What does Memorial Day mean to you?

I am of the middle generation, the Baby Boomer. Memorial Day means remembering people from WWII, Korea, my personal generation of casualties Vietnam, and the war of our children Iraq and Afghanistan. I also remember the war no one considers a war that I served in, the Cold War, where there were many casualties who were unheard of, unmentioned, and forgot. These are the ones I consider the lost soldiers who fought in places we were not there, in times we, as a nation, did not exist as an aggressor, and history is still classified and written by the CIA and other people who can tweek it their way. That is Memorial Day. Thinking about history, lives lost, and often questioning the reasoning behind the loses. However, I was a Soldier and I know that I raised my hand and signed the blank check, too. I still belong to the Army although I am out. My oath is for my life time. Memorial Day reminds me of it all.

I served in KFOR 2 and OEF 7. Both met my expectations for war. Memorial Day honors those who gave the ultimate price for freedom, their lives. I had one KIA on my team and 4 WIA. But for your question -- Even at a not-to-soon 46yo, when I think of Memorial Day, I think of WWII. Maybe its because all the "grown-ups" and "old people" when I was small were from that Greatest Generation. I grew up around an American Legion and they were the reason for Memorial Day then. It always stayed with me.

For those who've seen Band of Brothers, this is a photo from the town of Foy, Belgium (Battle of Foy). This is a photo I snapped in 2010 of a building in the town with battle damage still evident. That was Jan 1945. (I took my Dad on a guided tour of Bastogne as a retirement gift for him while I was at EUCOM).

I feel Memorial day is just another day. Mostly because I think of those we have lost everyday and honor them whenever I can. Every year I have made my kids go to the cemetary and put flags on tombstones of soldiers that dont have any. I dont think it should be a day off because most people have no idea what the day is about. Typically I have found only those who are attached to the Military know what the day is about. Most think its the start if summer and the day you open your swimming pool or start planting gardens.

Every year, there comes around "Memorial Day". Every year, there is a feeling that I never really understood - or even appreciated - what Memorial Day means. Now, every year for the last 5-1/2 years, I know what it means. I can appreciate what others see as time off, as over-time pay, or as a day to get totally "smashed". I'm not the only one. There are the survivors of our fallen Brothers and Sisters: The widows and widowers, the parents that have had to bury their children. The ones that proudly hang a Gold Star flag as an eternal flame to their fallen.

Those of us that knew them, and others like them, we have broken bread with them, shared our chow with them, taken our strength from them, and have in turn given our strength to them when they were unable. We have laughed with them, cried for them, and carry on their memories in our hearts, and their faces in our minds.

To all my fallen Brothers and Sisters, thank you. Thank you for giving me the honor to have walked along side you. Thank you for the honor of having you grace my life. I can't honestly say that I mourn your departures; rather, I mourn the lives that you left. More specifically, I mourn the lives that you will no longer be able to touch. You have left an impression on my soul, and one that I proudly carry. Because of your strength, I became strong. Because of your sacrifice, I have learned to appreciate. Because of your friendship, your guidance, your mentorship, I have become who I am. I am proud to be a part of your living memorial, a memorial that has no concrete root, but spreads along the lives you've blessed.

SFC Christopher D. Shaw: 29SEP2009, Jolo Is., Phils.
SSgt Jack M. Martin: 29SEP2009, Jolo Is., Phils.
CE2 Evan M. Rourke: 25JAN11
Sgt Brent M. Maher: 11APR11, Gardez, Afghanistan
BUC Raymond J Border: 19OCT11, Paktiku Province, Afghanistan

Til Valhal.

Vietnam was tough on my generation. That's all I will say

CPT (Join to see), the words aren't mine, but I like the explanation regarding the flying of the flag on Memorial Day.

"On Memorial Day, the flag is hoisted briskly to the truck of the flagpole and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains until noon. It is then again hoisted to the truck for the remainder of the day.
The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country. At noon, the flag (and their memory) is again hoisted to the truck by the living, with their resolve to not let those sacrifices be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty."

It means bold men and women far more courageous than I have been required to be went forth into the world to keep the evil that is oppression of tyranny at bay. They have paid a debt to society asked of no one else. I hope my meager and humble accomplishments can one day be viewed the same way by younger generations.

Master Chief Robert T. Delgado sends:
How could I not have served .....That I may be judged by the company that I kept, judged by those that I chose to follow and those that chose to follow me,
LEO DELGADO US ARMY (Bronze Star)—MY UNCLE
RUDY DELGADO US ARMY—MY UNCLE
WILLIE DELGADO US NAVY---MY FATHER
PHIL DELGADO US ARMY---MY UNCLE
ROBERT THOMAS BECERRA US ARMY--.DIED OF WOUNDS---MY COUSIN
RICHARD BECERRA US ARMY---MY COUSIN
FRANK BECERRA US ARMY ---MY COUSIN
ROBERT DELGADO US NAVY / US COAST GUARD
RYAN DELGADO US NAVY---MY SON
FRANK DELGADO US NAVY---MY COUSIN
LAURA DELGADO US ARMY---MY COUSIN
DWAIN DELGADO US ARMY---MY COUSIN
PHIL DELGADO US NAVY---MY COUSIN
GEORGE ALEXSOVICH US NAVY---MY UNCLE
JOHN SNACK US ARMY---MY UNCLE
JOHN SNACK NATIONAL GUARD---MY COUSIN
ROD SNACK US ARMY ---MY COUSIN
JOE NEIRA US ARMY---MY COUSIN
STEVEN PORDASH US AIR FORCE--- MY COUSIN
ADAM PORDASH US NAVY---MY COUSIN
CHARLIE ALGERI US ARMY--- MY UNCLE
GENE ALGERI US ARMY--- MY UNCLE
JOE ALGERI US ARMY ---MY UNCLE
DENNIS GIARDINO US NAVY ---MY COUSIN
JERRY GIARDINO US NAVY ---MY COUSIN
JACOB FISCHER USMC--- MY NEPHEW
ALEC BOST US NAVY—MY COUSIN