Memorial Day Remembrance


Note from Wolf: This post, under a different title that I don’t remember, went up last night, but was taken down by the author due to a misunderstanding between Authors. It went into the TRASH, where it did not belong, and then went into DRAFTS, where it cannot get the attention that it deserves NOW.

Thus, I take a rare BOARD OWNER prerogative to post it NOW.

It is my habit, at the Memorial Day parade I always attend, to RESCUE and BRING HOME those tiny, cheap American flags that get dropped on the ground for one reason or another. Sometimes broken, sometimes forgotten, sometimes dropped by a baby or stolen by a happy dog. It doesn’t matter why. I pick them up, bring them home, and THOSE FLAGS take the place of honor as my most important flags for the coming year.

If you think that’s a message, then I hope you read this post. Treat any imperfections as the ones found in Navajo rugs – proof of authenticity, and recognition of the Creator.

-W


When I was a young boy my father, who was an aviation enthusiast, would take me to airshows, and he passed his passion on to me. As far back as I can remember I have loved ANYTHING to do with flight. I would spend hours and days gluing together Revell model airplanes that I bought with money I made mowing lawns and doing chores, painstakingly painting them as accurately as I could using pictures from magazines and books, then hang them from the ceiling in my bedroom. At night after I went to bed, I would stare up at them and imagine myself being one of the pilots of these awesome machines.

Back in those days, the new heros of flight were the Mercury and Apollo astronauts…but they themselves came from the ranks of men who willingly strapped themselves into several tons of finely machined metal and dared to challenge the harsh and unforgiving ethers above the earth.

For me, both then and now, this was where GIANTS tread.

Men of such courage, ability, fortitude, and character that today their feats are FAR too many to list here, their accomplishments and sacrifices SO IMPOSSIBLY GREAT…so well known….worldwide….that even a shmuck like me is granted some of the respect THEY earned…..simply because I, too, am a pilot.

Bullshit. I am not even a pimple, ON A pimple, on such men’s behinds. Reread that.

It is not an exaggeration to say that most of today’s federal aviation regulations are written in blood. Hard lessons learned and iron-clad rules set in place from tragic circumstances that cost people their lives….and most of those came from the blood of military pilots and test pilots. For one thing, you must remember that for most of avaiation history aircraft design was done BY HAND…there were no computer models/modeling to test equipment before it was tried out for the first time in actual flight….all too often at the cost of a courageous man’s life. Back in those days, HALF of all US test pilots lost their lives. 50% of them!

Then, too, there were the combat pilots…especially those of the 40’s through the 60’s. This was the time when piston-driven aircraft had reached the limit of that kind’s performance, followed by the subsequent birth of turbine engines (jets) that would rocket man beyond the speed of sound. Try as I might, I cannot possibly convey to you how dangerous and challenging these times were for the young men who had the fortitude, courage and ability to face the odds and learn how to push the edge of a high performance aircraft’s envelope…to do that IN COMBAT…and try to survive.

However, there is one statistic that might give you some idea, some inkling, of how dangerous it was in those days.

Think of all the kinds of combat taking place in WWII. Sailors, marines, army. Submarines, for example, where one small breach of the hull at depth would send the vessel and all aboard into the crushing pressure of the deep. Or how about soldiers and marines in landing craft, daring to land on a beach while facing a hail of enemy gun fire and artillery as they rushed through the open to try and find some kind of cover and survive. Brave, courageous men….all of them!

That said, of all the different types of armed combat during WWII, which one was the most dangerous for the US serviceman….the one with the greatest casualties out of them all?

Was it the virtually fearless US marines landing on islands across the pacific, facing the fanatical Japanese? How about our troops going up against the Nazis in places like Bastogne? Or the aforementioned submariner forces in the Atlantic and Pacific?

Nope.

The single most dangerous combat job during WWII was to be a crew member of the US 8th Army Air Corps…the Mighty 8th…flying daylight combat missions over occupied Europe. Of ALL combat units of ALL types and service branches during WWII, the Mighty 8th suffered the highest casualty rates of the entire war.

