Patterico's Pontifications

5/28/2018

Memorial Day 2018

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:38 am



From my 2014 post on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, these are shots I took at the Normandy American Cemetery in 2013:

Screen Shot 2013-08-25 at 7.34.21 PM

Screen Shot 2014-06-06 at 7.16.11 AM

Remember the fallen, and thanks to those who serve and have served.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]

31 Responses to “Memorial Day 2018”

  1. Thanks for these.

    propriis et amarum est pro patria mori

    Kishnevi (5faaf8)

  2. God Bless our warriors, past and present.

    mg (9e54f8)

  3. Thank you, noble, selfless, warriors, and all who supported them in the fields of battle.

    felipe (023cc9)

  4. Beautiful photographs. God bless those who give their lives to defend others.

    Stephen J. (308ea7)

  5. Most people think of Memorial Day almost exclusively a day to honor those who died while fighting to defend our country.

    There’s another element, however, that’s often overlooked.

    It takes me more than one hand to count the number of men I went to college with who died while serving in the military. All were pilots.

    Not a one ever saw combat.

    If you do nothing else today, I ask that you read this list of names – Bruce Netardus, Ken McGuire, Jon Nesbitt, Bobby Cox, Ken Donnelly, Les Kirk, Kelly Castleberry – and remember, along with those who died in battle, those whose peacetime sacrifices helped preserve our freedom.

    Diffus (4a5ca6)

  6. The ultimate sacrifice, something that should humble all Americans and give them pause for prayers or moments of silence out of respect to those who served and served and died on the battlefield l.

    My thoughts turn to a half dozen uncles who saw combat during WWII and who are no longer with our family… all so special, loved and remembered for the examples – each in their own way – they were of what it means to be a man.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  7. Some people still remember the selflessness and sacrifice.

    While the National Football League has been busy figuring out a way for overpaid players to protest America by kneeling during the national anthem, a crowd at a high school softball championship game in California decided to go the other direction.

    At the Friday game in Fresno between Clovis High and Buchanan High for the Central Section championship, an announcer said there would be no playing of the Star-Spangled Banner before the game. “There will be no anthem, let’s just play softball,” said the announcer, according to the Fresno Bee.

    Well, that didn’t go over so well in the crowd, especially on the Memorial Day holiday weekend, when Americans pay homage to all the soldiers who have fought and died to keep the United States free.

    So the crowd stood up and sang the national anthem anyway, a cappella.

    Many removed their hats and placed their hands over their hearts. Others simply stood tall with pride.

    Players stopped their pregame warmups to turn around and face the American flag that waved beyond the center-field wall.

    When the song was over, the crowd burst into a round of applause.

    “Fan Tiffany Marquez said she was ‘shocked’ when the announcer said they weren’t going to play it,” the Daily Mail reported. “Within seconds, you could hear people in the crowd singing and the volume of their voices building. There I was, standing in the middle of a true testament to unity and patriotism.”

    https://www.dailywire.com/news/31150/they-announced-thered-be-no-national-anthem-game-joseph-curl

    harkin (2fa2ca)

  8. I want to thank president trump for his service as commander in chief.

    memorialdays (798a10)

  9. I notified Next of Kin a couple of times. We must recall the sacrifices of the families who could only worry and pray.

    Richard Aubrey (10ef71)

  10. America’s honored dead support Donald J. Trump … according to, uh, Donald J. Trump:

    Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!

    Dave (445e97)

  11. I saw it, too, Dave. My first reaction was that to even notice it would be to further demean the Day and the Fallen, but that’s what Orange-skinned Pansy Cadet Bone Spurs always counts on. That most people are too decent to sink to his level. Which is a 42nd Street public toilet stall. He is one disgusting eunochoid.

    nk (dbc370)

  12. “America’s honored dead support Donald J. Trump …”

    Probably more than those who died trying to find Bowe Bergdahl support Chairman Zero.

    harkin (2fa2ca)

  13. nk, very well stated. Trump is daring us to do what he does. “Make them live by their own set of rules.”

    Harkin, memorial day isn’t about how much you hate Obama, and it’s not about how much you like Trump. It’s not about politics.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  14. “On Monday, President Donald Trump gave brief remarks at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice. In a sign of true humility, he clapped perhaps more than he spoke, and his remarks extolled the fortitude and nobility of America’s fallen heroes.

    Here are five of the most moving lines Trump delivered at Arlington on Memorial Day. The video follows below.

    1. “A love more deep than most will ever know.”
    Trump began his Memorial Day remarks extolling the love America’s fallen heroes showed for their country.

    “Theirs was a love more deep and more pure than most will ever know,” he declared. “It was a love that willed them up mountains, through deserts, across oceans and into enemy camps, and unknown dangers. They marched into hell so that America could know the blessings of peace. They died so that freedom could live.”

    2. “We cannot imagine…”
    Trump directly addressed the families who lost loved ones in the service of American freedom.

    “Most importantly we’re joined today by the families of American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice,” the president said. “We cannot imagine the depth of emotion that this day brings each year: the grief renewed, the memories relived, those last beautiful moments together cherished and always remembered. And you also feel that incredible pride, a pride shared by one really and truly grateful nation.”

    “To every parent who weeps for a child, to every child who mourns for a parent, and to every husband or wife whose heart has been torn in two, today we ask God to comfort your pain, to ease your sorrow, and to wipe away your tears,” Trump said. “This is a very special day, and today our whole country thanks you, embraces you, and pledges to you we will never forget our heroes.”

