Please Join Me in a Toast

[Doc Bernard]

in remembering our fallen sailors, soldiers, airmen, and Marines.

Their sacrifice has allowed us to enjoy the lives we live today.

I miss my friends, and I drink to their honor. "Semper Fidelis" and "Non sibi sed patriae", guys.

I miss you and am honored to have known you. I think about you daily.

Please do this favor for me. Hoist a drink in their honor today. :beer:

Doc Bernard, HM3, USN

 

[Batutta]

:beer:

 

[Gord.T]

... I miss you and am honored to have known you. I think about you daily....

:beer:

 

[Blaine]

:beer:

(USA)

 

[ugafan]

semper ubi sub ubi

:beer:

 

[Hawk Teflon]

:beer:

I wish Arlington wasn't so far or I could go visit my grandfather's grave today.

 

[Doc Bernard]

semper ubi sub ubi

:beer:

Funny, Uga.

 

[Erik Olson]

Today, we pray for our friends and family who are in service to our country and celebrate the memory of those no longer with us. Thank you all for your sacrifice!

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Wife and I went to Arlington, as we always do on Memorial Day:

Her father's headstone, he served in the infantry in WWII, Korea, AND Vietnam:

This year was especially meaningful for her as her mother was buried with him last year.

If you turn 180 degrees from his headstone, you see the new plots where the recently fallen are buried:

We always make it a point to go down to that section and pay our condolences to the families there, some of whom are visiting their loved ones for the forst time.

A young army sergeant says goodbye to his fallen comrade. What was especially touching was a young Marine PFC who came up to him after this photo was taken and kneeled with him, talking to him and consoling him. There is no inter service rivalry on this day.

Semper Fi

USMC 1985-1991

 

[Doc Bernard]

Dammit, MacGee, Thank you!!!!!!! Those pics mean a lot.

And you are right, today there is no Green, Blue, or Black. Just Red, White and Blue. Tell your wife, I toast to her father and honor his memory and service.

 

[Hawk Teflon]

What do the stones on the graves mean?

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Tell your wife, I toast to her father and honor his memory and service.

Thanks Doc, I will.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

What do the stones on the graves mean?

Most are stones from their hometowns or home states that the family leaves on the headstones when they visit.

 

[Jordan_S]

What do the stones on the graves mean?

It's an ancient Jewish tradition that is now practiced across religious boundaries. There didn't used to be gravestones; mounds of rocks were used instead. By placing stones there, visitors participated in perpetuating the site.

 

[unclebob6958]

To those who serve - you always have my respect and my prayers.

To those who gave their last full measure of devotion - may God give peace to your brave souls.

 

[Cryogenic Filmworks]

:beer:

 

[gco]

Nice job Matt.
Those pics really drive it home.
God Bless them all.