Memorial Day

[Carol Ann]

To all my brothers and sister in arms I salute you for your service now and in the passed

[SilverLady(SO)]

Virginia, a former Naval Aviator, and I both know and understand that freedom is not free, and we salute all those in the military - past, present and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure this great country's continued freedom . . . some were family, others friends, still others who became family. No matter how long you were in the service, you are still a Veteran, and we thank you for your service!!


It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the community organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag.

It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag.



God Bless the USA!


- SL and Virginia

[Carol Ann]

SL TY ,you are a girls best friend.

Virginia, never did give your thanks for your high cover

[Rony]

Thank you all who served this great nation for the personal sacrifices that you have made to protect our country and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Respectfully
Ronnie

[KimberlyS]

A thank you to all who served in the armed forces. Your service is appreciated.

[Anita]

My two uncles were in the army, one in WW I, and the other in WW II. Although I never got to know either of them well, I appreciate what they did for the country.

[Wendae]

I'm not ashamed to admit sheding a tear as I remember those that have gone before me, for those that have returned from war with awful injuries both physical and mental. I salute my fellow men and women veterans.

[Paula G]

Sorry to be contentious, but not everybody on this forum is from the USA, not all members enjoy the freedoms you do, some enjoy more. Other nations celebrate their armed forces differently, some just fear them. Some nations have won their freedoms from their armed forces rather than because of them, and not all nations honour a flag, some honour a person, some an ideology, some a history. The American dream is not universal, the American way of life is not everyone's aspiration, and the American model of governance is not necessarily the only model of democracy.

I don't wish to poor cold water on your celebrations, and it is right to honour those who have freely and voluntarily given their time and more to serve their country, but remember that as this is an international on-line forum there may be members here who served in other nations armed forces to keep their nation free from domination by your country.

Being British I am very aware that at one time or another we have been at war with just about every country in the world (and beaten most of them). We do not have a special day when we honour our armed forces past and present, we do remember all those who served, and especially those who lost their lives in war on armistice day, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

[MariMar]

Paula, That is so True...I bad not thought about that at all....

Thank you...

[Wendae]

Paula I find your post offensive.

[SilverLady(SO)]

Paula -

I agree with Wendae, your post is offensive. While what you said may be true - in a very small part, and definitely not in totality - you should not have made that post in a topic where we Americans are honoring true American Heroes.

... but remember that as this is an international on-line forum there may be members here who served in other nations armed forces to keep their nation free from domination by your country.

I will remind you - since you seem to be lacking in your history lessons - that it was America who saved England from German invasion/domination in both WWI and WWII, and we also saved France from German invasion/domination in both WWI and WWII. These are just two of the many countries that America has helped over the years, and our aid was never done with the intention of 'domination' as you falsely state.


I say that you owe all of us Americans an apology for your comments.


Let me also remind everyone that this forum is based in the USA and the vast majority of members are also American, and quite a few of them proudly served or had family/friends who are now or were in the armed forces, and some of them gave the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure not only our country's freedoms, but freedom for other countries as well.


That being said, I see no reason why you or anyone else from a 'foreign country' could not start an "Armistice Day" topic (or the equivalent) to salute that country's military . . . if/when they pay tribute to them.


- SL

[Paula G]

As stated quite clearly my intention is not to offend, and I am sorry if I have, I merely wanted to point out the international nature of this forum, I do not know the full geographical scope, but maybe we have members who feel offended by any form of national jingoism (A term coined as an insult to British by the way), which some of these comments could well be misinterpreted as.

Armistice day is an international day of remembrance honoured pretty much through out the world

I think that not only the English and French, but also the Belgians, Dutch, Norwegians, Finns, Danish, Welsh, Scots, Austrians, Polish, Slovaks, Italians, Egyptians, Australians, Indians, Canadians, North Africans, New Zealanders, Russians and many others will be insulted by SL's last comment taken fresh from the Hollywood concept that it was the USA who won two world wars on it's own. The USA entered the 1914 - 1918 war in 1917 after Germany attacked it's shipping and the 1939 -1945 war in 1941 after Pearl Harbour. While it is hard to see how he allies would have prevailed in 1945 without the US, and it's early materials support many wonder when they would have joined if the Axis had attacked them first.

It is not, and has not been my intention to undermine those who have served their Country, rather as I clearly stated " it is right to honour those who have freely and voluntarily given their time and more to serve their country," My essential point is that we should honour all those who fought for their Country, whatever the Country and whatever the motivation of the leaders who took their forces into conflict. That is why we honour the Germans, Italians, Argentinians etc. who fought as well as the Allies and members of the Commonwealth.

[SilverLady(SO)]

Paula -

If it was never your intention to offend anyone then you would never have made your comments in this topic, and indeed you began your post indicating that you knew you were going to offend Americans:

Sorry to be contentious, but not everybody on this forum is from the USA, not all members enjoy the freedoms you do, some enjoy more. Other nations celebrate their armed forces differently, some just fear them. Some nations have won their freedoms from their armed forces rather than because of them, and not all nations honour a flag, some honour a person, some an ideology, some a history. The American dream is not universal, the American way of life is not everyone's aspiration, and the American model of governance is not necessarily the only model of democracy.

The topic was clearly for Americans celebrating an American holiday and yet you chose to introduce commentary, and specifically false claims of American 'domination', that were clearly and patently offensive and had absolutely no business being in this topic. You did so to offend, and offend you did. You owe us Americans an apology.

I never insulted any country as you falsely state. "Hollywood" has absolutely nothing to do with my statements that it was America who saved England and France from German invasion/domination in both WWI and WWII . . . it is fact. I freely admit that other countries - our Allies - did help, but the fact remains that they could not have done it without our military might. Pure fact. No 'Hollywood' fiction. Period.

Accordingly, I stand by my statements in my first post, above. America has helped many countries over the years, and our aid was never done with the intention of 'domination' as you have falsely stated and which you are now trying to spin.


And yes, you still owe all of us Americans - and our Veterans - an apology.



- SL

[Anthony Simon]

I really don't think this discussion is helpful. Whatever the ins and outs of the debate, it's not what we're here for.

I did go and look at Paula's blog and she mentions that her 90 year old mother, who she visited last weekend, is in hospital and has kind of "lost it". My father (similar age) was like that a year ago and doesn't, now, have long to live.

Whether that is why Paula made her first post, I don't know, but these sorts of issues can be very disturbing - or at least they are in my experience.

Honestly, it just looks to me like you were upset about something, Paula, and came here and picked a fight.

[Carol Ann]

oh Paula