What does Memorial Day mean to you?

These guys.

I belong to the Marine Corps League, Memorial means enough to me to be on an honor guard firing detail at a national cemetery every year, rain or shine. I live on the coast of SC and if a hurricane was in I would still report for that detail. our brothers and sisters that went before us deserve all the respect that one day can give them.

To many have forgotten that Memorial Day is to Honor our fallen heroes and use it to honor all veterans. I have thanked those who do this but remind them that the day is to Remember the Fallen and their families. After all, without their sacrifice we wouldn't be able to BBQ, party, or whatever we do on Memorial Day. I hope that while everyone is doing what they do, they will remember they fallen and their sacrifice. I will be honoring an uncle who was KIA in Vietnam 8 days before I was born.

Memorial Day is a solemn occasion when we should take some time out to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Country. I personally remember them because of them I was able to serve for thirty-two years and six deployments in defense of the same reasons that they served. I never viewed my service as a job; I viewed it as a moral obligation to our Country and that I was born to serve it. Airborne, All the Way!!!

Memorial Day is a day to honor all our heroes. I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath and I witnessed how the British honor their heroes, and it was incredible. In London wreaths are laid, vets from all wars are honored and remembered in a huge parade, everyone wears poppy's to pay homage, it was an experience that made the I'm glad I got to be a part of. Once we forget our heroes we are all doomed. God Bless America and our military.

As a child of military parents, who were children of military parents, and on back for two centuries, I was always taught that Memorial Day, was a day to reflect on the sacrifice of those who fought for this country, and gave their lives doing so.
As I grew up, served in the military, and saw all sorts of places where people lived very different lives, I realized then, how very much I actually owed those people who fought for ME. I think of the two Marines who died, trying to pull my father to safety on Guadalcanal. I think of my cousin who never came home from Vietnam, and I think of my parents as well. A seventeen year old wife who became a widow with the sinking of the USS Arizona.. she stepped up and joined the Navy, because someone had to, and the seventeen year old orphan from Kansas who always said he joined because he'd heard they actually gave out three meals a day, and really nice suits.
I have an ordinary life for an American. I have electricity when I turn on the switch, I have water when I open the tap, and I can watch the news all day if I wish, and I can step up and argue if I don't agree with something... for all those ordinary things, I am thankful to those who stepped up, and took up the fight to make them possible for me.

It is a day to reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It will be a day I make sure to visit a friend, albeit his grave. I will ride my motorcycle since it is something we both shared a great passion in. I will likely go visit his mother and maybe now that his widow has found herself I will get to see her (haven't since his funeral) and his Daughter. Depending on how the day goes hopefully I can make it to the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial and pay my respects to him and his SSgt that was also lost that day that was also from our home communities.

R.I.P. Spc Zachary T. Myers 23 SEP 1987 - 08 SEP 2009

http://www.ohiofallenheroes.org/

Thanks for this heartfelt message CPT (Join to see). You had some great american patriots in your hometown HS class. I plan to visit my Dad's resting site on Monday. It's time we caught up on his glory days in the USAF. Hope you have a great weekend of remembrance with your family and friends.

Terry I know that was tough.

CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols Today is a day to join with fellow veterans and service members as we honor and remember our fallen. We remember our fallen brothers and sisters throughout the year, and the years that follow.