Who will you be grieving for this Memorial Day in 2018?

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:15:41 -0400

Families grieve for their lost throughout the year. The nation sets aside one day per year to honor the war dead and named it Memorial Day.
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.
Each year Memorial Day is becoming increasingly difficult for me. I am not sure why; but, suspect that as I age I become more sensitive to the deaths of my friends.

If you are ready, willing and able to share a picture, please do.

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt Private RallyPoint Member TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC Private RallyPoint Member SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SPC Margaret Higgins SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 25 at 2018 5:29 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:29:42 -0400

My brothers, one was AD Army, my WWII vet uncle, and several other relatives.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made May 25 at 2018 5:30 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:30:30 -0400

Thank you gor this post.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 25 at 2018 5:48 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:48:44 -0400

I have known many who were killed or died and there are some family members I never met who were killed. I know far too many who were cut down in the prime of life and some who died soon after leaving the military service they loved.
My heritage is British and I am a first generation USA citizen. I gave up dual British-USA citizenship when I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1974.
1. WWI British Expeditionary Force veteran Ernest George Ford was killed in 1944 along with his wife when a German bomb destroyed their home in Sutton, Surrey, England
2. My friend and fellow USMA Cadet Reggie Johnson died by drowning during the land navigation phase of the Sandhurst competition on April 11, 1980 1/2 months before our scheduled graduation.
3. My friend, fellow USMA classmate of the class of 1980, and infantry officer Captain Winburn Drew Harrington who was killed on December 16, 1984 on a live-fire exercise in Honduras. He died while protecting his soldiers.
4. Former infantry squad leader in my platoon SSG George Brewster was killed as 1SG at Fort Campbell on October 22, 1992.
5. US Navy Veteran Brent M Combs (1984_2016) was murdered and his body dumped at my son's house who lived in Martinsburg, WV in 2016
FYI LCpl Emanuel W.SSG Diane R.LTC John Griscom SPC Andrew Ross Brig Gen Jim Jaeger SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SP5 Jerry MuchaSP6: Roy WiltSGT John Meredith MSgt John McGowan MSgt David M.LTC Jeff Shearer SGT Philip Roncari CPT Jim Gallagher Lt Col Jim Coe CWO3 Dennis M.SGT Private RallyPoint MemberPO3 Bob McCord 1SG John MillanSSgt Boyd Herrst

Response by TSgt Rodney Bidinger made May 25 at 2018 6:15 PM

TSgt Rodney Bidinger — Fri, 25 May 2018 18:15:53 -0400

Everyone who gave their lives so we can live in this great country!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2018 6:44 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 May 2018 18:44:58 -0400

LTC Stephen F. thanks for thinking of me brother , i will be visiting the national cemetery at Ft Sam Houston remembering friends who have passed.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made May 25 at 2018 7:13 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Fri, 25 May 2018 19:13:39 -0400

As I have since 1973, Nutter J. Wimbrow, B-52 EWO . Posted about him before but essentially volunteered out of cycle for an Arc Light tour because he was single and the scheduled EWO was married.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made May 25 at 2018 7:38 PM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Fri, 25 May 2018 19:38:39 -0400

After many years in the business I have seen too many die. I still have a few memories that are constant companions. For many people Memorial day is a day for barbecue having fun. For me it is a very somber day. It is not a day a of just being sad but it is a very much a time of remembrance.

The truth is I dont have one day a year, everyday of the year is both Memorial day and Veterans day.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made May 25 at 2018 7:44 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Fri, 25 May 2018 19:44:49 -0400

LTC Stephen F. my life has been touched by people who have passed on, even veterans I have worked tirelessly as a DAV Service Officer. I treated each day with these persons as if it was the last day we would commune. That has helped me not to grieve but to have a flutter in my heart when I think about them. As I get older, I am sure my grief will change as I witness my own mortality through the deaths of my friends. Have a Blessed Memorial Day.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 25 at 2018 8:51 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 25 May 2018 20:51:04 -0400

I want to remember all of those KIAS who sacrificed their very lives; such that this great nation of ours could remain free.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2018 10:00 PM

Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 May 2018 22:00:44 -0400

LTC Stephen Ford, thank you for This post reminding 'US' of the History of MEMORIAL DAY!!!! Today reminds 'WE The PEOPLE...' that FREEDOM is NOT Free but Very costly ! Are 'WE The PEOPLE...' of today Ready to DIE for the FREEDOM of our children, grandchildren & our great grandchildren??? I am !! Who will join me in this commitment ??? HOORAH !!!

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made May 25 at 2018 11:56 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Fri, 25 May 2018 23:56:42 -0400

http://www.cgemf.org/fallen/1980-2

U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Memorial | 1980