Tag: Memorial Day

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Memorial Day 2019

This is the day we celebrate those that gave their lives so we could have our lives. Yes, I said celebrate, we mourn, then we celebrate lives well lived. When an individual signs up for military duty they are giving their lives and those lives are well lived.

There has been a member of my family in one of the branches of military since 1774. I am proud to say that, I am proud of all of them.

During WWII all of my uncles enlisted, all 5 of them, I cannot imagine what went through my grandma and grandpa’s minds. Their hearts must have been leaping into their throats every single time they heard a news report.

All 5 of them came home, I have never really sat and thought of the ramifications of that happening. How incredibly blessed they were that all 5 of their sons came home.

One did pass later from a brain tumor that we are pretty sure he got while in the war. Chemical warfare is a real thing, and there are consequences of that.

But all 5 came home, J.H., Walter, Albert, Wayne and Laverne, my uncle Laverne passed before I was born so I never got to meet him.

I was raised on a steady diet of patriotism and giving back to a country that gave our family so much.

My grandfather talked about General Washington so much that I didn’t learn he was our first President until I was in kindergarten.

I learned of my family’s sacrifices over the years to this amazing country that I get to live in from my dad and my grandfather. I learned of heroism, sacrifice and yes, blessings, to this family.

On this day, especially, I am proud to be an American, I am proud of all of the men and women who sacrificed the ultimate price so we could enjoy our freedoms here at home.

The freedom to say what we want, when we want, not freedom from consequences, but freedom not to be killed over our beliefs. Freedom to Worship God and say the name of Jesus without fear of beheadings. Freedom to marry who we want, freedom to divorce if they turn out to be not so nice. Freedom to raise our children, to teach them the sacrifices of our forefathers.

So, on this Memorial Day I leave you with this thought, pray for the families who have sacrificed their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, husbands, wives and lovers so we can enjoy the bounty of our country. The United States of America.

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Memorial Day

I think a lot of people are confused about what Memorial Day is really about. I see a lot of people posting things about veterans and active service members. Telling them thank you for your service. While that is commendable and should be done, Memorial Day is not the day to do that.
Armed Forces Day, which is the third Sunday in May, is for active members of the, well, armed forces. It is a day to tell active service members thank you for all you are currently doing.
Veterans Day, which is November 11th, is for telling veterans of the armed forces thank you for your willingness to serve so that we may live free.
Memorial Day is for recognizing the ones that paid the ultimate price and never came home. the ones that died in service to our great country. Those are the one ones we say thank you to today.
To their families, thank you, you sent your men and women to serve The United States of America, you paid a price as well. I thank you for your courage and strength, I honor your grief and pray for your heart.
I don’t have the words to adequately say thank you to the men and women that gave their all so I could have the freedoms I enjoy. It is beyond words, it is beyond emotion, gratitude seems so paltry. Yet it is all I have to give, gratitude for my freedom to sit in my sun-filled home, in a country not torn by war, thanks to your sacrifice.
I sit and write in my comfortable existence, never knowing real sacrifice, never knowing true hunger and never knowing true fear due to you.
Saying a simple thank you is seems so paltry in light of what you have done for me, it’s all I have.
So, thank you, from the depths of my soul, thank you, thank you for ensuring the freedoms of this country for my children and their progeny. Thank you ensuring the freedoms of this country for all future generations. I can only pray that all will recognize your sacrifices and honor them by continuing to protect our countries ideas and beliefs.
Thank you to the families that sent these men and women off to battle knowing they might not see them again, and then having to face that very actuality. Thank you so much for all that you have sacrificed. I pray for your hearts, I know there will always be a huge gap in there for those you lost.
I pray our country understands the sacrifices made for us and will continue to pay proper homage to those we lost in our quest to secure our way of life.

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Memorial Day

A three-day weekend, that is what I first thought, I can rest up and relax, then I thought about why we have this three day weekend.

Memorial Day, it is a day where we, as Americans, reflect and honor the men and women who not only served our country, but gave their lives so that we may live ours.

As a person who has had many family members in the military this particularly hits home. The very first Testerman who came here fought for the freedom of this country from the British. He started it all, Thomas Testerman, I wish I could go back in time and know him. Have a conversation with him on his thought process and why he chose this country to land in, to fight for and to marry and have children. I wish I could tell him how it all turns out, how this family is so very proud of him for having the courage to come here for us.

I wish I could tell him of the countless generations of Testermans who selflessly joined the military, who fought the battles so we could continue to have the freedom he first fought for. I wish I could tell him about my Brothers, Uncles, Cousins and Nephew who have served. I believe he would be proud that we have carried on a tradition he started when he first signed up to be a patriot and a member of that first continental army.

I am so very honored and humbled to have known a great man by marriage, my ex-husbands grandfather. He served in WWII, and he continued to serve for many years after by helping other soldiers that were coming home. He gave so much to this country and I am honored to have known him.

I cannot forget my many friends who have served and the ones that continue to serve in the reserves. They have done and do things I could not imagine, simply so I can sit here at this computer and write this.

I have done nothing so brave in my life, I salute the ones that have, you are the real lifeblood of this country. Our protectors, our first line of defense, so on Monday we honor the ones that gave their lives so we can enjoy our freedoms.

Never forgotten, always treasured, our Armed Forces.