To all our American friends hope the weather cooperates for your Memorial Day plans and we salute your veterans both living and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

The weather isn't great but tomorrow will be better.

Thanks to all who served and to those who gave that ultimate sacrifice.

This afternoon Rick and I stopped by my father's grave site. He was a WWII veteran who was so very proud of his service. Rightfully so. Rick took some time and edged out the military marker next to Dad's grave stone. It gets overgrown with grass every year. Before he passed, Dad repeatedly told Mom to call the veteran's office when he died. He wanted to be sure he had his marker showing his service placed at his grave site.

 

We will probably go over to my dad's grave at Arlington tomorrow early. If we walk, the time doesn't matter. But if we drive, gotta get in before the crush. Probably the most visited day there. All the flags are out on the graves. Will be saying hello to a few others, including RC_Ryder.

 

Say hi to your Dad and John for me please. We'll probably go by to see my Dad at the National tomorrow.

 

I find it somewhat ironic that this thread was started by a friend from our neighbor to the north. Thank you, Bob, for your kind wishes. And to all my fellow veterans, and to all who have friends and/or relatives who have served our country, or who have lost someone who paid the ultimate sacrifice, my best wishes for a wonderful Memorial Day. My US flag is flying proudly, and I hope yours is as well. Please remember the true meaning of this day.

If you have 6 minutes to spare, please use them to watch this touching video:

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqT0-3JV5E&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/media]

 

I have forwarded the link that Gene posted via E-mail to just about everyone in my address book. I like to remind people that Memorial Day is NOT about sales.

In that E-mail I stated that after watching the video that I was reminded of the saying: That true soldiers fight because they love what is behind them. NOT because they hate what is in front of them.

It seems that some people of religion don't see it that way.

 

When you have the opportunity to spend fifty-six minutes of your time I would encourage you to watch this VIDEO

As some of you may know, since I retired I have been driving limo's and the primary company that i work for has contracts with most of the funeral homes in Northern Virginia. Therefore I over the past year I have driven for families for dozens of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and I am always impressed with the precision and respect that is shown for our veterans.

As a veteran (enlisted) it makes me wish that I qualified to be interned there. But, I am not. Even though I live in Virginia and was stationed at the Pentagon. As they are running out of room.

 

^ Related article...

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2...kathryn-condon

 

It's weird. I generally don't have a lot of emotions surface when visiting my Dad's or my in-laws grave sites. I never really feel that that is where they are. It was different this year, perhaps due to other goings on.

So I'll share this pic of Dad's grave site this Memorial Day. He was very proud of his service.



This is his military marker. It gets overgrown with grass and the cemetery workers don't deal with them. As mentioned above, Rick cleared it off.

 

^ Lainey, did you plant the flowers around the headstone? That's a very nice touch.