Thread: What is Memorial Day to us Americans?

This is what Memorial Day is all about. It's not about BBQ's, it's not about family and get togethers and although I understand people wanting to include them, it's not about those serving now or who have served in the past. That is what Veterans Day is for. This is the reality of what Memorial Day is all about:

Civil War - 1861–1865 - 214,938 American lives lost
World War I - 1917-1918 - 53,402 American lives lost
World War II - 1941-1945 - 291,557 American lives lost
Korean War - 1950-1953 - 33,686 American lives lost
Vietnam War - 1955-1975 - 47,424 American lives lost
Afghanistan War - 2001-Present - 1,435 American lives lost
Iraq War - 2003-2011 - 3,542 American lives lost

Grand total of all wars listed on Wikipedia from 1775-Present - 848,163 American lives lost
These are combat losses and not total deaths which are much higher.

Please take some time to reflect on what these men and women have done for us so that we can live free.

I honor all American military service because they all are/were placed in harm's way while in uniform.

My dad would never talk about his service in the Navy, which leaves me to wonder if he saw something horrific, hated the experience, or what. More than a couple of questions he would get uptight. He didn't think it was right for people like candidates running for office to talk about their experiences. He thought it was simply a duty you did and after it was over you just moved on.

Dad's brother was turned down by the Army while trying to enlist but begged the Army to take him. He served as a cook and and in so doing contributed even when he wasn't wanted.

Another uncle had his eardrum punctured while in the Merchant Marines and was involuntarily retired as a result. Afterward, he joined the Army and spent the rest of the war stateside training recruits.

After my dad died my mother was seeing a man who was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and he couldn't have been any more different than my family members that served. It was the defining moment of his life. He was very humble about it, though. The torpedo that hit his particular ship was a dud and when the order was given to abandon ship, he jumped, swam about 300 yards in oily water, and didn't have so much as a scratch for the remainder of the war.

Having never served, I don't really know what these people went through. I appreciate their involvement and believe perhaps in retrospect that I should have served myself.

On Memorial Day, BBQ's , family get togethers, a quite day at the lake with your son or daughter, a family sit down in front of the TV watching a documentary on the Normandy Beach landing; are critical platforms that that bring recognition, reflection and preserve the gratitude that we feel for the sacrifices of our war dead.

Memorial Day, one day a year to appreciate a gift given, to bring home our fallen and thank them; even if home is only in our hearts.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

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Having never served, I don't really know what these people went through. I appreciate their involvement and believe perhaps in retrospect that I should have served myself.

Never second guess your decision not to serve in the military. It is not a way of life, a path through life, that should be taken by all. I am glad that my son's doctor choose medical school, instead of rifleman. I'm glad everytime I sit down to dinner, for the farmers that provided my food; many who passed down their knowledge from generation to generation. I'm grateful for that young man or woman, who stayed in school and excelled at mathematics & technology research, they built a better Hum Vee for my little brother.

I only wish for a man or woman who can make better decisions, when it comes to using our military.
Then maybe next year we won't have to remember so many on Memorial Day.

As a vet, I fully understand what Memorial Day is about. I'm so thankful that the General Attitude of Most Americans has changed since I was in the armed forces (Viet Nam era), while I was on a Nuke Sub playing tag with the Russian's I had a cousin and a friend who were spit on when they go home.

I hope all will enjoy this video, it speaks volumes about dedication and devotions, and she never served, but her husband of only a few weeks did.

WWII Widow's Journey for Reconciliation - CBS Sunday Morning - 6-10-12 - YouTube