In fact, it was SO bad…so incredibly dangerous….so UNLIKELY for someone to survive….that the US high command instituted….for the very first (but not the last) time….a maximum number of combat missions to be flown before a crew member was deemed to have fulfilled his wartime service obligation and get sent home.

The magic number? 25 combat missions.

Just 25.

Sounds easy, eh? Well, statistically speaking, every single person who stepped into an Mighty 8th airplane and flew combat missions over occupied Europe would get killed by the 13th mission, if not sooner. So they took that number and doubled it to 25, with the belief that if you could survive 25 missions, you earned the right to be honorably discharged and sent home.

And just to drive the point home…no other military occupation across all branches of service was afforded this priviledge. They called it “The Mighty 8th”, but in reality it was the Bloody 8th.

WATCH….

At 25,000 feet….5 miles above the earth….the altitude most World War II bomber missions were flown….air temperature ranges from -30° to -45°F. Modern aircraft have sealed cabins and heaters to protect pilots and passengers from wind blast and cold air. Not the crews of WWII. Pressurized cabins hadn’t been invented yet, and it wasn’t until the development of the B-29 (of “Enola Gay” fame) that bombers had such a luxury.

If the enemy fire and flak didn’t get you, the lack of oxygen and/or cold air could….and all too often did.

Have a look at this chart…these guys were regularly flying in the dark blue and purple parts at the right side. Note the amount of time it takes for exposed flesh to suffer frostbite.

Moreover, where can you take cover in a thin aluminum skinned aircraft? A: you couldn’t.

These planes had no armor…THAT was too heavy…and that weight was needed for the bombs and defensive machine guns. There were no foxholes or brick walls or trees to hide behind. No, you were stuck there, with your proverbial ass hanging out in the breeze, hoping it didn’t get shot off…that you could make your 25 missions in one piece and go home.

Here…have a look…this is not too far off from what it was like. See if you can count ALL the dangers present in this short clip…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sBy_FIlcOJs

Mind shattering.

My point is simply this.

This weekend we historically honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country. And I wanted to give you a taste of the dangers some of them faced and all too often fell prey to.

They did it for us, the next generations to come. They did it because they loved America, for the deepest and most cherished hopes they had for this country, and all this country has historically stood for.

It is for such heros….who fought and died to establish, protect, and grow our nation…that we honor and remember their sacrifices this weekend.

And some do it every day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

No. Matter. What.

Today, some of America’s finest young warriors have emerged to carry forward the legacy of the men and women who came before them. And they have put their creed into word and sealed it with their own blood, spilled often and only rarely known by us.

This is their sacred code….written with the sacrifices of all those who came before them firmly in mind….

This weekend is a weekend of the fiercest PRIDE…

….of the most breathtaking AWE….

….of inexpressible GRATITUDE…

…..and undying APPRECIATION…

…..for all those who have ever fought and died to establish, protect and defend our great nation. The greatest nation the world has ever known.

To be an American is nothing less than knowing that, regardless of your personal circumstances, we are among the Lord God Almighty’s most highly favored children. And this is NOT our “right”. No. It is a terrible privilege of the most profound kind.

We live among GIANTS. And their legacy is ours.

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amwick

TY FG&C… sorry this post was bounced around…
My father was a WWII pilot. He was a giant. 🦅🦅🦅😥😥😥😥🦅🦅🦅

j4260T

One of my two surviving uncles was an air plane mechanic, stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack. He celebrates his 100th birthday on the 31st!

amwick

Woot woot… bless and keep him…

singingsoul

I am glad for this wonderful post and the wise person taking it out of the bin. 🙂
My husband loves air plaines and used to glue them together even after we had 3 kids. He wound up in Aero Space because for his love for flying. He tried to join the Air-Force but was rejected because he is colorblind with some blue collor.
My boys continued the hobby.
Yes we are thinking today of the men and women who serve and served so unselfishly.
Thank you!!!!!

