Remembering The Fallen
Memorial day here in the U S is on Monday. While everyone is having their get together and cooking on the grill having a few drinks and maybe watching their little ones swim or run through the sprinkler, I wonder how many will actually be remembering the fallen?
My family will be remembering them. No matter what country you are from, when you have others who go to battle for your country, they deserve to be honored.
They wanted to protect their country and those they loved. Honoring them is the least that can be done for those men and women.
It just seems that some of us just use such holidays as a reason to get with family and friends to hang out and enjoy each other.
I don't have a problem with that, I have a problem when others FORGET what the holiday is actually about and WHO the holiday is about.
My Family Who Served
Even though my grandfather fought in WW2 he came home alive. He had changed, but was still alive.
He drank a lot and I don't really remember him being like you would think a grandfather would be.
I was still really young when my mom told me he had killed himself. He was having flashbacks and couldn't understand why all of his buddies around him were in the fox hole dead.
He told my grandmother and my cousin that he was going to shoot himself, and they watched him walk out the door.
I don't think I would have just sat and did nothing when someone was telling me that, especially knowing that he had a gun in his truck. The next thing they heard was a gunshot.
Even though he came home alive, and wasn't physically in the war when he died, he was still there mentally.
My dad served in the Vietnam War. He also survived. But my dad was a heavy drinker as was his father (the one I just spoke about). I can't say it was in the genes, as I don't really know.
I have 2 younger brothers who never served. The older one was shot in the foot (accidentally) by my dad (while he was in a drunken state) as a child and my youngest brother has brain damage.
My husband fought in Desert Storm. He is also a survivor. Was a paratrooper but doesn't talk about it much and I don't ask. He is the best man I have ever met and I thank God for bringing him into my life.
What About Your Family
We all have some type of family history. Some of us know the history of family members we know and love, we also know about family members whom we never knew, but have heard the stories about them.
Did you have anyone who served? What was their story? Did you have a fallen hero? I would love to hear about them and include them in who my family remembers on Monday.
If you are OK to talk about it, please do. This is what the Holiday is about. I didn't know many, but love to honor them all.
Who Was The Fallen That You Will Be Remembering
It doesn't have to be a family member. Not everyone has family who served, but a lot of us may still know someone, a friend, a friend of a friend or have heard stories of others family members who have fallen.
Share the stories with my family and I. There is a reason for this post. I want to celebrate this holiday as it was created for.
On Monday, I am reading this to my family. Those who comment and have a loved one, friend acquaintance, or even heard the story of a fallen, it will be shared with my family.
Non of my children have ever experienced it, but as I said earlier, there are so many people who forget about what the holiday is really about.
My family isn't going to be like that. Not on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th or Veterans Day.
My older ones know the meaning of each holiday, my younger 2 do for the most part. I want to bestow in them the same .
I want them to grow up knowing the value of these holidays and how they came to become designated as a holiday.
Share your story with me so we can remember them with you. We can all remember them ALL together.
I look forward to hearing the different stories and who they were to you, how it affected you. How you spend this holiday remembering the fallen.
We started ours today. My girl scout troop participated in the Memorial Day parade. The girls were reminded that the parade was to honor the men and women who died protecting our country.
I shared my story, what is yours?
Best Of Luck In All You Do
Lee Ann
Recent Comments
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This is one of the most beautiful posts I have ever read, and I thank you for it. No matter how your grandfather died, he was a hero who died for his country, and I hope your children know that.
My husband is a veteran who served on a submarine, and every man in my family as far back as I know has served in the military. None of them gave their life as the ultimate sacrifice, but every one of them honors those who did.
Today is the day we get to show how much we value and honor those who gave that ultimate sacrifice, and I hope everyone keeps that in mind as they celebrate this holiday with family and friends.
A proud Navy wife,
Janelle
Best comment ever!
I am really shocked that not many have bothered with this post.
Thank you Janelle. I am honored that you shared your story.
It is awesome to now that we will be honoring the fallen together.
I never got to experience what it was like being a military wife, but I was able to go to Georgia with my husband for a reunion of his Army buddies.
