Happy Memorial Day

It’s memorial day in the U.S. today. I’d just like to take a minute to thank all of the members (current or past) of the armed forces who have served their countries around the world. No matter their reason for serving, or their government’s goals, they have taken the ultimate risk for their country. I can only hope that in the future these risks no longer exist, and the world will no longer loose brave men and women to war.

Since Memorial day is a day devoted to the Memory of those that have paid the ultimate price for their service to our country, I don’t know if Happy is the word to describe it. So to all those brave men and women that have died is service to our country, we give our sincerest gratitude and to all the families of the fallen, we are forever in your debt for what you have given and the loss you must endure. We should also, take time to remember that in almost all the battles we (the US) have fought other countries have given their sons and daughters also. So to all the soldiers of the world that fight for freedom, thank you.

Yes thanks to all the brave people who did that. I have no idea how hard it must of been to go to a war and know that you have a good chance of not coming back.

If only I remember this about 1 or 2 months ago I should of gotten people together to make a memorial animation in Blender. Maybe next year

I’m not sure that is a good thing to be celebrated at a forum with users from all over the world.
Why? Because in a war there is always the other side…

Blessed be the troops that fight to protect our country and our freedom.

God bless the troops.

Happy memorial day.
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Blessed be the troops that fight to protect our country and our freedom.

God bless the troops.

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s side and stood there, waiting.

With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal,"Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said

"I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd and grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of-except he pause and think.

"God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of His Who hearth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this-keep it in mind. If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

"You have heard your servant's prayer-the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it-that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory-must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen. 

(After a pause)

“Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits.”

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

If this is supposed to poke fun at a soldier’s strong belief in God then it’s shameful I can’t even mention the word ‘God’ in a thread about memorial day without backlash, why make this thread politically correct:no:

You can’t prevent me from saying God bless the troops, I will decide to be politically incorrect and say the ‘forbidden’ words which is ‘God bless’

Oh CD, you are really missing the big picture aren’t you? Saying God bless killing and carnage can not be any thing holy.

This holiday is supposed to be about honoring our troops, condemning them for fighting the war for freedom is not what this holiday is about.

This is a holiday for honor, not condemnation of our troops fighting and president Bush. Why not remove Memorial day from the calander altogether if it’s going to be this way.

Why not remove Memorial day from the calander altogether if it’s going to be this way.

Good idea, just give everyone a day off instead.
I see no honor in slaughter and torture. I see no honor in killing civilians. I see no honor in being a sheep.

Cheers

I see good in honoring our troops and war veterans, you should know my grandfather was a veteran of WWII, he worked in a medical job healing wounded soldiers, tell me he shouldn’t have a day where he and the other veterans would be honored.

When you condemn memorial day and the veterans, you in some way condemn my own grandfather even though he didn’t have a role in fighting.

CD, let’s get something straight right here and right now. I am not putting down the troops, otherwise I would be putting down myself. I did my stint in the armed forces and left with an honorable discharge. And you? I see no problem with defending our country should it be needed I do have a problem with corporations pulling the strings and needless death for money. Read your history before you start mouthing off. And if you are so flippin’ gung ho, go down and enlist, unless they won’t have you that is.

This does not poke fun at any soldiers beliefs: there are no soldiers in it. The backstory: this is a service at a small church, probably in Kansas or Missouri, at a time when the boys are off fighting a war. The preacher is preaching to the families who did not go to fight.

Read it slowly and carefully. In no way does it speak to the valor, honor or patriotism of the troops, either for or against.

you in some way condemn my own grandfather

That’s right, CD, make it personal. By the way, when are you enlisting?

ah yes… i knew this would happen.

And we can all see that this is how conflict starts. It makes me sad to see that a thread started with the intent of honoring those persons who have risked or given their lives for their country (any country) can so quickly start to sound like a debate.

Well how are you supposed to expect me to get to that conclusion about the story, I saw the beginning, part of the middle, and the very end. To me it sounded like they were praying for the soldiers to go forth and fight for freedom.

And I’m not enlisting, I wouldn’t be able to survive boot camp anyway.

CD, let’s get something straight right here and right now. I am not putting down the troops, otherwise I would be putting down myself

Would it not be putting down the troops by thinking it would be good to sweep Memorial day into the dustbin of history and turn it into just a day off?

Here ya go cd, you would fit right in!

2d Chemical Battalion

http://www.nbc-links.com/nbcgraphics/dui/2d%20Chemical%20Battalion-2B.gif
2d Chemical Battalion (A)
ASMIC: 2B

  • On a gold shield, a transparent dragon red serpent dragon with inverted wings, grasping in its claws a dark blue lightening bolt, its dexter hind paw resting on a light blue automobile wheel, a gold scroll with motto: FLAMMIS VINCIMUS (With Fire We Conquer) in transparent red.
  • Authorized 8 August 1940. Samples approved 13 May 1941.

Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 5/32 inches (2.94 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Or, a dragon segreant with wings inverted Gules clutching in its right front claws a lightning bolt Azure, its dexter hind paw resting upon an automobile wheel Proper. Attached below the shield a Gold color scroll inscribed “FLAMMIS VINCIMUS” in red.

Symbolism: Or (gold) is a color traditionally used for the Chemical Warfare Service. The dragon clutching a lightning bolt is reflective of the unit’s aggressive attitude. The lightning bolt symbolizes the ability to fight with or against fire, gas and smoke. The automobile wheel represents the unit’s mobility for rapid response.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 2d Separate Chemical Battalion on 8 August 1940. It was redesignated for the 2d Chemical Mortar Battalion on 26 February 1951. It was redesignated for the 2d Chemical Weapons Battalion on 3 August 1953. The insignia was rescinded on 15 November 1963. It was reinstated and redesignated effective 1 September 1981, for the 2d Chemical Battalion.

Source: The description, symbolism and background are from “The Institute of Heraldry” website: http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Chem/2ChemicalBattalion.htm.
Notes:

  • Fastener(s):
  • Hallmark(s): N.S. Meyer Inc, Uris Sales Corp.
  • Dimensions: (30x27mm)

And so it goes.

CD,

I don’t think Orinoco is dishonoring veterans, your grandfather or your God. He is merely demonstrating the reality of war. Death and carnage occur, and as General Patton said, “The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.”

Orinoco,

It would be nice to resolve conflict peacefully where no blood had to be shed. I appreciate the sentiment of your passage. I personally believe that Christ taught peace, heck, He is the Prince of Peace. Christians are instructed in the Bible to “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” But even so, we know that God led King David into battles with his enemies where tens of thousands of soldiers died.

All,

Yesterday, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen paid the ultimate price so that today we may have peace.

I saw these Pulizer Prize winning photographs for the first time this year. They are quite moving. It takes that “4,083” US Iraqi War Causalty number and shows you the story of one. I thought it would help us all to appreciate our freedom. It was bought at a price.

Have a blessed day,
Staff Sergeant Joshua Faulkner
United States Air Force