olderwiser21

G&C — Thank you for this wonderful post. After reading, I had to pull out my father’s history of his time spent during WWII as a young pilot. In his own words – “I had my engines shot out more than once. The incident I remember most distinctly was when we were sent over to bomb the German general staff headquarters on the south side of Berlin. It took the absolute range of our B-24 to fly over there (they flew out of Hethel, England), which was 12 hours. The Germans had it very heavily protected with anti-aircraft guns and when I had just begun my bombing run, I looked around me and could count 13 B-24s going down at the same time all around me.” He flew 11 missions. His bomber crew consisted of 7 to 8 men, including gunners and navigators. After the Allied victory in Europe, he flew home to get trained on new aircraft destined to fight in Japan, and then we dropped the atom bomb and the surrendered. My Dad came home to his family. He was only 23 by the end of the war. He stayed close to his “crew” the rest of his life, even though they lived in different parts of the country. What men they were!!!

gingersmom2009

Mine was on the ground. Drove a tank in Okinawa.

kinthenorthwest

Someplace today or yesterday I felt the need to watch this Hollywood video again. At 70 it does see we get more nostalgic about the past and wishing that more of it could be the same.
Once we had a very patriotic country filled with people every where who were proud to be Americans. Once we had a country who had moral American values. Once we had a country who had a media who did not turn a blind eye to the real news. (I could go on, and I know others have words too)
What Happened Guys…Lets bring back our Holidays the way they should be celebrated.
https://youtu.be/evSC-WZFw1c

olderwiser21

Kin – That was such a fun video to watch. Thanks. I have faith that we are turning things around. Happy Memorial Day.

kinthenorthwest

Thank you-

golsono

Seemily lacking in the moment, They were victorious.
‘Twas not a need, simply a Triumph, borne of belief.
Of Righteousness

Wolf Moon | Threat to Demonocracy

AMEN!

golsono

Patriotism appears contagious…

Gil

FGnC, dont you EVER deny us your gift and gifs because of whatever confusion!!!
This was great.
Wolf, thanks for the rescue…well deserved.comment image

phoenixRising

FG&C…
Your words brought tears to my eyes… as they should if I have any feeling at all.
What a powerful and profound message you have written! Thank you so much for your time and effort in bringing this to us. [So sorry for the misunderstanding… for whatever happened. So glad Wolfie posted this. What a treasure!]
Your commentary about the pilots was an eye-opener for me… had no idea. How brave these pilots were getting into a plane, knowing they might not come back. There was an episode on a Brit program recently about British pilots who experienced the same high casualties as you describe… they would leave their coins for their beer tab in the wooden beam ceiling of the centuries old Pub, with the statement that if they didn’t come back from their flight they coins were to go to families of the falllen. Watching, it NEVER clicked for me that American pilots were making the same missions.
You’re correct in that Americans are blessed… whether those of us living today deserve the sacrifices of those who lived in the past and died so that we might be free is still awaiting judgment.
God bless our fallen Patriots, and God bless you FG&C…

golsono

In South Afrca today, we have M.O.T.H. Day.
Memorable Order Of The Tin Hats.
Emotional for those of us who have surviving members, inspiring for those who have, and still, choose, to serve the rythms of freedom….

GA/FL

I-LOVE-LOVE-LOVE-YOU, WOLFIE!!!
Thank you for making this blog REAL.
Real as in Le Petit Prince REAL. (Loving even when dirty and all the fur is rubbed off)
Real as in accepting imperfections and differences but loving anyway REAL.
Real as in getting over ourselves REAL.
Real putting up with others insufferable ways at times REAL.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!!!!!

GA/FL

Walter Cronkite’s kids tell this story:
Every time they got ready to take off on a road trip, he would turn to the back seat and start pointing to each kid in turn and say: “You have to put up with you and you have to put up with you and you have to put up with….” and on even to himself and his wife. Then he would give them the lowered eyebrows, a twinkle of his eyes and start the car. They never fought.

