Who are you remembering this Memorial Day?

Question

My grandfather fought in Vietnam. I am also thoughtful towards all those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Answer 1

my sister. and a couple cuz's and an uncle. but it dont take a special day for me to think about and remember them

Answer 2

In my father's hometown of Wilson, NC, the city council tried to do a little "city planning" and "sprucing up" for the bicentennial in 1976. An unsightly little plot of ground was targeted for some work until it was discovered that it was a cemetery of some of the first settlers in the area. One of the headstones was the one for my great-great-I don't know how many more greats-great grandfather -- Benjamin Farmer. His tombstone had a Revolutionary War militia man carved on it.

I loved my dad dearly, who also served in the armed forces. But I think that without men like Benjamin Farmer, this country might never have come about.

Answer 3

My father was in the signal corps in the Pacific arena during WWII -- he was present on one of the battleships observing Japan's Emporer Hirohito in his formal surrender on September 2, 1945, aboard American battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. We have many b&w photos of the occasion. This description from the WWII database is moving:

That morning, the Japanese delegation boarded American destroyers for Missouri. Toshikazu Kase of the Foreign Ministry was a member of the delegation, who noted his impression of the Allied show of force in Tokyo Bay as he approached in USS Landsdown.

"As the destroyer pushed out of the harbor, we saw in the offing lines on the lines of gray warships, both heavy and light, anchored in majestic array. This was the mighty pageant of the Allied navies that so lately belched forth their crashing battle, now holding in their swift thunder and floating like calm sea birds on the subjugated waters. A spirit of gay festivity pervaded the atmosphere."

After Kase arrived, he observed that

"[t]here were row upon row of American admirals and generals in somber khaki; but what added to the festive gayety of the occasion was the sight of the war correspondents who, monkey-like, hung on to every cliff-like point of vantage in most precarious postures.... Then there was a gallery of spectators who seemed numberless, overcrowding every bit of available space on the great ship, on the mast, on the chimneys, on the gun turrets-on everything and everywhere."


My step-father was in Patton's Third Army, marching through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Austria, and fighting all the way. He was in the Battle of the Bulge.

Just to type this makes me weep.

Answer 4

I thought of my Father, who fought in the war. I also thought of all the soldiers, who continue to fight in the war. Thank you.

Answer 5

My dad, mostly, who was a decorated Vet and was recently celebrated here in the town that he lived in, but also my mom who was a self-sacrificing single mom when my dad was shipped off to Europe in WWII.

Answer 6

I'm remembering all of our fallen hero's and ALL the brave men and women who have served our country and the ones still fighting for our freedom !!!!!!!!

Answer 7

everyone who has fought to keep us free and safe..the many who have lost their lives and the many who are still fighting..god bless them all

Answer 8

both grandfathers
My dad (ww2,korea,Vietnam twice)
uncles
stepson (Iraq)
veterans at least as far back as the civil war(in my family).

Answer 9

my brother- he fought in viet nam , but when he came home he was a completely different person , he ended up commiting suicide

Answer 10

my dad whos out in a iraq and my uncle who got killed two months ago out in iraq...