The Greatest Generation...and Memorial Day

[mgcolby]

I wrote this after talking with many folks this weekend. I live in Stafford, VA now....and Quantico is right up the road, hell damn near everyone here and just about all of my friends I have met here are ex-military.

this is my observation from this "Memorial Day Weekend"....If you end up being offended...then go **** yourself....you ARE the problem in this country. We can come together as a group we just need to remember where we came from.

I am ashamed to feel I have to write this today. Memorial day is not a “Happy Day”, it pains me to hear that from my friends. Its not a happy day! It’s a day that gives many people the day off, and unfortunately in 2017 that means a day to party. Now, I’m not against partying. Nor are my friends and neighbors, we are good ol’ fashioned folks, we get together, cook food, drink beer and enjoy the day.

But today’s “day off” comes at the expense of ‘US’ (and their families) that were never again able to take a day off, either from their sacrifice out of responsibility as a citizen of this great country or their grief for the one they loved and lost.

Its their DAY!!


The generations that have come since WWII have constantly lost a piece of their country’s soul, the soul their (our, my) parents sacrificed so we could sit around earlier today swimming in our pools, cooking over an open fire and loving our loved ones.

Instead we have active duty members, veterans of my generation who still don’t understand what today was/is. They think its a day to get a free meal at Golden Corral. It kills me to see a young service member thinking this weekend is “ours”, because as far as I can tell they don’t know any better. It makes me want to punch a fellow vet in the face when I meet him in the bar and he says “ happy memorial day”….as a 38 year old veteran….

I salute all of you that are still reading this and were part of the “greatest generation” ( and they/you were)…I salute all of you that went to the war that was not….(Korea), I damn near cry when I think of those of you that went to the jungle and tried to do the right thing, lost friends, family, brothers and comrades. I say this bud is for you if you went in to Kuwait and kicked the **** out of the Iraqi’s, those of you that entered during Kosovo…this beer is for you. Those of us that were there for 9/11, I understand your moment. Those of you that came after….thank you for your service. Please teach your children well and let them know regardless of empty political banter, the foundation of this country is rock…and each generation is responsible for adding another layer. That is your burden as a son/daughter of this country and your "responsibility" to the greatest generation.

For those that are unable to read this, well from all of us that are able…we thank you! And more importantly to those loved ones of yours the most sincere thank you, you are the best of ‘US’ and we can never say or do anything to replace the one you lost.

A quote that I hope helps those are confused about Veterans day and Memorial day:


Veterans day is “my day”, I chose to take my uniform off.

Memorial day is for those that never had the option to take their uniform off.


I hope as a people we regain our sense of self.

 

[CutiePie]

this is my observation from this "Memorial Day Weekend"....If you end up being offended...then go **** yourself....you ARE the problem in this country. We can come together as a group we just need to remember where we came from.

 

[mgcolby]

Ok...I'll bite...I have no clue. What does that mean. It looks like a knight charging mill...not sure what that means in the context of this post.

And welcome to the board. Lots of good folks here.

 

[CutiePie]

Ok...I'll bite...I have no clue. What does that mean. It looks like a knight charging mill...not sure what that means in the context of this post.

And welcome to the board. Lots of good folks here.

"tilting at windmills"

means to fight imaginary enemies

in other words.....have to admire your respect for those who lost their lives in sacrifice for our nation

but it seams like you are too worked up over it

you cant force people to be as solemn and somber about it as you.....most people are frivolous and shallow about most things

i used to be a member under a different name

just one cutie pie's opinion

 

[mgcolby]

Thanks. For the explanation. I don't see somber....I see respect. So thanks for your perspective.

My opinion.....Your perspective is severely lacking and is what has brought us to where we are today. But, Enjoy your freedom and free speech Cutie Pie! But always respect the same of others.

I added an edit...you mentioned somber. Today is a day for sobriety, a little bit of humble to those that died making sure you could type tonight. Those that make sure you don't have an SS patch on your shoulder....those that made sure you were born into a country that included Jews.

Yeah....I'm an ass for a "somber" post! On a day when we honor over 400,ooo men and women who lost their lives saving the world from a satan.