Wolf Moon | Threat to Demonocracy

Q said it best and shortest.
WWG1WGA.
Just get in the Jeep. Humvee. Rover. Whatever. 😉 😎 <3

GA/FL

;8->

Rodney Short

Love the thread it reminds us all what it means to be an American.
Red White and Blue, these colors dont run…

GA/FL

AMEN, Rodney – Amen!!!

golsono

Perhaps. They traipsing the world about now

Kalbo

This thread was spot on, when FG&C posted it last night.
And equally spot on, when this thread was re-posted by Wolf.
Thank you.
From BB, an estimated 140 Veterans commit suicide weekly as they work through some combination of the wounds of war, horrors or war, dealing with life after Service. Simply heartbreaking to know the difficulties Veterans endure daily.
On this day we remember, and do so remember every day, their are untold thousands of Veterans who are suffering.
Today’s Daily thread, Tom mentions some of the difficulties he deals with daily…dating back to Vietnam. ~Fifty tears ago. Such pain.
The wounds of war are deep, commonly unseen and too often, enduring.
*https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/05/27/matt-naylor-on-140-veteran-suicides-per-week-dont-let-them-be-forgotten-soldiers/
Pray for those that gave it all. Pray for those that continue to silently giving everyday. Lend a hand where we can.

Plain Jane

Really great post FG&C. Thank you.

MA_kswiss

Absolutely riveting. Thank you for this incredible post FG&C. Moved to tears, and I had my husband sit and read it with me to honor and remember our fallen military members and reflect on what they endured to help the future generations.

GA/FL

I saved these from yesterday to post on FG&C’a awesome Memorial Day post:

https://twitter.com/TeriPoulton/status/1132806767597899776
Then there is Navy SEAL, Congressman Dan Crenshaw’s beautiful thread remembering those wonderful buddies he lost – please click to see it all:

phoenixRising

We Patriots are living through extremely stressful times… primarily because we are aware of the times. Some of us were OT before here. Red-pilled means we spend a lot of time online, so that we get MORE red-pilled, so we spend more time…
Being ‘awakened’ (as in the Great Awakening) makes us vulnerable sometimes, esp. when writing/reading about emotional things like … the true meaning of ‘Memorial Day’. And we never know what is going on IRL with each other. Heck, the person whose post we’re analyzing could have just walked into a door or had an argument with a loved one… or perhaps, doesn’t even have a ‘loved one’ … near by, or, at all.
Hopefully, all is turning… dark to light (that includes us, individually, right ?) …
ForGodandCountry…
Please… do not stop writing at this site. I don’t presume to speak for all, but we do need your voice, whether it’s humorous or poignant… glad or sad (you can tell why I’m not an author here 😉
Our regard for each other is unconditional… we love you ALL the time, even if you express yourself in a tiff… all is good. [ I once, months ago now I think, got my undies in a wad and left this site for a day (and a half I think 😉 … came back, all was forgiven. Most folks here never even knew, right ?]
Come home. We need you. We need each other.
There is more to come our way, I am sure… together we can weather the storm.
God bless you friend…

phoenixRising

iirc, you told earlier you would be flying for two days… so we wouldn’t not be seeing you ’til then…
So, I’m going to wait for 36-40 hrs. or so, and then, I look forward to your return. Safe flying.

ladypenquin

FGandC, yesterday my hubby and I watched “The Memphis Belle” WWll movie. Hadn’t seen it before. At the end they ran some facts about the war and the men he flew those planes. While I knew that we lost about half a million Americans in WWll, I did not realize that 200,000 of them were actually pilots or other connected fighting air warriors.
I appreciate your love for the great blue yonder – me, I prefer my feet on the ground. I still can’t wrap my mind around the idea that a machine, weighing incredible tonnage, can get off the ground and stay in the air. 🙂

BAM

I wondered what had happened; I was catching up on an earlier thread, and then when I clicked on the link, nada, and then it was gone. Thank you Wolf for rescuing it and thank you FG&C for the post. My husband was a fixed wing and chopper pilot just before Vietnam; one of his uncles was WWII B-52 pilot and flew 17 missions. The last mission his plane was hit, blowing the cockpit open and he lost his helmet. As a result, his ears froze, and damaged his hearing, but he was able to bring the plane home. I will be reading this post to my husband later.

