Honoring the veterans in my life today. Dad & Father in law. Salute and toast to them. 🇺🇸
and my son Texas National Guard.

 

Salute to those who gave their lives during war, and those who carried the weight of war all their days.

 

 

This week I lost two of my aviation buddies, both retired, and led distinguished military careers. Below is a short video about Marine Col. (ret) John Telles, with John speaking in his own words. John passed away yesterday. John flew both F-8's...the "Gunfighter" and a series of helicopters to include flying as Marine One. About two years ago, John was nominated and selected as Veteran of the Year in San Diego County, CA. This is when the family decided it was a good time to get John reflecting on camera about his career.


I would also proudly like to recognize my son Jeff, whom will be retiring from the Air Force in one month, ending a 30 year career. I will be passing on my C3 to Jeff for his retirement gift.

 

Yes,
Men and Women gave it all.

 

My father and I at the same age.....19 years old. Unfortunately he passed away when I was six tears old. Tomorrow I'll display the 48 star flag the he served under.

 

My uncle killed on Saipan

My late father in law who served in WWII

From left to right me, I served in the USMC during 'Nam, my oldest at her promotion to bird Colonel and my grandson

My youngest and her husband, she was a Corpsman in the Navy

 

Remembering a Veteran who passed other than from battle or a living Veteran is a honorable thing, but as Doorgunner said in his post it is a day Reserved to honor those who gave their lives during war.
What is the real meaning of Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is meant to honor and remember the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice and died fighting for our freedom. And while we honor the fallen, it's important to also remember the complexities of grief for those they left behind.

 

My dad in Germany during WWII just days before the Battle of the Bulge offensive that he lived through. He was the squad BAR man.

 

Its important to remember that most of the fallen were young men in the prime of their lives. They did not want to die, but they were killed doing what they were taught to do. Most had everything to live for, but their lives were cut short to defend their country. Unfortunately today's culture puts greedy athletes and celebrities up for the young to admire. IMO, we need to provide a longer focus on the sacrifice of the few.

 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FREEDOM , THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE , TAKE FOR GRANTED . ALSO A THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VETERANS AND THE ONES THAT ARE STILL SERVING .
IF YOU SEE A VETERAN OR SOMEONE WHO IS STILL SERVING REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

 

My Dad was a WW II B-17 Pilot, survived 50 missions. He graduated flight school early 1943 and they actually had a Class book, much like your High school Senior book. As I page through it there are quite a few guys who my dad had put an X next to their names for obvious reasons. I'd like to salute these guys and all the rest who have Xs by their names for their sacrifice..

60

 

Threads such as this one about personal thoughts and experiences of War.............

 

I was at Fort McHenry recently with my father, who is now in his 90's. If you have never gone there, it might be a good place on the bucket list. Anyway, they describe how Francis Scott Key sits on a British bomber ship trying to effect a prisoner exchange. Because the
British needed to move quickly, they held FSK on board until the end of the bombing. The British had just burned Washington, and Baltimore was their prize target since it created the fast clippers that kept raiding British merchant shipping. Basically, these raiders were the only way to get back at the British since they held a massive advantage in ships and trained troops. Also taking Baltimore would effectively cut the country in 2

 

and end the war. The local militia held off the British troops (who outnumbered them) and inflicted so many casualties (killing Major Ross) that the British knew they would have to bomb the outer defenses of the city prior to another attack. And to
destroy the defenses, the British would have to get their bomb ships in close enough to the city. Ft McHenry was in their way, and so it had to be silenced. All night the bombing went, and in those days the smoke from the cannons pretty much obscured the
visibility, hence the "fog of war". At first light Key glances out over the bombing ship, but it is too smokey still for him to see if the fort held and the young country still had fight left. Slowly the smoke clears, and Key can see the extra large flag still waving - the flag the city
fathers had Betsy Ross specifically make to taunt the Brits. So he writes the last phase of the national anthem "does the Start Spangled Banner still wave o'ever the land of the free and home of the brave."

Anyway, when the story ends, the Fort's presentation includes rolling up the curtains so you can see a replica of the flag that takes the whole view - they then play the Start Spangled Banner. There was a very large private school there, possibly 50-70 kids of all ages. Every one of those kids stood up almost at attention and listened to the anthem play and at the end all erupted in applause. So even though you here bad news everywhere, there are still a good many kids being taught right.