As I said in my original post if this offends you then **** off and leave the thread. And continue being a cutie?

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

Thanks. For the explanation. I don't see somber....I see respect. So thanks for your perspective.

My opinion.....Your perspective is severely lacking and is what has brought us to where we are today. But, Enjoy your freedom and free speech Cutie Pie! But always respect the same of others.

I added an edit...you mentioned somber. Today is a day for sobriety, a little bit of humble to those that died making sure you could type tonight. Those that make sure you don't have an SS patch on your shoulder....those that made sure you were born into a country that included Jews.

Yeah....I'm an ass for a "somber" post! On a day when we honor over 400,ooo men and women who lost their lives saving the world from a satan.

As I said in my original post if this offends you then **** off and leave the thread. And continue being a cutie?

I had an uncle that was in the marines and fought in Battle of Iwo Jima (purple heart). I love reading about WW2 history.

I can't stand WW2 mythology. Hitler and Germany didn't have the military or the economy to take over the world. They didn't even have the military or the economy to take over Britain and the English Channel is only about 20 miles wide.

So is it possible to honor our vets for their their service and not sound like a bunch of ignoramuses? If the US did not enter the war, we would not all be speaking German right now. It's just f*cking embarrassing listening to people spouting that nonsense.

 

[CutiePie]

Yeah....I'm an ass for a "somber" post! On a day when we honor over 400,ooo men and women who lost their lives saving the world from a satan.

As I said in my original post if this offends you then **** off and leave the thread. And continue being a cutie?

i have no issue with you being "serious" or "somber" about memorial day

i admire that

i just think you are too worked up over other people not taking the day as "personal" as you do

how "somber" are you on MLK jr day?.....or Juneteenth?

do you get worked up over people not being "serious" and "respectful" enough about all the terrible things that black people have had to endure in our nations history?

not to mention the huge impact slaves had on enabling our industrial revolution

if i hurt your feelings, then i apologize

just one cutie pie's opinion

 

[fair catch fryar]

Ok...I'll bite...I have no clue. What does that mean. It looks like a knight charging mill...not sure what that means in the context of this post.

And welcome to the board. Lots of good folks here.

I think it's supposed to be Don Quixote. I respect your thoughts and feelings towards those that sacrificed everything for the freedom that many may not fully appreciate or understand, but that particular generation was the one that had to answer the call. To think that other generations of Americans wouldn't do the same thing is naive. That same generation was called lazy and immoral at one time too. Honestly, I choose to pop the top on a cold one and serve up a toast for EVERY generation of Americans that made the ultimate sacrifice and I won't force myself to try and feel sad for it.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Thanks for the lesson. I guess the guys I got together with needed the lesson since we collectively have about 150 years of military and combat experience between us. I visited the grave sites of friends and family as did they, and then our families got together and partied for the rest of the day. Our kids played all day while we drank and ate until our guts busted but yeah, "**** me and my friends... we're the problem with the country"... thanks for the reminder and lesson on American etiquette first thing Tuesday morning.

Nothing I love more than false outrage by civies using us to prop up their 1 or 2 day a year notions about veterans.

Here's another lesson. I'm perfectly fine with people not understanding what Memorial day is about. That means they likely have not lost anyone or are too young to understand and that's fine by me. For some of us, we just do the best we can.

 

[DarrylS]

There seems to be a tendency to try to understand what happened in the early 1940;s in the context of what and how we understand things now.. my father was in D-Day and he along with others had a great deal of difficult talking about those early and subsequent days during WW II.. my father died young. Until recently I never understood what he meant by Mulberry Harbors, and when I went to Arromaches understood it better.

Was friends with a next door neighbor who experienced the 5 major battles of World War II.. he would sometimes refer to the atrocities that he and others committed during the war, in the context of Nazi Atrocities.. He helped liberate concentration camps. I started to Chronicle his story for the Library of Congress but he could not deal with it, as it became too stressful for him. He was always angry that the Russians got to go into Berlin to rape and pillage, and felt he and his soldiers should have had the same opportunity. Have heard the partial stories of many veterans to WW II, but usually they shy the most difficult aspects of that war.

