip in June 2002. It was our first trip after 9/11. Nearly every Scottish person we chatted with at our hotels thanked us profusely for visiting Scotland. They knew how apprehensive most Americans were about traveling at that time. We never felt so welcome anywhere on our travels!

[dec]

I'm so pleased that you enjoyed your visit to Scotland ilovhywd. You will always be given a warm welcome wherever you go in Scotland. Haste ye back ....

[amyr]

Here is my story for this Memorial Day. I work as a flight attendant, and on Sunday in Philadelphia, I happened to glance down at the ramp area before passenger boarding began and saw an Army Ranger in full dress saluting our forward cargo bin. He had been there for a long time already, and I watched while he slowly lowered his hand as they closed the cargo door.

 

We hastily rearranged the seating onboard so the escort could have the forward most seat in first class, and made sure he was the first off in Atlanta to go back down to the ramp to oversee the transfer of his friend to their connecting flight. They didn't open the cargo door until the he was in place in full salute again.

 

I've had human remains on my flights many, many times over the years, but this one really got me. We were all in tears as we thought about that poor boy's family and the Memorial Day service they would be having this year in his home town.

[Dreamer333]

Here is my story for this Memorial Day. I work as a flight attendant, and on Sunday in Philadelphia, I happened to glance down at the ramp area before passenger boarding began and saw an Army Ranger in full dress saluting our forward cargo bin. He had been there for a long time already, and I watched while he slowly lowered his hand as they closed the cargo door.

 

Wow, your story just brought tears to my eyes.

Thanks for sharing!

[ilovhywd]

Wow! What a story. You'll remember that experience for a long time.

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Love Cruis'n]

Tears in these eyes as well.

And thanks to ilovhywd for the original post and thread.