52 thoughts on “Remembering”

  1. Thank you to all the brave men and women who dedicated their lives to protect us. God bless and watch over you all.

  2. We attended an Anglican church yesterday, and their acknowledgement of Memorial Day was just right: an army chaplain gave the sermon, we sang “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” and a U.S. flag was displayed. But patriotism, while held up as a good and noble thing, was NOT conflated with our love for God. It was a good balance after my fundy youth, and really helped me focus on the sacrifice that these soldiers and their families have made for us. Thanks for this post.

      1. Beautiful song. They also sang it at the church service in the movie “Titanic.” 🙂

  3. At my church, there was a short (~3 minute) message that started out as a history of Memorial Day and morphed into a moment of remembrance for those who have passed on. The regular sermon was part of an ongoing topic that wasn’t connected to Memorial Day. But the part about which I want to congratulate my pastor was that at no time did either of his messages devolve into a rant about how the libruls and the gays are sending our country to hell at light speed. It’s an unaffiliated Baptist church in a town with lots of IFBs, and I know at least a few of our congregants believe something of that nature, but I was glad that I didn’t have to listen to that tripe from the pulpit!

    1. Hey Josh, sorry you felt the need to Take an otherwise Honorable moment and turn it into a fundamental- bash. It reminds me a little of another self righteous man, in scripture,who thanked the Lord( in such a noble tongue) that he wasn’t like Other sinners. Your praise for those who served our nation, is belittled by your snide remark… Brother 🙁

    2. Really Folks, you have Got to do something about this abiding bitterness for other born again believers….it’s like poison….your otherwise fair speech is negated by it! I mean I could bring up the fact that YOU believe the God of Heaven never Loved all of these Brave Souls(who purchased our freedom with their lives)… At least that’s what the Reformies in my area contend…but that would be wrong…. As was your comment 🙄

    3. @Dante: Josh did not bash a single fundamentalist. He characterized a common fundy teaching. If you’re going to decry fundy-bashing, at least do it on a post where someone has actually done that.

      Or–am I needlessly responding to a troll? 🙄

  4. God bless and be with the families who stay behind and protect those who go out.

  5. This day always gets my heart!

    Thank you all who serve and have family serving.

    Thank you for your family that’s fallen, so that i can enjoy the freedom that many before me have fought and died for. As i sit in my AC with my family and enjoying a day off from work, they are still dying over there. Thanks a million!

  6. Oct 23, 1983 My unit was ordered back to Beirut, Lebanon, after wicked Muslims had blown up the Marine barracks, killing 241 Americans, 220 of which were U.S. Marines. Just 2 days before the bombing, members of my unit had flown in on helicopters and did some intel assessments.

    I remember these young heroes today, who gave everything for the defense of this country, I think too, of their familes who mourn their loss.

  7. There are a lot of veterans and active members of the military in both my family and my husband’s family. I am very proud of them.

  8. Don’t forget – 3PM Moment of Remembrance

    Day is done…
    Gone the sun
    From the lake…
    From the hills…
    From the sky.
    All is well…
    Safely rest
    God is nigh.

    Fading light….
    Dims the sight
    And a star….
    Gems the sky….
    Gleaming bright
    From afar….
    Drawing nigh
    Falls the night.

      1. I can never hear “Taps” without being brought to tears. It is such a simple, beautiful melody, it can be nothing but plaintive.

  9. An expression of gratitude to our armed forces and their families is nothing compared to their sacrifice…but it is all I have.

    Thank you for your service.

  10. Thanks For this. So often it seems that those of us who are breaking free of Fundamentalism throw out the baby with the Bath-water. I love my country and thank God for her and those who defend her. But my faith in Christ definitely comes first. I am thankful for a country that gives me the freedom to express my beliefs.

  11. when I was in the army I was stationed at Ft. Benning. At 10pm every night the still of the night was broken by the lone bugle sounding Taps. Although my unit lost several men in Mogadishu; it was before I was assigned, but some their buddies were lost. That was a very solemn time-when a battle scared man gets quite and a tear slowly travels down their cheek. I had a that was an atheist; when I naively tried to witness I was told when you have seen what I have seen you know there is no loving god. These people don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing the conflicts: they just go. I salute them.

  12. One of the most beautiful things about being in the military was watching them take down the flag in the evening. Even as a soldier it still brought tears to my eyes. No, I don’t worship a flag. But it just brought home why I was a part of the military. And taps…everyone got really quiet if we were around when it was played. Made us forget all the craziness of the day and how trivial most things are in the grand scheme of life. It always sobered me to think of those who had come before me. I am very proud to have served my country. I truly believe it has shaped me in to the person I am today and really solidified what I do as an EMT. Thank you to those who are still serving; as well as those who are veterans. For those who are no longer with us, “Always Forward” and Hooah.

  13. Thank you to all who have served, are serving, and to those who have died while serving this wonderful country.

  14. This evening, my husband, son and I strolled through the veteran’s cemetery at Bay Pines. We read marker stones, calculated ages, saw who fought in which wars, watered some flowering plants that someone had left on a grave, and even left a remembrance stone on a Jewish soldier’s grave. It was a beautiful day.

    And to my fabulous husband who served during the first Gulf War: HOO AH!

