On this Memorial Day...

[Dave Suponski]

let us ponder some quotes from one of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

As our enemies have found we can reason like men, so now let us show them we can fight like men also.

Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it.

God Bless America and All those that served...

[Francis Morin]

Regarding our terrorists enemies who view this great Free land as a altar of Satan- as Halsey said re: The Japanese after their terrorist attack on Pearl Harbor- "When we are finished with the little yellow RACSCALS (his exact wording changed) the only place their language will be spoken is in the bowels of Hades"--

Korea and the Vietnam conflicts and all the leftist piss-headed hippies that came from the 1960's have weakened our National resolve-we have a POTUS who never served day one telling Gen. Petraus (West Pointer and C.G. 101st AB) how to win a war, and liberal feminist Judges on the Supreme Court who have lived sheltered Ivy-leagued lives trying to disarm us- This of all times is the time that tries men's souls-

No greater blood bath existed than the War of Northern Aggression on our home soil, but we have lost countless brave men in Flanders Fields, Iwo Jima, Bastogne, Normandy, Algiers, Sicily, the cold depths of both major oceans hold some of our own in the Eternal Father's grasp-- Chosen Resevoir, Pork Chop Hill, Khe Sahn, Hue, and now unknown areas in the SandBox lands-- because we are a Free Nation- at a cost beyond all recognizion-- Semper Fi!

[Marc Retallack]

Thank you for your post Dave. This Memorial Day is particularly poignant for our family as my father's remains were laid to rest on Friday at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetary. I have three spent .308 casings from his interrment service that will always be a physical reminder of my father's service as a Marine.

Thank you again Dave
Marcus Retallack

[Harry Collins]

Marc,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The final hymn at church today was America The Beautiful. I tried to sing, but my lips quivered and I started to cry. All during the service I remembered those that we lost: friends, family, my war and the wars others fought. God bless you.

Harry

[Ed Blake]

Too bad our president does not feel the same way. He's skipping traditional Memorial Day services, according to press reports. Shame, shame.

[Dave Suponski]

Thank You Marc, God Bless

[Bruce Day]

I can't say one way or the other how Obama feels, but the more accurate story is that he will not be at Arlington Natl Cemetary, on Monday, Memorial Day, but will take part in veterans memorial ceremonies at the Springfield ILL National Cemetary. Its traditional to have memorial ceremonies at all National Cemetaries on this day and he has chosen to be there rather than Arlington. A person may disagree with that choice, but its not a dishonor to veterans as I see it.

[Robin Lewis]

I have just returned from the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery which will be my home someday. I went to visit friends and look around, I find its a special place.

While I was there, a unit of Sons of Union Soldiers played taps and fired a solute to actual Union Soldiers that were recently buried in the state veteran cemetery. These old soldiers were moved from a roadside cemetery that a road access was going through. The honor guard was in full Union Dress uniform as they honored them. That was nice to witness; I wish I would have used the camera that was in my hand during the ceremony.


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[calvin humburg]

Marc,
I fell for you also. Godspeed ch

[Mark Ouellette]

To my fellow veterans and other patriotic Americans on this board;

This is a somber day for many of us as we set aside our Parkers and other distractions to think of where we once were and those we served with. Most of us now lead a peaceful life but others do not. Some fell for freedom or their sense of duty, but mostly they fell for their comrades. Others returned with scars both external and within. Today I see young men (there are certainly women also but I haven't seen any) in the airports missing limbs. My heart goes out for them. Although I'm always ready to offer them assistance they never seem to need it. These tough, brave, young warriors have a life in front of them for which they will live boldly, even if without a leg or arm. This Marine isn't worthy to tie the lace of their one shoe.

To my fellow PGCA members, please ensure that your shooting club has wheelchair ramps for shooting stations and that the restrooms are handicap accessable. It is the least we can do.

Respectfully,
Mark Ouellette

[John Dallas]

As as young lieutenant in 1968, I was the Post Honor Guard Commander at my base. I buried too many young men coming home for the last time. I gave too many folded flags to grieving widows, mothers or girlfriends who never understood our involvement in Viet Nam. No matter how many I did, it never got any easier.

I proud that our country is at least giving the honor and respect that they deserve to today's young warriors.

[Bruce Day]

From Charlie Herzog, also a veteran.

[Dave Suponski]

We had an air show here in Stratford and they had a couple of Corsairs flying around.My all time favorite aircraft.This picture was taken across the street from the Chance-Voight factory were the Corsair was built.To stand there and watch this 2000HP warbird awaken was awesome. No wonder our Pacific enemies called them"Whistling Death"

[Bruce Day]

I was flying supply missions into Ilopango Airfield, San Salvador, during the Sandanista and Salvadorian rebel conflicts. Ilopango is the Salvadorian Air Force base and they were running bombing missions against rebel positions on an old volcano about 50 miles away. While most of the Salvadorian pilots flew French small fighters, the Air Force commander preferred his old Corsair, and there it was, blue paint, hung with 100 lb bombs, machine gun barrels protruding from the wings, parked in front of AF HQ. We got to see the general climb up and strap in, start up, blue smoke belching, big radial engine popping and take off for a combat bomb run. The young Salvadorian hotshots could fly the jets, but he was going to fly his 40 year old Corsair. A hell of an airplane.

I was privileged over my career to fly with old WWII pilots during the Vietnam years who did everything they could to stay in the cockpit and fly and fight. I had F-106, 104's, F-4's, F-105's, seen the F-111's do their trick dumping fuel and exploding it with afterburner to light up the night sky, friends became astronauts, I lived next to Capt Chuck Yeager, flew aircraft that had minimal computer systems and a pilot had to feel the aircraft and listen to it. In the last years, in Iraq and thereafter, I got to see the stealth fighters, F-16s, F-15's . I regret that I am not still in the cockpit to fly with the new generation aircraft, the F-22's and the new F-35. What a thrill for the young cream of the crop who are privileged to wear wings today.

[Dave Suponski]

We have a Corsair on a pedastal at the entrance to Sikorsky Airport where the photo was taken. That Corsair was bought in El Salvador.