JohnB wrote:
I always recall my visit to the American cemetery at Madingley near Cambridge, testing place for many American airmen.
I had the honor of attending Remembrance/Veterans Day services there in an official capacity when I was stationed in the UK.
The neat rows of crosses, the wall listing those who have no known grave, and the chapel with the altar with stained glass state flags and ghostly mosaics of WWII aircraft create memories that can't be forgotten.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrid ... d_MemorialIn addition, there is another place that removed a me of sacrifice.
A dozen miles NE of my house, and clearly seen from my living room and deck, is a mountain where a B-29 and two KC-135s crashed.
As a Air Force kid in the 50-60s, and an officer in the 80s-2000, I know that peacetime service was not without risks. Every time I look at the mountain, I remember those who perished there.
As an Air Force brat my dad would be take me to the War Cemeteries in Europe. I remember shocking my dad with a remark (Bear in mind I was a 17 year old long haired metal head at the time). As we were leaving one of cemeteries, i remarked "How can something so beautiful be born of something so ugly?". My dad about wrecked the car coming to a stop, asked me to repeat what I said, then asked who are you........
Was one of my dads favorites stories to tell. I was an AF Brat, a title I wear proudly, from Dec 66 to Jan 86, and an AF member from Jan 86 to Sept 2008.
I'm a member of several gun forums and posted the following........
Memorial Day 2019
As we all set about getting to where we are going this Memorial Day weekend, with the freedom to celebrate as we wish, let’s take a minute to remember the cost of that freedom. Since 19 April 1775 when the “Colonists” entered into war with Britain, approximately 1,354,664 “Americans” have given their lives for this nation, with an additional 40,031 still unaccounted for, so in reality that number is approximately 1,394,695. That number does not include the number of innocent civilians killed by terrorist attacks, or as collateral damage.
These Americans have come in all colors, races, religions, and sexes, some hadn’t even become US citizens yet, but died for us, so I considered them to be Americans just the same. Some of us know someone who was killed fighting for and defending this freedom. Whether it was a long ago or recent relative, neighbor, coworker, parent, child, etc, we are not immune to the price paid.
Think about it, over 1.3 Million Americans have shed their blood, dying on domestic and foreign battlefields. As in the past, today we have families that have an empty seat at the table and for them family gatherings will never be the same. For a lot of them Memorial Day is spent gathering around a gravesite sharing stories of their “Hero” while shedding tears. In reality they are not just their heroes, they should be and are ours also.
So regardless of where or how you spend your “Hard Earned” 3 day weekend, remember the price paid, how many lives lost before they really started. Remember FREEDOM is not FREE, and has been paid for by those who loved us, loved this country, and loved life, the same life they gave for us.
The battle for freedom is never truly over, let their sacrifices not be forgotten, let the price of freedom not be forgotten, let them not be forgotten.
May God bless our nation and those who have protected it to their deaths. Everyone have a great and safe Memorial Day weekend, and remember to take a moment of silence to reflect upon the price paid for freedom and to remember and thank those whom paid for this holiday with their lives, America’s war dead!