As we move further and further away from a traumatic events it becomes more sanitized.. all those I knew who have since passed would tell us something completely different than what we think we know. The tendency to look back at events in light of today's standards, becomes somewhat skewed as it was a completely different time in our country.

A good example, was watching the D-Day documentary narrated by BB last night, and for the first time I felt I understood what a "hedgerow"(bocage) was.. so despite all the books I have read and documentaries I have watched there is always something new to learn and understand about WW II. This happens after I read any book on WW II or see a new documentary, it was a very complex conflict. Recently have come to learn the hatred of Nazi's towards the Poles, and have been trying to understand that as well. There are so many layers to that whole war, continually learning a new and different aspect of it.

To minimize what happens begs the issue.. and makes less of a significant event than it really was..

 

[jah]

In this thread: no one disrespecting veterans, although somehow people are still reacting as if that happened.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

In this thread: no one disrespecting veterans, although somehow people are still reacting as if that happened.

It's disrespectful to Americans and frankly, it is unnecessary. Nothing sticks in my craw more than using veterans as a crutch to tell other Americans how to be American and it's about the only time I'll ever pull out my DD214.

 

[Tony2046]

I had an uncle that was in the marines and fought in Battle of Iwo Jima (purple heart). I love reading about WW2 history.

I can't stand WW2 mythology. Hitler and Germany didn't have the military or the economy to take over the world. They didn't even have the military or the economy to take over Britain and the English Channel is only about 20 miles wide.

So is it possible to honor our vets for their their service and not sound like a bunch of ignoramuses? If the US did not enter the war, we would not all be speaking German right now. It's just f*cking embarrassing listening to people spouting that nonsense.

I enjoy history as well. I agree that we would not have been speaking German but the damage the Nazi's did could have been much much worse.

Their economy was replenished by creative pyramidal methods such as, "I conquer you and you will work for me", "I conquer your country and your resources are mine" or "I borrow money from you and I won't invade you". Very complex, I know.

Their military technology and scientists were used to advance the US into the space age and our military into jet aircraft. The Luftwaffe already had jets albeit very few. V2's were evolving. They were close to an atomic weapon but ran out of time. etc etc..

They initially had control of the channel until the Polish and the British had broken the Enigma code and the British and the US had improved/developed sonar and radar technology (the birth of Raytheon btw).

Anyways thank God the Allies kept constant pressure on Germany which forced them into a series of strategic blunders (Stalingrad) because if not things could have been much worse. We definitely would have known how to speak some German. Luftwaffe. Blitzkrieg. Kindergarten. Bier. Hamburger.

 

[p8ryts]

I wrote this after talking with many folks this weekend. I live in Stafford, VA now....and Quantico is right up the road, hell damn near everyone here and just about all of my friends I have met here are ex-military.

this is my observation from this "Memorial Day Weekend"....If you end up being offended...then go **** yourself....you ARE the problem in this country. We can come together as a group we just need to remember where we came from.

I am ashamed to feel I have to write this today. Memorial day is not a “Happy Day”, it pains me to hear that from my friends. Its not a happy day! It’s a day that gives many people the day off, and unfortunately in 2017 that means a day to party. Now, I’m not against partying. Nor are my friends and neighbors, we are good ol’ fashioned folks, we get together, cook food, drink beer and enjoy the day.

But today’s “day off” comes at the expense of ‘US’ (and their families) that were never again able to take a day off, either from their sacrifice out of responsibility as a citizen of this great country or their grief for the one they loved and lost.

Its their DAY!!


The generations that have come since WWII have constantly lost a piece of their country’s soul, the soul their (our, my) parents sacrificed so we could sit around earlier today swimming in our pools, cooking over an open fire and loving our loved ones.

Instead we have active duty members, veterans of my generation who still don’t understand what today was/is. They think its a day to get a free meal at Golden Corral. It kills me to see a young service member thinking this weekend is “ours”, because as far as I can tell they don’t know any better. It makes me want to punch a fellow vet in the face when I meet him in the bar and he says “ happy memorial day”….as a 38 year old veteran….

