Memorial Day...

[John Dunkle]

To our recently fallen - each and every one - you are our heros.

For those who were lost previously - please be assured that you are not forgotten.

For all of our service members who at "at ease", Godspeed.

The flag of the United States of America stands at half mast in your remembrance, respect and eternal thanks.

[Tom Carter]

On this Memorial Day I would like to thank ALL VETERANS for their dedicated service to our GREAT COUNTRY. We would not have the GREAT COUNTRY and the freedoms we have without the sacrifices of our veterans. Tom

[charlie cleveland]

we can not thank the fallen enough...if you guys and gals that have fallen can hear us THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS..... THE PARKER BOYS charlie

[Marc Retallack]

Thank you John and Tom for your posts. Memorial Day is a bit more significant to our family this year. A year ago, Saturday, we laid my father's remains to rest at Ft. Indiantown Gap National Cemetary. Thanks to all our servicemen, past and present.

Marcus

[Jerry Harlow]

I spent the morning working on a Trojan barrel reblue, which after six successful times in the boiling water, I contaminated. Oh well, there's always another day. Spent all afternoon until just a few minutes ago writing a Memorial Day article. Here is just a part of it about Stanley and Linwood Hamm:

When the United States began the mobilization for WWII, two of the Hamm boys were pressed into service. Stanley and Linwood were called to serve in the Army, and both were sent to Europe. Tech 5 Stanley Hamm of the 113th Cavalry was severely wounded in Germany, and spent months recuperating from the wound. Younger brother Linwood, now serving with the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Division and daily under fire, wrote home with his concerns. On March 12, 1945 Linwood wrote his mother: “Write and tell me how Stanley is getting along every letter that you get from him…” The 83rd, known as the Thunderbolt Division, was driving the Germans back across their country.

The 83rd had landed at Normandy a few weeks after D-Day and was sent to relieve the 101st Airborne in the forward positions. On July 4, 1944 the 83rd launched its first major attack. That winter they took part in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest, fighting for ten days and nights with little or no sleep in the bitter cold of the German winter. On March 2, 1945 Linwood distinguished himself near Brucke, Germany. Acting as a scout for his squad, PFC Hamm’s progress was halted by a machine gun firing at close range. Linwood fired a white phosphorous grenade, and under the cover of the smoke, he advanced and threw a hand grenade, eliminating the machine gun. For his actions Linwood was awarded the Bronze Star.

The 83rd Division had crossed the Elbe River and established a bridgehead, and although Nazi Germany was on the verge of collapse, the resistance was strong. On Sunday April 15, 1945, just 23 days before the surrender known as VE Day, Linwood was killed instantly. In a letter to the Hamm family, Venters Keen of Portland, TN, wrote of the heartache of seeing his best friend killed, a friend that he had fought, slept, and eaten with for the past year under continuous combat. Brother Stanley was able to visit Linwood’s gravesite. At the family’s request, Linwood was later removed from the cemetery in Margraten, Holland...

[Dean Romig]

Heros, every one.

Thsnks Jerry, for two more men for us to remember as True Patriots.

[Pete Lester]

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." General George S. Patton, speech at the Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston Massachusetts (7 June 1945)

FWIW. Memorial Day is not a second Veterans Day, it was originally called Decoration Day, it is a day to specifically remember and honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion and died in the service to their country.

[Bill Murphy]

I know this post is buried in with other posts much more relevant than this one, but give me a short read. All veterans may qualify to be buried in a Federal Veteran's Cemetery, we all know that. However, you may not know that your state may, and probably does, have one or more state sponsored Veteran's Cemeteries where we can be buried at no cost. My state, Maryland, has several Veteran's Cemeteries, one of which Linda and I utilized to bury her uncle and her aunt. It is a beautiful piece of ground, part of a lovely state park in mountainous Allegheny County, Maryland. Plots are provided for veterans and their spouses and funeral homes are familiar with the relationship between them and the state sponsored facilities. Consider utilizing these state facilities when burying your family members who have served our country.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bill. When my Dad died he had been living in Maine for some 18 years and apparantly the only Federal Veterans Cemetary that he could be interred in was the one in Augusta, Me. - not in Ma. where the rest of the family has lived all our lives - so we chose to keep his "cremains", along with his military flag, at my home - usually in my gun room.

[Pete Lester]

The majority of my father's remains rest in the NH State Veteran's cemetery. Some of his remains were scattered by me from the last flying B-24 bomber, he flew 35 combat missions as a turret and waist gunner on one of them. Although I can not visit his grave as often as I would like (an hour away) I am very pleased he is there. It is a beautiful cemetery, the most nicely kept one in the state. When I look at the markers of those who are buried there I know he is resting in good company for if they were all still alive they are the people he would enjoy talking with the most.

NH only recently changed it's rules to allow non NH residents to be buried there. If you want to use your veterans benefit check with your state Veteran's cemetery for eligibility, pre approval will make things easier for your loved ones and insure there is room at the inn so to speak. I hope to some day (another 50 or 60 years from now) to be buried near my dad.

http://www.nhveteranscemetery.org/

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http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj57/nhshotgunner/PaulLesterAshScatter92505.jpg

[John Dunkle]

Amazing, Pete.

Simply amazing....

Thanks for sharing.

John

[Dave Suponski]

Pete, Next time you visit tell him "Thanks" for Danny and I. Back when I was in 7th or 8th grade one of my buddies fathers was a waist gunner on a B-17. The stories he told of coming back shot up and all the brass they used to shovel out of those aircraft would make your hair stand up! Men of iron nerves....

[Dean Romig]

Bombs away!

Great pictures Pete!

[Mark Parela]

My dear friend Louie back in the day was the QB for Villanova, he said that a marine recruiter came in, gave such an up lifting speech he had to join the cor. 7 months later landed him in Monkey Hill, he loved it. 25 years my senior but he is an avid waterfowler. So when the leaves start to change it's all about keeping guys from going in front of the judge. He explained to me before he went to Vietnam all he hunted with was an old Fox but when he got back all he shoots are autos.
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[George Lander]

I watched the movie last night "We Were Soldiers" with Mel Gibson after reading Hal Moore's book " We Were Soldiers Once And Young". It blew me away and I highly recommend it. The intensity of combat and the reliance of each soldier upon each other was clearly demonstrated. With every young man in combat there is a family back home that cares. For those that did not make it home there is a void that never can be filled. R.E. Lee put it in perspective when he said: "It is well that war is so terrible, lest we become to fond of it." To all of our Fallen Heroes as well as those who survived let us say "Thank You For Your Service."