Well said.

We should *never* forget the sacrifices of those who so bravely fought for us.

Thank you Vixxy

your words are much appreciated Grey...

V.

:-| indeed.

quite so...

V.

my father was in the Navy for 20 years
my grandfather was in the Navy for 30 years
my great grandfather was in the Navy for 35 year
His father before was in the Merchant Marines

My brother wanted to go somewhere they wouldn't yell at him all the time for no reason... He joined the Marine Corps.

when I was 13 my best friend was 67 and had done three tours in Nam. I miss him.

I loved your comment Stray...

I understand your sense of loss concerning your friend...

V.

and ever single word was 100% true

Well, the fact that so many young people today know nothing about the history of this country or those who fought and died defending it can largely be attributed to the current state of the public school system....

But that aside, our history is still getting through to some of them. I saw this just earlier today, and found it profoundly inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k9Si28k0Fk


I remember when I was a kid, not really all that long ago it seems, and how endlessly captivated I was by the stories of the Greatest Generation. In a lot of ways, the boy in that video reminds me of myself when I was that age. That undying passion for the history of that time and deep recognition for what that generation of Americans did has carried on to this day, and I still observe Memorial Day, Veterans Day, D-Day, and Pearl Harbor Day in my own unique ways.

I am in total agreement. What and how we teach our children has everything to do with it...

the video you linked me to was absolutely wonderful - thank you...

V.

I remember this. It was moving then and still is. Our school history books don't cover these events. They just allude to the negative aspects of them. Well Done!

Hear Hear!

I shall always remember my neighbor's remark to me about D-day. One day we were just talking in his garage and he told me he was there. The only thing I could think to ask was, 'How did you do it?' He told me it was easy - you just made your mind up you were already dead and then everything was OK.

That's just incredible.

V.

That recollection sounds like fodder for a short story. It also sounds familiar though I can't recall from whom.

We are distracted to forget.

Constantly.

I believe that...

V.

Dad did his time late in WWII, I did my stint in the late 70s.

This world would be a better place if the war mongers were forced to fight their own wars and had to shed their own blood and not the blood of others.

Total agreement...

V.

There was an original Star Trek episode that had this as a theme, wasn't there?

I'm not sure... I lost track of all the Star Trek episodes... I wouldn't be surprised.

V.

I have a harder time each year working up the courage to open your Memorial Day submission. They always reach deeper than I'm prepared for and I have take time to calm down before I can respond. Strangely, I had an easier time of it with this one. It still does a brilliant job of pointing out the ghastly predilection we have for cruelty and self destruction. The tone is more general and therefore less painfully sharp.

There's too much more to say and none of it would be new or unknown. I sill simply conclude with: You have my deepest respect for your honesty and courage.

If the world would just listen
To a tiny fennec vixen
Perhaps we could all hear
the silent end of fear

Oooooooo that is such a lovely little poem and I am swept off my feet... thank you so very much Wire. Your words make me try even harder to perfect my craft.

As to Memorial Day; it simply has very deep roots in my soul. One of the first I remember was the whole family going to the cemetary to place the small flags on all the graves, some of which had a flag stand the said G.A.R. - Grand Army of the Republic.

V.