I salute all of you that are still reading this and were part of the “greatest generation” ( and they/you were)…I salute all of you that went to the war that was not….(Korea), I damn near cry when I think of those of you that went to the jungle and tried to do the right thing, lost friends, family, brothers and comrades. I say this bud is for you if you went in to Kuwait and kicked the **** out of the Iraqi’s, those of you that entered during Kosovo…this beer is for you. Those of us that were there for 9/11, I understand your moment. Those of you that came after….thank you for your service. Please teach your children well and let them know regardless of empty political banter, the foundation of this country is rock…and each generation is responsible for adding another layer. That is your burden as a son/daughter of this country and your "responsibility" to the greatest generation.

For those that are unable to read this, well from all of us that are able…we thank you! And more importantly to those loved ones of yours the most sincere thank you, you are the best of ‘US’ and we can never say or do anything to replace the one you lost.

A quote that I hope helps those are confused about Veterans day and Memorial day:


Veterans day is “my day”, I chose to take my uniform off.

Memorial day is for those that never had the option to take their uniform off.


I hope as a people we regain our sense of self.

Well done, well said. I'm a little surprised by some of the responses to what you wrote. We use the word "hero" a little casually in these times. When I think of a hero, I think of anyone who put a leg over the side of a ship to climb into a landing craft to hit a beach in the Eastern or Western theaters of operation. I think of Confederate soldiers stepping out of the woods to cross the open field in Gettysburg, or the Union soldiers crossing the Rappahanock to attack Mary's Heights in Fredericksburg. I think of WWI soldiers that climbed out of the holes in the ground and cross an open space. War is insane. Just appreciate the commitment and courage of those who served and are still serving. This weekend I met a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He went to Europe when he was 18 wounded at 19. He's 91 now. He may or may not have done anything remarkable but he deserves to be respected.

 

[fair catch fryar]

This weekend I met a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. He went to Europe when he was 18 wounded at 19. He's 91 now. He may or may not have done anything remarkable but he deserves to be respected.

Yes he does, but Veteran's Day is his day. Memorial Day is reserved specifically for those that died and I think he would be the first to acknowledge that. No one has any right to dictate or judge how others want to spend a particular holiday. I have absolute reverence for those that served and died for this country.

 

[PP2]

I wrote this after talking with many folks this weekend. I live in Stafford, VA now....and Quantico is right up the road, hell damn near everyone here and just about all of my friends I have met here are ex-military.

this is my observation from this "Memorial Day Weekend"....If you end up being offended...then go **** yourself....you ARE the problem in this country. We can come together as a group we just need to remember where we came from.

I am ashamed to feel I have to write this today. Memorial day is not a “Happy Day”, it pains me to hear that from my friends. Its not a happy day! It’s a day that gives many people the day off, and unfortunately in 2017 that means a day to party. Now, I’m not against partying. Nor are my friends and neighbors, we are good ol’ fashioned folks, we get together, cook food, drink beer and enjoy the day.

But today’s “day off” comes at the expense of ‘US’ (and their families) that were never again able to take a day off, either from their sacrifice out of responsibility as a citizen of this great country or their grief for the one they loved and lost.

Its their DAY!!


The generations that have come since WWII have constantly lost a piece of their country’s soul, the soul their (our, my) parents sacrificed so we could sit around earlier today swimming in our pools, cooking over an open fire and loving our loved ones.

Instead we have active duty members, veterans of my generation who still don’t understand what today was/is. They think its a day to get a free meal at Golden Corral. It kills me to see a young service member thinking this weekend is “ours”, because as far as I can tell they don’t know any better. It makes me want to punch a fellow vet in the face when I meet him in the bar and he says “ happy memorial day”….as a 38 year old veteran….

I salute all of you that are still reading this and were part of the “greatest generation” ( and they/you were)…I salute all of you that went to the war that was not….(Korea), I damn near cry when I think of those of you that went to the jungle and tried to do the right thing, lost friends, family, brothers and comrades. I say this bud is for you if you went in to Kuwait and kicked the **** out of the Iraqi’s, those of you that entered during Kosovo…this beer is for you. Those of us that were there for 9/11, I understand your moment. Those of you that came after….thank you for your service. Please teach your children well and let them know regardless of empty political banter, the foundation of this country is rock…and each generation is responsible for adding another layer. That is your burden as a son/daughter of this country and your "responsibility" to the greatest generation.