BAM

My husband just corrected, his uncle was flying a B-17.

thetinfoilhatsociety

Thank you Wolf. My husband’s two best friends went into the AF. Both are dead now. DH’s greatest dream was to go with them, but his nearsightedness kept him out.
My grandfather joined the Army in WWII. He was injured and sent home with an honorable discharge. As soon as he recovered he joined right back up in the Navy and served there until the end of the war. He never, ever, so far as I know, talked about anything that happened while he was serving.
Hail to all our fallen, not just in recent wars, but all wars throughout time!

grandmaintexas

My Grandpa never came back from the Philippines, WW2.
My two uncles were in Vietnam. To this day, both refuse to speak of it.
My Dad, was in the Korean war. They told him he wouldn’t live past 60. He didn’t. He never told us why or what happened to have them tell him that.
Thank you for posting this, Wolf and for writing it FGC. It was the best I’ve read all weekend.

kinthenorthwest

For all of us on here with WWII military.
For all of you to remember the days when America stood together as a united country
(thetinfoilhatsociety brought back my memories of my long ago WWII tribute )
https://youtu.be/lqYUyUCpjfo

Sylvia Avery

FG&C thank you for pouring your heart out in this powerful thread. It was educational, inspiring, and so full of your love for flying. I enjoyed it and was moved by it.
Wolfie, thanks for looking at this and deciding to publish it. Having read it, I’m glad you did. It was well worth saving.
Reading and writing at a blog like this I forget ALL THE TIME that people only have my words. Those who read them cannot accurately assess my tone, my voice, see my body language, or a lot of times even grasp the context. It makes it so easy to be misunderstood, either completely or by degree. I am grateful to those who have cut me some slack when I have managed to step on toes.
May God bless everyone involved and bring love and understanding to our hearts.
WWG1WGA

GA/FL

Hear, Hear – Well Said, Miss Silver Shovel Sylvia!

fleporeblog

fleporeblog

fleporeblog
fleporeblog

thetinfoilhatsociety

I had a crush on Gary Sinese for the longest time. I used to joke with my husband that Mr. Sinese would be the only person I would leave him for. I respect him more and more every year. He’s kept his integrity like very few others.

gingersmom2009

We switched from Wounded Warrior to Gary Sinise Foundation. Great charity.

trumpismine

Great post FG&C ,thanks.
That 1st video you posted was a F-104 Starfighter? My favorite was a P-38 Lighting but the Starfighter was next.
I too had some model planes I put together and painstakingly painted. Good memories from long ago.
Happy Memorial Day all you Qtreepers!

Nor'easter

No Words…comment image

Nor'easter

Angel flight YouTube:

olderwiser21

So great – thank you!

Alison

Nor’easter,
This was beautiful. I cried from the very first note. My heart is full of gratitude and pride and immeasurable sorrow for what this day of remembering means to me. So many names, wars and acts of service – we must never, ever let this day pass without honor.
FG&C – your writing moved me deeply. From you as a child who could never have enough model planes to those who braved every kind of danger in service to our country. I have visited many of our flight museums & bases, but your descriptions brought a much deeper understanding of the perils.
Bless you for sharing.
God Bless Our Great Nation.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙄

Sylvia Avery

Very moving. Thank you for posting this.

