“Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.” ~ Pete Hegseth
As a veteran who has served, from a family where generations have served and lost loved ones, Memorial Day is a time to remember the vast potential of this nation did not come freely but was purchased at high cost. During these times the following additional quotes by respected Americans might also be relevant in the theme of continuation of service that honors our country.
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” ~ Mark Twain
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” ~ George Washington
Memorial Day is Monday the 28th May but it’s celebrated the whole weekend. Be safe this holiday!
Have a great Memorial Day!
Thanks, Ken. Same to you!
Happy Memorial Day from Estes Park, CO. Trail Ridge Road is open for the season in Rocky Mountain National Park. Loved the quotes in this post. So apropos.
Great photos and wonderful adventures you guys are having. Happy Memorial Day to the both of you, Kathy and John! Best always!
A flight of birds feels so appropriate and has added poignancy today. Today my wife and I went for a walk on Reigate Hill. On 19 March 1945 a B17 Flying Fortress returning to base after a successful bombing mission crashed into the hillside or Reigate Hill with the loss of all nine aircrew see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-31953498. By appearances, if they had been thirty foot higher. they would have cleared the ridge. Life can be lost on the smallest of margins.
The UK will always be indebted to the untold hundreds of thousands of US servicemen who fought alongside us, and gave their lives, during WW2.
Thanks, Andy! What strikes me these days when I view photos of those (such as in the link you included showing the B17 crew) who served and paid the ultimate price is how very young they seem, and were. No doubt this is partly because of my own age but it reminds me of a quote by Albert Einstein, “Older men start wars, but younger men fight (and die in) them.” Something inherently wrong with that equation. Your spot on about life and the smallest of margins. Perhaps it’s a good thing we don’t always know how close we come to death sometimes. :-)
There will always be a special relationship between the UK and the US. While in the USAF I was stationed in the UK for three years (1980-1983), north of London, near Bedford, at RAF Chicksands which has since been closed. My son was born there. This was my favorite tour of duty, and I hope to return for a visit one day.
Take care!
Thank you for your service, Brooks! And, wow, i love the image. I, too served in the USAF from 1968-1972. I was lucky enough not to see action in Vietnam. I noticed this past week that the latest casualty in Afghanistan was a young man from Loveland, where I graduated from. We celebrate our 50th class reunion this fall and I find it sad we still have young men dying on foreign soil. When will we learn?
And thank-you for your service, Monte! My birthday had drawn the number 2 position for the year they stopped the military draft for Vietnam…dodged that bullet. A few years later, in 1976, I enlisted in the USAF and served almost 12 years. Sadly I don’t hold out much hope of mankind learning to avoid conflict anytime soon and more lost lives will be the price. My 50th high school class reunion will be in 2021…it’ll be here in no time. Wow, hard to believe it’s been that long.
Thanks for your kind comment on the image, it seemed like a good one for Memorial Day. Take care!