    3. Hope Stubenhofer:
    During his remarks, President Trump addressed Hope Stubenhofer, whose father — U.S. Army Captain Mark Stubenhofer — died while fighting in Iraq in December 2004, mere months after her birth.

    “Although she never got the chance to meet her great father, she can feel his love wrapped around her every single day,” the president said. “And when Patty [Mark’s widow] puts her children to bed and kisses them goodnight, she can see Mark’s legacy beaming back at her through their bright and glowing eyes.”

    4. Christian Jacobs:

    President Trump then addressed 7-year-old Christian Jacobs, whose father — Marine Sergeant Christopher Jacobs — died in a training accident in 2011 when Christian was only 8 months old.

    Trump movingly told the story of Christian visiting the White House in a Marine Corps uniform. “He wanted to look good, he told me, as a tribute to his father,” the president recalled.

    “Christian, I want you to know that even though your father has left this world, he’s left it for the next, but he’s not gone. He’ll never be gone,” the president declared. “Your dad’s love, courage, and strength live in you, Christian. And as you grow bigger and stronger just like him, so too, does your father’s incredible legacy.”

    5. Why we remember America’s heroes:
    The president concluded his speech with another moving declaration. Of the fallen, he declared, “They fought and bled and died so that America would remain forever safe and strong and free. Each of the markers on that field, each of the names engraved in stone, teach us what it means to be loyal, and faithful and proud and brave and righteous and true.”

    “That is why we always will remember, because here on this soil, on these grounds, beneath those fields, lies the true source of American greatness, of American glory, and of American freedom,” Trump said. “As long as we are blessed with patriots such as these, we shall remain forever one people, one family, and one nation under God.”

    https://pjmedia.com/video/5-most-inspiring-lines-from-president-trumps-memorial-day-speech-at-arlington-cemetery/

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  15. When they ask a mule his ancestry, he always names the horse [not the jackass]. — Arab saying.

    That also applies to Trump and his supporters. That is a nice speech his staff wrote for him to deliver at Arlington. Meantime he showed where his own thoughts really were on his Twitter.

    nk (dbc370)

  16. As just about all presidents have speechwriters. The people who follow Twitter – especially Trump’s tweets – are being played on a daily basis… just waiting to be fed their ration of outrage. LOL.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  17. “Harkin, memorial day isn’t about how much you hate Obama, and it’s not about how much you like Trump. It’s not about politics.

    It must be. You called me out when Memdays was the one who gave a brief praise for DT and Dave and nk were the ones who followed with the Trump hate.

    My response was to their political smack, with which for some reason you had no problem.

    You keep showing your underwear but believe me it’s getting old.

    harkin (2fa2ca)

  18. Trump is a Grade A narcissist, but so are all the morons who should know better, but post there anyways

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  19. It’s a ratio of 5% jewels of insight to 95% ripened offal.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  20. Trump is a Grade A narcissist

    this is misleading cause he’s not actually a narcissist

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  21. Would you beach a Stormy at Normandy for him, happyfeet?

    nk (dbc370)

  22. The people who follow Twitter – especially Trump’s tweets – are being played on a daily basis… just waiting to be fed their ration of outrage. LOL.

    The troll likes the Troll in Chief.

    Patterico (0f8389)

  23. i’d lay down my life for President Trump and I’d do it gladly Mr. nk

    he’s doing what needs to be done for so we can trod on together, as Americans

    “squawk squawk” say the indignant desert birds

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  24. i’d lay down my life for President Trump and I’d do it gladly Mr. nk

    Satire, or the fervor characteristic of a citizen of a totalitarian society? You be the judge!

    Patterico (0f8389)

  25. And Captain OCD scarfs it all up.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  26. With a wooden spoon.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  27. you’ll understand in time

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  28. diffus
    1 Oct 70, a C130 out of Taipei crashed killing all forty-three aboard. My brother and a good friend–navigators–were among them. Some flight crew, some ground crew. Twenty-four were identified and nineteen were buried together at Jefferson Barracks.
    Viet Nam notwithstanding, keeping the bad guys contained had a cost.
    Next to the nineteen–in ten caskets–are six Marines. From the rank spread, I figure a Civic Action Patrol.

    Richard Aubrey (10ef71)

  29. You can appreciate what Trump has accomplished thus far while still marveling why Trump has to stomp all over his own dick by issuing utterly stupid and self-defeating tweets. Maybe Trump is operating on some weird plane where obviously stupid behavior makes you more popular or maybe Trump is completely useless without a retinue of staffers guiding him towards his better self, but this is one of those self-inflicted wounds that we could really do without.

    JVW (42615e)

  30. Is it true, they say they are running out of space?

    narciso (d1f714)

  31. My old man is in Arlington. He did not die in combat but saw it in WW2, Korea and VN. I he rated going there somehow–not sure the exact rules. My mom will join him when she passes.

    I was on active duty at the time and got a 3 day leave to go to the funeral (and surprisingly had to make a fuss to get the leave). Remember saluting as the casket moved. Felt too unreal. Would have rather had time with the body alone. For years felt like it was a movie and he would show up and say it had been a hoax. My sister the opposite as she found the body.

    I’ve only been to the grave once after and it was years after he passed. My Mom appreciated it though. We still have the little car pass (filed) that lets you drive on site. I don’t know if I will visit again before Mom goes but the one visit was special.

    Anonymous (d41cee)


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