GA/FL

That is the most moving, impressive tribute…. simply beautiful.

olderwiser21

Oh, my goodness! That gave me chills – the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Thank you, Nor…

trumpismine

I’d like to honor the memory of Sgt. Vernon “Red” Francisco who was my dads best friend in F co. 505th P.I.R. 82nd AA who was killed 1/3/45 when the regiment went on the offensive 1/1/45 to reduce the bulge on the northern shoulder.
Red had mounted a tank destroyer and was firing the top mounted 50cal (exposed) at the enemy when who were tearing up his platoon when he was cut down my a German machinegun.
That following May after dad was mustered out on high points he got home and wrote Red’s parents a very poignant letter to explain their son’s death.
Many years later while I was exploring my dad’s role in WWII I hooked up with the sister of Red who had been searching for info on dad who died suddenly from a heart attack when I was 21. That letter was part of the legacy of Red.
Long story short I made fast friends of Red’s family and eventually made to trip with my mother to meet Red’s family.
Just sharing with you all and God Bless all you who have served our country and those who lost a loved one or maybe a friend who gave all for America.

olderwiser21

Wonderful memories. I love these personal stories being shared here today.

trumpismine

Strange how when we get older I think of Red as almost one of my own kids, except he will always be young.

Sylvia Avery

Thank you for sharing that personal story. God bless Red, and your dad.

trumpismine

YW Sylvia.
I went to several reunions of the 505th pir combat team and got to know some of my dad’s buddy’s and they all new Red as well.
They said he died “with his boots on”.
Sadly most of them as passed also

Sylvia Avery

It was good of you to go. Everyone who has lost someone loves the chance to talk about them and share memories of them.

Rodney Short

I seemed to have gotten some dust in my eye, nope they’re man tears thank you for sharing this story.

trumpismine

My honor to share it.

yucki

J.E. Dyer has a moving entry for today:
https://libertyunyielding.com/2019/05/27/memorial-day-2019/
Memorial Day 2019comment image

GA/FL

Quote:
“27 May 2019 – On this day 100 years ago, one of a small flight of Navy amphibious planes completed a transatlantic crossing.”
This was only 15 years after Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight!
GO GET ‘EM AMERICA!!!

ozzytrumpster

Very touching. The incredible stoicism of that generation. We owe them so much.

TheseTruths

What a shame it would have been not to have this meaningful and informative post! It was something I needed to see to help form my inadequate understanding of what our brave military has endured. I learned so much. Thank you, ForGodandCountry! I also very much enjoy seeing your pilot’s perspective on various topics.

deplorablebcootz

FG&C,
That was the most awe inspiring thread, you gave insight into world that was unknown to me. I am in awe of the courage those men had and yet heartbroken for what they endured. I have always and been appreciative and thankful for our Military but now it is more profound! This is the kind of stuff that should be required in our education system to teach our children. Thank You FG&C for the vision of a world unknown to me. God Bless You for your inspiration and love!❤️
P.S Thank You Wolfmoon for pulling this out of the trash and having the foresight that this needed to be posted. I can only speak for myself but this thread is very much appreciated.❤️

Wolf Moon | Threat to Demonocracy

Truth delayed is truth denied! <3

trumpismine

( A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

redlegleader68

FG&C – For many of us “of a certain age” your post really hits home. I sincerely want everyone here to take just a minute and re-read this:
“They did it for us, the next generations to come. They did it because they loved America, for the deepest and most cherished hopes they had for this country, and all this country has historically stood for.”
My parents were of the greatest generation. They lived it all. My dad was a Naval Aviator serving from 1940 until his death in a crash in 1948. I was two.
Memorial Day then was quite different from today. I’ll just leave it at that.
FG&C, you pic could have been my bedroom growing up; although, my ceiling had the F4Fs, F6Fs, PBYs, etc. along with the original painting of the aircraft that my dad somehow got hold of.
That’s all in us … in me. And, now in my children. My son’s USAF and my daughter is DOD working-shall we say-for one of the Agencies as a civilian.
I’m trying to play forward what my parents instilled in me.
God Bless you all …

