Big Fat Daddy

Join Date 12/2006

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Memorial Day

Hand Salute with Snap...recover slowly

Just a quick "Happy Memorial Day" to all...lefties and righties and in-betweenies, and undecidedies and uninterestedies. You have all posted some form of political message in the past few months. Whether you make a comment on someone elses thread or write your own article...whether you support or don't support some candidate or other...show your disdain for or praise the current crop of administrators in our nation's capitol...or just vented some frustration over the way things are in our legal system or your local legistators or whatever it may be. This is the season to be "political". So rant on all you malcontented or super happy. It is your privilege and your right. I support to the death your right to do so...I mean that sincerely...I may not agree but it is the right to debate and present alternatives that has kept this "experiment in democracy" alive and kicking for so long.

I do have one request (if you are reading this Mason, sorry about the long paragraph, but it did seem to just flow out that way). Whether you spend your holiday thinking up scathing comments to post on JU or sacrificing dead meat on the charcoal altar, please find time to give a thought to those who have protected your such luxurious, precious, inalienable rights. Those who will not return to join us in our celebrations this weekend.

Monday we honor those who have fallen in defense of this great nation and the lifestyle it provides. The old mantra goes, "All gave some....Some gave all." This weekend is for the ones who gave all. Give 'em a thought sometime during your busy weekend, okay?

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Just did.

Nice article BFD....as usual.

Have a good one.

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With palms together,

A bow to you.

Be well.

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Very good BFD, thanks for the emphasis.

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Does my standing Duty yesterday count? LoL

I was at least able to give my thanks to some Vietnam Vets and such that they had visiting the base today so at least I was able to thank those that had come before me. And am always thinking about those who aren't here for me to thank.

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MamaCharlie and I went with Imera to the cemetery to visit Dave. There were several activities going on there. The local bikers do a ride in and we saw the Buffalo Soldiers do their tribute in old Cav uniforms. Lots of good people honoring those who didn't come back. I wandered around a little, looking at some of the older headstones. One touched me, "Unknown Veteran - Civil War". I remembered the quote from Colin Powell ""We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last hundred years and we’ve done this as recently as the last year in Afghanistan and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in, and otherwise we have returned home to seek our own, you know, to seek our own lives in peace, to live our own lives in peace.

And if that ain't enough to jerk a tear...here is my favorite verse from "America, the Beautiful" : "Oh beautiful, for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life." Someone pass me the kleenex, please.

So: it is good to hear from you. I hope you are doing okay. Using your official title...does that mean your foray into secular life didn't work out? Whichever, I hope you find a pain free peace.

Tova: Thanks, back atcha.

Doc: I fear this will be an annual event...even though Trudy did an admirable job on it this year, I still feel I have to say something.

M-Post: Standing post definitely counts. Thank you for your service and thanks for stopping by.

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My family and I did something a little different this year for Memorial Day.

On Sunday, we went and took a walk through the local battlefield park. It's the one with The Crater (and yes, folks around here capitalize both words . After walking the various paths and re-reading the history around us, we stood at the site of the Crater itself and said a short prayer for each of the folks that made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy.

Being from a military family, the veterans and fallen in the military are particularly close. During our little memorial ceremony, my daugther reminded me that we also have to remember the fire fighters, police, and rescue personnel that work hard every day for little thanks to maintain and improve on everything we have, as well. Sometimes, that little seven year old surprises me.

Watching the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS last night had me in tears at several points. When Dennis Leary read the account of one of the Rangers in Afghanistan and his wife and the wife of the buddy who saved him (and what happened to the buddy), it took me a few minutes to pull myself back together.

"All gave some. Some gave all. Some came through for the red, white and blue, but some had to fall."

To all of those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy, I salute you! And to those still serving, I salute you, too!

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To all of those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy, I salute you! And to those still serving, I salute you, too!

That is what the day is all about. It is hugely gratifying to hear that your children are learning from your excellent example. Thanks.

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