  15. Are there any other non-Americans who follow this blog? I was wondering if any of you also feel a little uncomfortable when confronted with such overt displays of Nationalism? I know it is about remembering the fallen and not glorifying war, but it amounts to the same thing, I think.

    To the Americans, have any of you ever seen the Russian celebrations of their victories in WW2, in which they lost 20 times the number of soldiers as did the US. Do you remember the British victory in the Falklands or have you seen the list of Napoleon’s victories on the Arc de Triomphe? How do these displays make you feel? All were supposedly in defence of freedom.

    1. That, was a bunk of classless bunch of bunk and so inappropriate.

      Quite frankly, you make me sick.

      1. Sorry, I didn’t realise it was a national memorial holiday over in the US, I just thought it was some generic remembering of the fallen. I respect those who risked their lives for a good cause and feel sorry for their families. I think the Allied cause in WW2 was good, but since then I have serious doubts. Displays of glib patriotism make me very uncomfortable though and I was wondering how you guys feel when you observe it in other countries.

      2. When I was stationed in Germany, I visited the vast Soviet graveyard in Berlin, with the colossal statue of weeping Mother Russia. It was indeed moving to learn how many casualties they sustained, but swiftly tempered by remembering the atrocities they committed when they took Berlin.
        But to answer your question, nationalism always has and always will make me feel a bit squicky. My country, wrong or right,” is an immoral statement. The only purpose of flag-waving is to make the overtly patriotic feel superior…and then they go right back to their intolerance of fellow citizens and destroying the environment of their homeland. I really don’t like to see the military commended in any religious setting, or any military acknowledgement of religion. The two realms should not intersect in any way. Today, there are fewer Christians in the military than ever before, so please don’t assume that they welcome your blessing.

        1. David was a man of war.

          Psalm 18

          34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up , and thy gentleness hath made me great . 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip . 37 I have pursued mine enemies , and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed . 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise : they are fallen under my feet. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies ; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cried , but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

          You need to go read your Bible.

      3. Way to over-react, buddy! No country should be worshiped. But we can respect the individual soldier and their sacrifice, even if we disagree about the war, or the cause, for which they fought. That is why it was great last year when Merkel joined Sarkozy in memorial services over in France.

    2. squiz, I am an american and marched in the local Memorial Day parade with our local peace group. We were at the very end of the parade. My sign said “honor them with peace” on one side and “troops home now” on the other. We were well received and got some applause. I respect someone for being willing to serve their country, but this does not mean I always support our foreign policy. Let’s be honest, the last really necessary war was WWII. The terrorist threats after 911 could have been handled by police work & intelligence; we did not need to occupy invade and occupy two countries.

    3. The service I was at for Memorial Day was decidedly not a celebration of war, it was somber, reserved, with just a small touch of patriotism (distinct from nationalism) It was about the families of those who have been lost, and the veterans who did return home (several who had obvious injuries/amputations)

      Those of us who have parents or grandparents who were part of the greatest generation have grown up seeing the pain they carried…50 years after North Africa and the landings on Sicily and Italy my grandfather still couldn’t talk about it for very long before breaking down in tears…50 years later. Another who only recently revealed that he was part of a unit that liberated a concentration camp, and is still haunted by those images. And I’m fortunate because at least my grandfathers and father came back alive! So if you think this American doesn’t understand the difference between celebrating war and honoring the loss of those who died and those who survived war, then you are unfortunately ignorant and insensitive.

    4. Your right! I always forget that Americans are the only ones not permitted to be proud of their country. So silly of me.

      Now that you’ve reminded me how dangerous nationalism is, I think I’ll go over to a website begun by some British guy and hosted in Britain, and leave a stern note about all this fuss over the queen’s jubilee. I mean, how dare they. It really makes me feel uncomfortable. Think of what the British monarchy has done in the past!

  16. My maternal grandfather Roy Rhine served from 1942-1944 In Italy, Turkey and the European Theater under Patton in his Third Army. He was awarded Two Bronze Stars. He died in 2008 on my grandmother’s birthday and she died 10 months later a few days before his birthday and their 60th wedding anniversary. We didn’t know about the two bronze stars until he died. Like so many who fought in this war, they went, did the job, and came home hero’s only to rarely talk about what they did.

    God, I miss the Greatest Generation.

  17. Veteran, 1981-92. I find this kind of sentimental stuff very irritating. You cannot presume to know why military members signed up, or why they went into combat MOSs. I can assure you, though, that “love” is pretty far down the list. Being deployed to further dubious foreign policy objectives is a lot different than defending your country against some group that is actually attacking your country. Revenge =/= love of country or freedom. A large percentage of the military sent to Iraq went only because if they didn’t they would have been court-martialed. Spare us the jingoism and do something for living soldiers. Joe Biden had it right.

    1. No naz….Joe Biden is wrong!! Support for our military is Not to be equated with Democratic backed social benefits….Honor for those who died serving is very appropriate… For you see Naz….. They died defending this Great Nation securing our(bloggers included) Right to Live Free

    2. This is a day for those family members to remember their fallen loved ones.

      You’re hurting those who grieve.

      Joe Biden is an idiot.

      Why don’t you learn some class and take your politics to a different thread than this one.

Comments are closed.