trumpismine

‘In Flanders Fields’ is a poem that was written in 1915 by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to honor a soldier friend of his, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who had been killed in battle. The poem was also the inspiration for the use of the poppy to honor and remember those who have died in war, which, after all, is the true meaning of Memorial Day.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky the Larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Field.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Field.
LTC McCrae died in 1918 in France. There were several poems that were penned by individuals in honor of McCrae’s poem. One was titled ‘America’s Answer’ by R. W. Lillard.
America’s Answer
Rest in peace, ye Flanders dead. The fight that you so bravely led
We’ve taken up. And we will keep true faith with you who lie asleep
With each a cross to mark his bed, and poppies blowing overhead,
When once his own life-blood ran red. So let your rest be sweet and deep
In Flanders Fields.
Fear not that ye have died for naught; the torch ye threw to us we caught,
Ten million hands will hold it high, and freedom’s light shall never die!
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders Field
The poppies ended up growing in the now named Poppy Valley at Gallipoli too…

Katie

FG&C – a heartfelt thank you for your powerful creation of this post. You brought to life for me the experiences of my grandfather.
My grandfather was a turret gunner on a B-24 over Europe in WW II. Which means he was sitting in a glass bubble hanging from the belly of the plane, shooting 50 cal rounds until his feet were covered with burning metal. Many of his missions his pilot was Jimmy Stewart, who brought more than one plane back to base and landed upside down or missing sections of the airplane.
Grandpa was forever changed as a man from those experiences. How could he not be? I have recently been in contact with a man whose father served with my grandfather and he’s sent me a copy of his father’s hand-typed notes from all their missions. It’s mind boggling that anyone survived those frigid temperatures, let alone the rounds that pierced the skin of the planes.
Grandpa lived until his early 80’s and it was only in his last few years he would even talk about what he lived through. So many sacrificed so much in defense of freedom.

drillerelite

Thankful for this post. I was a military aircraft enthusiast as a kid too, especially WW2 fighter planes.
Thinking about my grandpa, today. Wanting to earn a few extra dollars at the time, he signed up to jumped out of planes and was a machine gunner in the 82nd airborne serving in Holland, France and Germany toward the end of the war. He thankfully came home, lived a long life and was the only person cooler than John Wayne to me.
Was sitting out back this morning when a P 51 mustang flew right over above me, so sweet. Looked similar to this one,comment image

Aubergine

FG&C, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your beautiful post. Thanks to Wolfmoon for rescuing it. It is so moving and inspirational.
Memorial Day is such a melancholy day for me. I don’t have a direct loved one I lost to war. But I am sad on this day. The sacrifices others have made so that I live the way I do humble and awe me.
I was unaware that so many WWII dead were killed in planes. I can’t imagine the courage it took to look those odds in the face and climb into one, to fly off on another mission, knowing you might never return.

Kalbo

American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Have visited American Cemetery Manila a couple times.comment image

Kalbo

One more try…comment image

View post on imgur.com

wheatietoo

Let’s see if this works:comment image

Sylvia Avery

Thanks Wheatie, what a beautiful and stirring picture.

Gudthots

Thank you FG&C. May the Lord bless you and open up great favor in all you do.

prairie123

FG&C – thank you for this post, I’m glad I got a chance to read it (even though I’m a few days behind!) Please don’t stop posting/writing and sharing your talents with all of us! Your GIFs are hilarious – and your article here was very informative and moving. I am one of a many Americans who don’t really have any family members who have served, my grandparents were just children during WWII and none of my relatives were/are involved in any military branches. I am just a normie who appreciates my freedom and who KNOWS in my heart of hearts that America is the best country of earth because of the brave men and women who have fought (and often died) to defend her freedoms. Thank you to all who have served – today and everyday!

TakeBackOurRepublic

I loved this post, FG&C. I’m so glad that Wolfmoon retrieved it. Thank you both.