Remember our Veterans- Memorial Day
 

Memorial Day kicks off a great boating season for us but....

Don't forget to honor Our Veteran's on Memorial Day too !!

I Agree!
 

http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.c...emorialday.jpg

Remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day

It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan - the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on May 30, 1868.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.

By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I, when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring all Americans who died fighting in any war.

It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May. It was passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971.

Proud to be an American
 

Thanks!!
 

from a veteran's grandmother! About six more weeks until he comes home from Afghanistan....that will be a joy. All families of those serving are so grateful for all who remember and pray right along with us! My thoughts and prayers go to all who are serving, deployed or here, and to those who wait for them...and, of course, for those who sacrificed everything for our freedom. Not sure who first said this but I echo it: "they gave up all their tomorrows for our today"!

WinnDixie-
Thank him for me !!!

& to all...
My Dad was a Proud WWII Veteran ......

THANKS

Don't miss this riveting tribute to our soldiers and veterans. Be sure to watch to the end:

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJfeD-I39CQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJfeD-I39CQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Best wishes and our gratitude to all our Lakes Region veterans and everyone who has served in the military.

Having served in two major conflicts by the ripe old age of 22 I can tell you that nothing I have ever experienced in life has ever left a more profound impact on me. Many of those I served with were nothing short of inspiring, and one thing that you hardly EVER heard reported on the news is the amount of personal sacrifice many of our solders endure day after day. What also is never reported is the kindness and generosity we as a country have bestowed on so many throughout the world through our military members. For those that have paid the ultimate price nothing can quite repay what they have done to secure the freedoms and liberties that we so often take for granted. The least we all can do to honor them is by doing our civic duty to preserve what they died for and pass it on to future generations. For those who have lost family members know that your loss is shared by many.

Meet my Four Friends...A.R.N.F.
 

PVT JOHN ALLAN RICH
1ST Marine Division, D Btry, 2nd BN, 11th Marines.
Killed in Action on August 25th, 1966 (First Causality from Wilmington MA)
Killed at Quang Ngai, Vietnam

Vietnam Wall Washington: Panel 10E , Line 43
Awarded: Purple Heart, American National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon.


SP5 ROBERT WARREN PARENT
1ST Air Calvary Division, C Company, 227th Assault Helicopter Batallion
Shot down and Killed 11 km SW of Camp Evans, Thau Thien, Vietnam, on July 7th, 1968.
Awarded: Purple Heart, American National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal with 32 Oak leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal.
Washington Vietnam Memorial: Panel 51W, Line 28

PFC JOHN JOSEPH FULLETON JR.
18th Military Police Brigade, D Company, 52nd Infantry, also 95th Military Police Battalion , and the 89th Military Police Group.

Killed in Action on January 31st, 1968, by Artillery Rocket and Mortar attack, at the U.S. Embassy, Saigon Vietnam (Tet Offensive) while in route to defend the U.S. Ambassadors compound at Bien Hoa, after defending the U.S. Embassy from Viet Cong assault.

Awards: The Purlpe Heart with 3 Stars (4 Purple Hearts), The American Defense Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign with numerous Battle Stars, and The Bronze Star Medal.
Washington Vietnam Memorial: Panel 36E, Line 9
Wilmington High School Fullback Number 32, 1965

PFC RICHARD WILLIAM WELCH
B Company, 4th BN, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade

On September 13, 1968 infantrymen from the 4th BN, 503rd Infantry were digging out enemy troops in a bunkered area 9 kilometers northwest of DucLap, Vietnam. The effort cost the lives of seven Americans, two from supporting helo unit, and five from the 4/503, including Pvt Richard Welch.

Awards: The Purple Heart, The American National Defense Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Combat Infantry Badge, The Paratroopers Wings.
Washington Vietnam Memorial: Panel 44W, Line 55
Wilmington High School Class of 1967

I go to "vist my classmates" every year, for the past 35 years on Memorial Day...If not for the grace of God, it could have been me! A.R.N.F.
"The Eagle"
USN Vietnam 1968-70

The Eagle

We salute your four friends...

and you ....

Memorial Day is my favorite celebration day!
Thank you to all who have served and who are serving and be safe

Our Best Have Served...
 

Some of us are still, and With!

When it comes to defending our Country, the Best will serve and defend Her!

Spec-4 trfour, Army Signal Corps.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo....php?photo=440

Speaking as a Veteran...
 

There is nothing more precious than Peace...but...

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...ockbathing.jpg

...every time I see this "war-time" postcard, I get preturbed.

While we were "At Peace", we also had a pre-WW2 military the size of Portugal's!

While we were "At Peace", Canada had been battling the National-Socialists of Germany for two years! Though much smaller than the US in population, they suffered 10% fatalities of our WW2 military men.

Currently, we've already capitulated in one war, leaving our troops there to be ground up by our adversaries.

Before we send off our troops to war, we must have the fortitude to carry it off; conversely, we must pick which "hill" to take, and which to leave alone.

IMO.

Expensive but not in terms of money.

The Mighty Mo in Pearl harbor.....I got to take home one of those flags. It is flying on my flag pole right now for Memorial Day.
Being the son of a Veteran, (WWII, Korea and Vietnam) I will never forget the service the Veterans, and the men and women of the armed forces of today, have provided my family, myself and this country. God Bless them all.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...b/DSC_0137.jpg

From the Arizona Memorial....

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...b/DSC_0097.jpg

To those who not only gave their time but their lives with their families, futures with their friends, the chance to find love, the chance to have children, the chance to enjoy the country they loved, defended and protected. They gave everything. They held nothing back, so that we and our family can be free and live in this the greatest country in the world. Thank you seems so small for such a complete sacrifice. Today, we remember those we can never adequately thank.

As Im a Veteran, I take this weekend to rememeber and thanks all the Vets before me and those who served with me , and I take time to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, I also take time to thank the ones who have what I think is the hardest job in the world ... the Military Spouse !!!!

Though Im a widower and a Veteran ,I always took the time to thank my wife as she had to put up with me , the service, and to be a father and mother to the family while I was not there , and the not knowing of what to expect everytime I left

To all of the Military Spouses
Thanks for all of your support

To My Guy
 

To my guy, Ralph, a Vietnam vet.

Thank you for my freedom.

Ralph is marching in uniform in a parade in MA tomorrow instead of playing on the lake. Some keep on giving.

I am blessed
Island Girl

Great Weekend
 

Today has been part of a great weekend. I had the honor of being a part of Memorial Day Services at Knollwood Memorial Park down in Mass.
See the link below for more information about this beautiful place. They have 450 full size flags lining the drives in this cemetary. They did two services today at 11 AM and at noon, where they obtain a flag from two families, one at each service, and raise the flag on a tall flagpole, then lower it to half mast. A gun salute is then done followed by Taps (with the echo effect) and finally Amazing Grace played by one of the bagpipers from Campbell Highlanders. As Drum-Major of the Campbell Highlanders, I was extremely proud to be a part of these services, and especially proud to render the salute for the band as the National Anthem was sung and also during the flag ceremony.

http://www.knollwoodmemorial.com/events.html#one

Tomorrow, it is back down to Mass for the Boxford Memorial Day Parade.

Thanks to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the past, to all those who served and returned, and most especially, remember those who are serving today, both at home and around the world, that we may gather and pay our well-deserved respects.

Moment of silence at 3pm today.
 

Just a reminder at 3 pm this afternoon there is a moment of silence to remember the fallen hero's. ("The National Moment of Remembrance Act")

Thanks for the reminder