For America, I weep....

[texasm203]

I sit down and turn on the TV,

“We have trucks, cars, and SUVs on sale this weekend, IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY!”

*click*

“Come to Mattress Firm, where this Memorial Day weekend, we will be having a sale on all mattresses in stock”

*click*

“Come to Furniture Warehouse, were we are selling everything at our Memorial Day liquidation sale!”

*click*

I realize the sad state of affairs our country has reached. Using a holiday meant to honor those who serve their own benefits.

I see and hear all over the radio and TV that the remembrance of the fallen soldier has become nothing more than another way to make money, and increase sales.

I hear an ad on the radio, inviting people to come and drop off letters to troops overseas. I smile…….. Then the ad says “And stay to see our low prices on Pontiacs….”, I weep.

I see first hand that nobody bothers to thanks the soldier, marine, airman, or sailor for their service anymore, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to be.

I hear of plans to barbeque, take vacations, and enjoy yet another thing that our Armed Forces have brought to our country. Yet, nobody thinks about the soldier who lays in the sand, having given his life, on the very same Memorial Day that you planed a vacation to the beach.

America, I ask you… no, I DEMAND that you honor our soldiers, both serving and retired, alive and passed, deployed and home. Stop and take 5 minutes on your way to the beach to shake that soldiers hand, or pat that marine on the back. Visit the cemetery, and say thank you for their sacrifice, because it is never to late. Just 5 minutes, America, from your busy day of barbeques and pool parties, sports shows and casual chit-chat, to say, “Thank You!” This is all it will take, it will cost you no money, it won’t even be too out of the way. This small, insignificant time out of your day will mean the world to the service member. Thanks them for giving of themselves to give you the right, and ability, to completely ignore them.

For this, I will thanks you, America. And I promise to you, in return I will fight harder, become stronger, only to know that somebody appreciates what I, and my brothers and sisters in arms, do for you.

SPC Joshua Nolan
US Army

[AZXD]

Joshua,
I think you for this reminder.

I also agree that this country is in a sad state of affairs when a day like labor day is used to promote the profit potential of business in-lieu of honoring those who serve, have served, and those who have paid the ultimate price.

May they not be soon forgotten.

[retired]

If I see one I shall.

Earlier this week while at the store buying flowers for my wife after her surgery, I saw 3 soldiers in the parking lot helping a woman jump her battery. I thanked them for their service (not the jumping, their military service of course). The one who heard me (the other 2 were talking to the lady), said your welcome. They all looked about 19.

[cjive134]

The commercials for memorial day deals really piss me off too. No business should be open, not even the supermarkets. If you didn't get that extra tub of cool whip and bags of Doritos I guess you're S.O.L.

[DanTheEldest]

Originally Posted by cjive134

The commercials for memorial day deals really piss me off too. No business should be open, not even the supermarkets. If you didn't get that extra tub of cool whip and bags of Doritos I guess you're S.O.L.

I agree. I'm not that old, but even I can remember when most businesses used to be closed on Sundays and holidays as a rule, and it was nice--it was like the city took a break, sighed a bit, and just focused on whatever the occasion happened to be. Like it or not, we're in a 24/7 economy these days.

[jednp]

Today I had to drive out of town and when I stopped somewhere to get something to drink, there was a man standing at the end of the off ramp to the interstate holding a sign that said "stranded vet, need gas money". I only had $3 cash on me, but I stopped, rolled down the window, and I gave him it. I didn't see anyone else behind me do anything, and on my way back to the interstate i saw the same thing.. nobody doing anything. they wouldn't even look at him.

I have no proof that this guy was a vet, but I couldn't help but think.. what if he is? What if he truly is a stranded vet in need of help? I no longer cared about the "what if he's not" part of it. If he wasn't, then karma will get him. But if he truly was a vet, then I felt good giving him the only cash I had on me. I'm not going to worry about whether he may have been being dishonest. Considering it's memorial day weekend, I couldn't just sit there stopped by him and not help out what little I was able to.

[BoomerBSG]

every memorial day i sit down and watch a war movie.. either what ever i can find on tv, (even a documentary if need be) or one i have on dvd. but on saturday i worked a wedding as a bartender. the guy getting married was a marine.. so the wedding was full of marines... i think i gave up about $100 of my own money buying them drinks.


cheers

[Dhunter55]

Originally Posted by BoomerBSG

every memorial day i sit down and watch a war movie.. either what ever i can find on tv, (even a documentary if need be) or one i have on dvd. but on saturday i worked a wedding as a bartender. the guy getting married was a marine.. so the wedding was full of marines... i think i gave up about $100 of my own money buying them drinks.


cheers

If you have the AMC Channel they are doing non-stop (excluding commercials) war movies all weekend and today. I caught PT109 and Patton last nite.