It was so emotional that I was kind of glad that I didn't have to go through what that frightening feeling of whether my husband would return home.
But then again, I wish I would have known him then so that I could have been able to support him and love him during the days he served.
May God be with the fallen and with their family and friends as we remember them on this special day.
Remembering The Fallen
Lee Ann
I'm surprised too that this post hasn't gotten more comments.
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are 2 holidays that are emotional for my husband. The bonds that he created with his fellow submariners are still strong and they usually communicate around the holidays and talk about their Navy days.
Being a Navy wife wasn't easy for sure, but nothing compared to what the service members face. My husband didn't serve during a time of war, so I didn't have to go through that kind of agony that many spouses have.
I hope people really celebrate Memorial Day the way it was meant to be by honoring those who literally gave their lives for all of us to live the life we do!
That is what sort of makes me angry. When others take advantage of being able to live in their country because of those who gave their life to protect them and their country.
I do understand that commenting on a post doesn't mean you aren't honoring the fallen.
I was really just expecting that others would love to share their stories of loved ones that served or that were among the fallen.
I wanted to share their stories with my family. I am glad that I do have the couple stories and I have shared them with my family.
I do worry about my husband as he doesn't really like to talk about his time in Desert Storm.
However he does stay in contact with the guys he served with and that is priceless. I am sure you fill the same way.
They have had a couple who have taken their own life due to not being able to forget or move on from their life in battle.
This is a subject I could talk forever about. My heart goes out to any and all families who have experienced having a loved one that served their country even if they didn't have to go to battle.
I salute your husband, his buddies and all of your family members that served and yours well. You were by his side and remain there.
Please let them all know they are very appreciated every day, not just on the 2 days that are dedicated to them.
I will let my husband know and thank you. Please tell your husband and all of the military members in your life that we are grateful to them and very proud of their service. He is very lucky to have you!
You have quite a story Lee Ann, I'm sure it is a traumatic time when people come home from war. You are correct that we should remember and respect the people who served.
Thanks for sharing your story Lee Ann and the reminder of not forgotten what Memorial Day is all about.
Thank you Evelyn for taking the time to read about my family and for your kind words.
My story doesn't really compare to others. I just wanted to share a little of mine that revolved around our holiday that is approaching.
I am really hoping to here the story of others so that we can honor them as well.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Best Of Luck In All You Do
Remember The Fallen
Lee Ann
Thank you for this important reminder on Memorial Day Lee Ann. This is all not about barbecues and get-togethers.
Let's remember and pray for the Fallen, including your grand-father and all the deceased. Very sorry.
Let's keep the value in these important Holidays.
Kaju
Amen Kaju.
Well said and thank you for taking the time for this post.
Have a safe and happy weekend.
Remember The Fallen
Thank you for your family's sacrifice for our country. My family has several members who have served as well. My mother saw one of the first planes that were on their way to bomb Pearl Harbor. My father volunteered to serve in the military and was denied because we're Japanese. He eventually got drafted and served in the Pacific theater. We are proud Americans. God bless America. Please honor our military on this day. Freedom is not free!
Thank you for sharing this Pamela. We will be honoring your family for this Memorial holiday.
Thank your family for their service as well. I think it is awesome your father went to battle for a country who denied him the right.
Our country is like any other country, we have good and we have bad.
I love this country and I believe in it. Our freedom is definitely not free and it kills me that there are Americans who seem to forget that.
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Lee Ann, have a tear in my eyes, having just returned from Normandy where I led a party of twelve Normandy Veterans, saw many war graves, and my next post will be in a similar vein to yours, Totally agree it does not matter what country people are from they were just doing there duty, or as they were told to do.
Aww. Edwin,
You are a great guy with a loving heart. I think it is awesome that you participated in such a heart wrenching event.
We have a resort that has a military cemetery and they hold an event every Memorial Day for the fallen. Flags are placed on the graves at the end of the ceremony. It is a beautiful thing to see.
Thank you for sharing your day with me.
It is a pleasure.