All though I swore I wouldn't, I have to post this subject again. In the United States today it's Memorial Day. That's the day we remember those who gave their lives for our country and world freedom. I never knew my father. He died a month before I was born. He never returned from Guadalcanal. All I can say is, I love you Dad. And God bless the United States Marine Corps. And God bless America.

I presume this is the equivalent of our remembrance Day?

Martin, I might be wrong, but I think your Remembrance Day is the same as our Veteran's Day which replace Armistice Dat on November 11th.

I usually save this for Veteran's Day, but I think it's appropriate today also.

God Bless your Father Doug, and the United States Marine Corps and all of my Marine buddies both here and gone.

Noel

 

Was just at a flag ceremony at a local VFW. Thrown by the Boy Scouts (Which now takes Gurls) my niece was one of the scouts holding the flags.

Until one Gurl fainted (poor thing) and caused quite a stir.....

Doug,

I imagine you have read Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis.

There's a chapter in it where a Marine patrol is pinned down on a beach by the Japanese.

One of the guys goes into the water and swims back to the main base where he alerts the Marines that the patrol is pinned down and needs help.

Over the years I've forgotten his name.  But he was my company's gunnery sergeant when I was stationed in Japan.

His chest showed the scars left when he got cut up by the coral when swimming back to get help.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor.

At a change of command formation when we got a new captain.  We were in full dress greens with all of awards showing.

The gunny was standing in front of the company and after the introduction of the new captain the captain strode up the gunny and waited for his salute.  But it was not forthcoming.

The captain said, "Don't you recognize an officer when you see one gunny?"  To which the ginny replied, "Don't you recognize the Medal of Honor when you see one captain?"

To which the captain grinned, rendered the gunny the sharpest salute you have ever seen, and said, "You got me gunny!"  Then he shook hands with the gunny and proceeded inspect the rest of the company.

Noel

 

When my family moved to New Orleans, I found out this is "Yankee" Memorial Day.  It wasn't observed at all, except banks and post office were closed.  The original name is Decoration Day as it was designated as a day to decorate the graveyards of civil war dead with spring flowers.

 

scott s.

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The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868.[5] Then known as Decoration Day, the day was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic for the purpose of honoring Union soldiers who died in the Civil War.[6] This national observance was preceded by many local ones, between the end of the Civil War and Logan's declaration. Many cities and people have claimed to have first celebrated the event.

Official recognition as holiday spread among the states, beginning with New York in 1873.[7] By 1890, every Union state had adopted it. The World Wars turned it into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who died in service. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as "Memorial Day" and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.

Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military: Armed Forces Day (which is earlier in May), an unofficial U.S. holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day (on November 11), which honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Noel

I'll never get tired of listening to "A Pittance of Time" sung by Terry Kelly. I wind up crying every time!  😉