I know I'm about 15 minutes from the start of my actual "Posting Schedule Day", but I gotta get some sleep, folks!

One year ago, I was moved to write about what I felt was a wrongful commercialization of a holiday originally intended to honor the service and sacrifices of our Military Personnel. How fortunate for me, I was offered a Staff Writer position, and my scheduled day to post in the Daily Disturbance happens to coincide with Memorial Day... So I'm back once again to remind us all of the reason behind the date...

George Orwell once said, “We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

I think old George would forgive me a bit of respectful plagiarism/paraphrasing:

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men and women, past, present, and future, stand ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

So many over the course of our Nation's history, have given their childhoods, their innocence, their blood, sweat, and tears, their lives, to guarantee the Freedoms we hold dear.

As a reminder of just how deep the history of our Nation and our Military runs, and how closely entertwined they are, I would like to share the following text (also respectfully paraphrased from the "Alternate Infantryman's Creed"):

I am the US Military! For over two centuries I have kept our Nation safe, purchasing her freedom with my blood.

To tyrants, I am the day of reckoning; to the oppressed, the hope for the future. Where the fighting is thick, there am I...I am the US Military!

I was there from the beginning, meeting the enemy face to face, will to will. My bleeding feet stained the snow at Valley Forge; my frozen hands pulled Washington across the Delaware. At Yorktown, the sunlight glinted from the sword and I, begrimed and battered...saw a Nation born.

Hardship...and glory I have known. At New Orleans, I fought beyond the hostile hour, showed the fury of my long rifle...and came of age. I am the US Military!

West I pushed with wagon trains...moved an empire across the plains...extended freedom's borders and tamed the wild frontier. I am the US Military!

I was with Scott at Vera Cruz...hunted the guerrilla in the mountain passes...and scaled the high plateau. The fighting was done when I ended my march many miles from the old Alamo.

From Bull Run to Appomattox, I fought and bled and died. Both Blue and Grey were my colors then. Two masters I served and united them strong...proved that this nation could right a wrong...and long endure. I am the US Military!

I led the charge up San Juan Hill....scaled the walls of old Tientsin....and stalked the Moro in the steaming jungle still...always the vanguard. I am the US Military!

At Chateau-Thierry, first over the top, then I stood like a Rock on the Marne. It was I who cracked the Hindenburg Line...in the Argonne, I broke the Kaiser's spine...and didn't come back till it was "over, over there." I am the US Military!

A generation older at Bataan, I briefly bowed, but then I vowed to return. Assaulted the African shore...learned my lesson the hard way in the desert sands...pressed my buttons into the beach at Anzio...and bounced into Rome with determination and resolve. I am the US Military!

The English Channel, stout beach defenses and the hedgerows could not hold me...I jumped into Normandy's shore....broke out at St. Lo, unbent the Bulge...vaulted the Rhine...and swarmed the Heartland. Hitler's dream and the Third Reich were dead.

In the Pacific, from island to island I hopped...hit the beaches and chopped through swamp and jungle...I set the Rising Sun. I am the US Military!

In Korea, I gathered my strength around Pusan...swept across the frozen Han...outflanked the Reds at Inchon...and marched to the Yalu. I am the US Military!

Around the world, I stand....ever forward. Over Lebanon's sands, my rifle steady aimed...and calm returned. At Berlin's gate, I scorned the Wall of Shame. I am the US Military!

My bayonet....on the wings of power...keeps the peace worldwide. And despots, falsely garbed in freedom's mantle, falter and hide. My ally in the paddies and the forest...I teach, I aid, I lead. I am the US Military!

The world's headlines roar when evil men are put to flight, as I descend by parachute into the night. Grenada's students rescued, Noriega's drug dealers imprisoned, Haiti's curse lifted...I lead the way into battle through the darkest nights. I am the US Military!

I fight from the sky, over the land, across the seas, and through desert sands...to free a Kuwaiti city, across frozen mountains to keep the peace in Balkan lands--I hold the key to peace or war: I am the US Military!

Where brave men fight...there fight I. In freedom's cause...I live, I fight, I bleed, I die. From Concord Bridge to Heartbreak Ridge, from the Arctic to the Mekong...

Always ready...then, now and forever...

While you celebrate today with your family and friends, remember those who stood guard so many years ago, thank those who do it willingly today, and pray for those who will do so tomorrow. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day, folks!

Deep......very deep.........Great as always Gramps

happy memorial day grandpa

I don't care when your scheduled posting day is GPN, you should always post on Memorial Day.

Impressive... my wife and I usually go to Margraten (Netherlands) on the 5th of May (our Liberation Day);


One thing I can tell you... WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

TDR

i cant believe nobody else has responded to this....

Quote: Originally Posted by GPN72 While you celebrate today with your family and friends, remember those who stood guard so many years ago, thank those who do it willingly today, and pray for those who will do so tomorrow.

Ditto! Excellent post GPN, and from one who knows.

Quote: Originally Posted by me_john85 i cant believe nobody else has responded to this....

Amen. The things people take for granted in this country are the very things the military have fought to preserve and protect. Some cannot seperate the military men and women who serve, from their political beliefs and dislike of the current war, long enough to thank those who are doing their job. Which is also evident by those who protest at military funerals.

Great post gramps.

And I would like to express my gratitude to all the service members for their dedication.

Quote: Originally Posted by AntiM I don't care when your scheduled posting day is GPN, you should always post on Memorial Day.

Amen to that!

Quote: Originally Posted by Foe Amen. The things people take for granted in this country are the very things the military have fought to preserve and protect. Some cannot seperate the military men and women who serve, from their political beliefs and dislike of the current war, long enough to thank those who are doing their job. Which is also evident by those who protest at military funerals.

I'll take the liberty to go a little off-topic with this one, since this group of nincompoops is on my "I couldn't care less if you all dropped dead" list, and since it was my thread anyways...

DISCLAIMER: These are my own personal opinions. In no way are they representative of the opinions of the site owner, other forum staff, or forum members. If the following statements offend you in any way, shape or form, I could really care less. Take your uptight Fundy butt down to the local gay bar and see how much your God protects you from getting stomped like an outed narc at Sturgis...

These so-called "people" call themselves "Christians", and yet they spew some really "un-Christ-like" views, and in such a disrespectful way... Great way to gather public support for your "Crackpot Ministries", IMO...

I wonder how they would take to a group of servicemen/women protesting at one of their Fundy funerals, telling them that they have absolutely zero meters of range to complain, if they aren't willing to vote to change the laws that protect those whose lifestyles offend them so... Either that or tell them to suit up, pick up a rifle, and stand their guard shift, or STFU...ooh, make it even more repulsive to them (the Fundys, that is), make sure the servicemen/women are all GAY/LESBIANS, but don't tell them until afterward!!!