For those that are unable to read this, well from all of us that are able…we thank you! And more importantly to those loved ones of yours the most sincere thank you, you are the best of ‘US’ and we can never say or do anything to replace the one you lost.

A quote that I hope helps those are confused about Veterans day and Memorial day:


Veterans day is “my day”, I chose to take my uniform off.

Memorial day is for those that never had the option to take their uniform off.


I hope as a people we regain our sense of self.

My father went to Korea, my uncle went to Vietnam, and my grandfather (mother's side) fought in WW2. My grandfather was highly decorated and was the commander of 645th Tank Destroyers, A company, and fought in some of the bloodiest battles in North Africa and Italy. He came home severely wounded.

Seeing people being offended by Memorial day, ignoring or taking the day lightly, or corporations raping the meaning of Memorial day by turning it into one giant sale, was nothing new to any of them.

But as my grandfather used to say (and many other vets have said) they fought to upheld the principle that people in general should have the freedom to react however they wanted to, to have freedom of speech, of attitudes, and more importantly of dissension, whether it be with Memorial Day, or disagreeing with the government. He said that this principle was the only thing separating us from fascism.

Today, I would say that separation is very thin. It's then all the more important that we respect dissension, and difference of opinion, as Cutie Pie has expressed.

 

[wizwor]

How f'k'd up is it for people to wish others a Happy Memorial Day? A lot of ads do this too. Shows a lack of understanding at best. PBS was running ads for a documentary on the contributions of Asian Americans during their Memorial Day programming. Also f'k'd up. Mark Hamill was in The Big Red One which is kind of cool.

No one ran a full day of great war movies. No Midway. No Longest Day. No Tora Tora Tora.

 

[Nikolai]

I'm all about the beer, pools, grilling and hanging out. Those of us who made it back owe it to those who never did, to live life to the fullest and happiest.

I'm perfectly fine with people not understanding what Memorial day is about. That means they likely have not lost anyone or are too young to understand and that's fine by me. For some of us, we just do the best we can.

If people are too insulated to understand the holiday, then maybe those who served are doing something right. On the other hand, a tip of the hat to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice is cool, too. I cannot speak for the dead, so I won't, but from among the land of the living, I feel awkward asking for recognition and wouldn't ever do it.

 

[Tony2046]

How f'k'd up is it for people to wish others a Happy Memorial Day? A lot of ads do this too. Shows a lack of understanding at best. PBS was running ads for a documentary on the contributions of Asian Americans during their Memorial Day programming. Also f'k'd up. Mark Hamill was in The Big Red One which is kind of cool.

No one ran a full day of great war movies. No Midway. No Longest Day. No Tora Tora Tora.

The Battle of Midway is one of my favorites. Actually all three you mentioned are great.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

How f'k'd up is it for people to wish others a Happy Memorial Day? A lot of ads do this too. Shows a lack of understanding at best. PBS was running ads for a documentary on the contributions of Asian Americans during their Memorial Day programming. Also f'k'd up. Mark Hamill was in The Big Red One which is kind of cool.

No one ran a full day of great war movies. No Midway. No Longest Day. No Tora Tora Tora.

Not trying to be the PC Police here, but what exactly is wrong with running ads for documentary on the contributions of Asian Americans? Are they considered less American or something?

And I understand where the OP is coming from, but I also don't really get how lecturing people about how they don't understand is going to help them understand. If anything, it's going to make them tune back out.

It should be a day to remember those who are no longer with us, to share their stories, to understand their sacrifices. Not to lecture and nag and belittle others. There have to be better ways of helping others understand what it was like than telling everyone who doesn't do what you do that they can **** off.

On a sidenote, would highly recommend Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" for those who haven't read it. An incredible read about the selfless and inspirational acts of those who went to war, survived, and came back motivated to change the world.