[BoomerBSG]

thanks for the heads up dhunter. i was supposed to be off today, but i volunteered to work.. couldnt pass up the double time and a half rate hehe.

but i get off around 5pmish.. if i cant find anything on tv.. its a good time to fire up my new unwrapped Saving Private Ryan dvd... best omaha beach landing scene ever!

[Dhunter55]

Originally Posted by texasm203

I sit down and turn on the TV,

“We have trucks, cars, and SUVs on sale this weekend, IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY!”

*click*

“Come to Mattress Firm, where this Memorial Day weekend, we will be having a sale on all mattresses in stock”

*click*

“Come to Furniture Warehouse, were we are selling everything at our Memorial Day liquidation sale!”

*click*

I realize the sad state of affairs our country has reached. Using a holiday meant to honor those who serve their own benefits.

I see and hear all over the radio and TV that the remembrance of the fallen soldier has become nothing more than another way to make money, and increase sales.

I hear an ad on the radio, inviting people to come and drop off letters to troops overseas. I smile…….. Then the ad says “And stay to see our low prices on Pontiacs….”, I weep.

I see first hand that nobody bothers to thanks the soldier, marine, airman, or sailor for their service anymore, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to be.

I hear of plans to barbeque, take vacations, and enjoy yet another thing that our Armed Forces have brought to our country. Yet, nobody thinks about the soldier who lays in the sand, having given his life, on the very same Memorial Day that you planed a vacation to the beach.

America, I ask you… no, I DEMAND that you honor our soldiers, both serving and retired, alive and passed, deployed and home. Stop and take 5 minutes on your way to the beach to shake that soldiers hand, or pat that marine on the back. Visit the cemetery, and say thank you for their sacrifice, because it is never to late. Just 5 minutes, America, from your busy day of barbeques and pool parties, sports shows and casual chit-chat, to say, “Thank You!” This is all it will take, it will cost you no money, it won’t even be too out of the way. This small, insignificant time out of your day will mean the world to the service member. Thanks them for giving of themselves to give you the right, and ability, to completely ignore them.

For this, I will thanks you, America. And I promise to you, in return I will fight harder, become stronger, only to know that somebody appreciates what I, and my brothers and sisters in arms, do for you.

SPC Joshua Nolan
US Army

Josh, just an example of what your talking about:

I and my wife, who's also a Vet, spent Sunday morning participating in the color guard of our American Legion Post's Memorial Day services. Our Post holds our services on Sunday. We start with a ceremony at 9am in front of our Post. Next is police escort to the beach where we have a short service and a wreath is taken out to the first reef and dropped by lifeguard in kayak, to honor our fallen at sea. Lastly, police escort to the city cemetery where, the Sons of the Legion have placed flags on all veteran graves, we do a short service to honor all Vets buried in the cemetery. The whole thing takes about an hour or so with short travel time and distance between ceremony locations.

Out of 375 Legionnaires, 250 Auxiliary, 100 Sons of the Legion members in our Post we had a grand total of 30 members attend ceremonies. That included 11 members who performed in the ceremony and a few non-member folks from the community. We get a bigger attendance from members and non-members in the community on Tuesday afternoon Bingo.

On Saturdays before Memorial Day, the Auxiliary ladies offer Poppies, by donation only, in front of stores in the community. The poppies are made by disabled vets and 100% of the donations go directly to disabled veterans. Home Depot and Publix Supermarket won't allow it. Thankfully, Kmart, Pep Boys, Winn Dixie, BJ's, CVS and Walgreens do. Two little old Auxiliary ladies were politely asked to stop offering Poppies on the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk by police because "somebody" called and complained. I realize that some stores have policies that if they let one group do it, they have to let every group do it but other groups wouldn't be in existence if it weren't for the sacrifices of our Veterans. I've been out several times in my Legion cap with a hand full of Poppies and a donation can and it's amazing how many folks walk past me with a disgusted look on their face like we were asking for their last paycheck. That's fine, I just smile and say, "have a good day".

The apathy and total disregard toward our Veterans, in particular, our fallen Veterans disgusts and pisses me off beyond words and it seems to get worse every year. Even more so when we have servicemen and women fighting and dying for our country, as we speak. Unfortunately, you can't do much about how people think and feel other than try and continue to educate and remind them about what Memorial Day and Veterans Day really mean. Thanks for reminding us Josh.