I’m always humbled by seeing them and hearing their stories, and thankful every day that they are here and have the fortitude to just ignore the folks that just don’t “get” how important they are…to all of us.

Happy Memorial day folks.

“Thank you” is wholly insufficient to relay my gratitude to you and those in your charge but it is all available to me at the moment. You, and your brothers and sisters in uniform, are and remain in my prayers.

Stay safe and thank you.

I will keep you and your troop in my prayers. Godspeed.

I driving on a local highway recently, and as is always the case, my eyes scan for everything. I caught glimplse of a specialty license plate I hadn’t previous seen. On the edge, vertically imprinted GSF and ten the serial number. Pulling behing the fellow motorist, I read the top of the plate “GOLD STAR FAMILY.” As traffic allowed, I pulled out and along side of the ~50 yr old couple, turned to them, and as they returned my gaze, I snapped a strong and long SALUTE. They instantly understood that i was thankful for their family members ultimate sacrifice.

Of a similar note to HS’s great diary, I found out recently that Pep Boys has offers, without publicity, a 10% discount to AD and veterans. Their receipt actually uses the term MILITARY DISCOUNT on it. Their are not hiding that discont under an anonymous heading. I found my new parts store.

As some of you know, my Reserve unit is getting ready to deploy. I am not free to give any details at all right now, but we do have a bit of time to prepare, and the mission brief we recently received actually scared me. Not scared for me, but for the 6 junior enlisted soldiers I am responsible for as their NCO. These are soldiers, but to me they are kids, gearing up for something that they have no idea what it really means to them, the future, and no idea that even with the best of circumstances they will never be the same.

I bring all that up because we have been on active duty a lot recently to do various training and preparations. One day recently we were all in uniform at a restaurant when a few people came up and thanked us for our service and said some very nice things. We all felt very awkward, but thanked them.

Afterwards, I told my troops that there were two things that they needed to know about people thanking us. 1.) No matter how often you hear it, it warms your heart to know the depths of appreciation that some people feel for what we do. 2.) More importantly, no matter what you do, what you give, you will never feel comfortable accepting it because you always feel like there are so many who deserve it more.

That’s the reality. I thank all of those who appreciate us, and I thank all of those who let us know it. It truly helps, especially in the dark of night with explosions and tracers and the chaos around you, to know that the value of what you are doing is seen by at least some of those you do it for.

One of the most touching phrases I have ever heard is this – “Only one bullet, one mortar, one IED, separates Veteran’s day from Memorial day.”

Millions of people will barbecue or go to the lake or some other fun activity next Monday. I will be one of them. Some of us will spend at least part of that day thanking God that this is not yet our holiday, and thinking solemnly of those who didn’t make it home. In my opinion, too few will consider the full significance of the day we set aside to honor our fallen heroes.

God bless America.

As to the subject of your diary, that must have made the rest of your day just sail on effortlessly! Thanks so much for sharing this…..

My first ancestors didn’t reach this country until later in the 19th century so I could never join the Daughters of the American Revolution; however, swearing to support and defend the Constitution made me feel like a daughter of the American Revolution, if that makes any sense.

Memorial day is all about the brotherhood (that includes our sisters) of armed services and the citizens that depend on them every day to stay safe and secure in our way of life. I had a young lady say to me once, “The war in Iraq hasn’t gained us a single thing but dead Americans,” as if to profane their sacrifice by denying the lasting effect our presence there has had. I responded, “Let me ask you a question: you’ve read about the energetic insurgency we’ve faced in Iraq, right? The thousands of terrorists killed and the constant danger of ambush and roadside bombing attacks? Where do you think that energy would have gone had our troops not been there to absorb and respond to it? Do you think they meant to hit us just once on 9/11 and walk away? These people aren’t the 1940′s Japanese. They mean to grind us until there is nothing left of us, our culture or our way of life, and their methods are damned effective. Look at Europe and tell me that Islamic revolution isn’t a very clear and present danger.”

Some people get it. Most don’t. Thanks for the diary, haystack.

My dad served in Vietnam and I remember the story of when he first got back and the horrifying things said/done to him just through the airport. He instilled in all his kids that we treat our military with respect because they do a great service to this nation and we wouldn’t be the nation we are without the sacrifice they’ve given. I’ve more than once picked up the tab for a soldier (and his/her family when warranted) and I will continue to do so!

Thank you, Haystack, for the gratitude you show to the troops!

Old dogs always come home,stick around awhile,missed ya.