Pap raised my brothers and I to fully understand that our freedom didn’t happen without great loss.
Memorial Day always makes me study on those who never made it home because they were standing in the gap for my freedom and gave their very life to make sure I have it today.
A quick search will turn up all manner of stories from those soldiers—from WWI to present day, they are all heart stirring.
Pap chose to sing patriotic songs and in our local area he was often asked to sing them with his brother for Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
One of the most popular uploads on our Blind Pig and The Acorn YouTube channel is “Tear Drops Falling in the Snow.” The song is a real tear-jerker, but is perfect for the somber feelings I have today. You can go here to listen.
A few other songs that come to mind.
Last night’s video: Planting an EPIC Garden in the Mountains of Appalachia.
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Thank you to all who served our country in the past and present. God bless you all and your families. Thank you!
My comment should have said “bus” station..not “boys” station…
I can vaguely remember my Dad, Ralph C. Byers coming home from the Navy after the end of WWll. He served on the Pacific. My mom and I lived with her parents, the Mauney’s. My aunt Ella Faye Byers had picked Dad up in Murphy at either the boys station or railroad.(yep, RR station in Murphy) He got out of her ‘36 Chevy coupe and held me in his arms…I drove by the old Mauney place yesterday.. the old house is gone and an RV sits there…but the memories linger…
in the words of general Patton , it is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died , Rather we should thank God that such men lived!
My Mamaw used to call this day “Decoration Day”. She said the whole community would go to the local cemeteries. People would arrive by horse and wagon with lots of tools, picnic food and a whole passel of children. They would make a whole day of it. While the ladies made sure everyone was fed, the men would work to clean up the cemeteries from brush and overgrown grass. Everyone would tell stories of soldiers who fought and folks who were long gone. Flowers and crepe paper decorated the graves by the end of the day. Mamaw smiled and had a faraway look in her eyes when she told me this story….missing times gone by.
This day has special meaning to me. My step-father, Herbert Wright, who adopted me and my 3 brothers was sent off to Germany in October 1944 and ended up in the Battle of the Bulge. He lost his life on Jan 11, 1945. He left behind 5 children. These times were very difficult for American families. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg. Me and two of my brothers served in the Marine Corps.
God comfort thee! thank you for serving!
Happy memorial day to everyone. So thankful for the sacrifices made so I can live in a free land, not just on the days designated to recognize these brave souls but every day! God bless them and their families
My maternal grandmother, Mary Tabor Hutchins, had 17 grandsons serving at one time during WWII, one of whom was my brother, Charles. All of them returned home, only one being seriously wounded, my cousin, Ed. Charles went into combat in the Spring of ’45 and was at the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Charles had not yet reached his 19th birthday when he was at Dachau; he died of cancer when he was only 38 years old. Near the end of his life he told me a little about what he did and saw during his service. Three more brothers served in the ’50s. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life that I never served.
We must be eternally grateful for the sacrifices made by men and women who served to preserve the way of life that we have.
God’s Blessings to all . . .
God comfort thee!
May God bless all that gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free, and may God bless all who served and were fortunate enough to make it back home including my dad, his brother, my father-in-law and my mother’s brother. Daddy served briefly in the Army, then joined the Navy with his brother. My father-in-law served in the Army and my other Uncle spent twenty years in the Air Force. They were all proud to serve their country but didn’t talk about it and like Randy said, I didn’t ask. I know they were at war and saw things they carried with them for the rest of their lives. May God Bless America!!!
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God comfort you!
I’ve had the privilege of standing at the graves of Normandy and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There is not enough words to explain the gratitude for their sacrifice that I could visit these places and see the American Flag waving in the wind.
I’m proud to stand for the American flag and even more the Christian flag on this Memorial Day and everyday✝️
Tipper, sending my thoughts and prayers for all the family.
My Uncle Milton Presley served in WWII and in Korea. He was my inspiration for going into the military, USAF myself. God rest his soul. He earned his rest many times over.
Many of us feel and we’re brought up the same way. while, thank God, my father and brother came hone safe. WW2 and Vietnam, they lost a lot of friends who gave themselves for their Country. Thank you for sharing these lovely songs.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE !!!!!
God bless all that served our country in battle and in supporting roles. I grateful for your sacrifice so that I can enjoy freedom everyday.
Thank you for your sobering words Lenora.
A few moments ago a friend said to me, “Happy Memorial Day” and I thought about what you had just written. These words gripped me – ‘there is no happy memorial day!’ Thank you for reminding us of the true costs and what this day really means.
I lost an uncle in the Vietnam war. He was only a few years older than me. All the men and women who served in our Armed Forces deserve our respect and gratitude, especially those who paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom. May God bless them all.
Good morning,
My Dad was an officer and preparing to deploy to Vietnam when he was struck with a bleeding ulcer. He was hospitalized and discharged from the Army. He never talks about serving his country. He takes no credit for anything and I’ve never seen picture of him in uniform. I asked him about it once.
He passes a memorial along the Chicago river everyday going to work. He has always remembered the friends he lost. He was is grateful to be going to work, supporting a family, owning a home. Things they never got to do. My Dad truly embraces every day joyously. He stops to watch the sun rise. It’s not guilt, it’s a deep appreciation for what he has. (And at 80, still working downtown, taking the train, going strong).
I have reread my comment and my last sentence about the men that served in the war, I would also like to include the other ones, such as the nurses in the military hospitals and the horrors they saw while treating the wounded. I think they deserve just as much respect.
Lest we forget.
Kathy Mattea – The Vacant Chair
https://youtu.be/wXtjE9KaMYI
This is the first time I have heard this song. I think the message could apply to a lot of families Vacant Chairs. Kathy is one of today’s few singers that I like. The tune to me reminds me of one of my father in law’s favorite songs he would often sing in church “Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad”.
Happy Memorial Day to all, especially the veterans. I had two uncles to serve in WWII, one was a German POW, his daughter was 4 years old before he ever saw her. Another uncle served in the Korean War. Daddy was in the Army during the later years of WWII but the war ended before he had to fight. He was turned down two times before he was drafted because of one leg being shorter than the other one. I had a cousin, Broadus Alfred Whitt, killed in Vietnam, he along with his wife were two of the finest young people you would ever be blessed to know. Our high school football stadium at Woodmont High School, Piedmont, SC is named in his honor. He was captain of the first football team at this school. My heart goes out all veterans, especially the Vietnam veterans because of the way they were treated when they got back home. Many of them were of my generation. The draft stopped the year I graduated , I sometimes feel guilty for not going. One thing I never do is ask a man that fought in war to tell about it, I firmly believe the ones that saw the bad stuff don’t want to talk about it, they are trying in every way they can to forget about it.
Continued from my first comment,Carl also had something to do with the Normandy invasion , he said they shelled the beach for 3 days and nights, before anyone landed on the beach, God bless and comfort you! thank you for serving!
Our Remembrance day comes in November. My family had at least one member go to war and come home and others including my Dad holding things together at home in what they called the Armiteers
my uncle Carl served 37 months during WW2 , in Italy, he was a medic! the war had been over a month, Daddy and his family thought Carl was dead, one day they heard someone on the front porch! daddy said , you talk about a bunch of happy people! Carl had to ride a slow boat across the ocean to get home! thank you, to all who served! God comfort those that lost loved ones! thank you God, thank you Jesus
Norman, my dad served in Italy with the 91st Infantry Division. He got home in one piece but bore some invisible scars. That was an ugly campaign. Five uncles served in combat, in Europe and in the Pacific. We lost one after the Normandy landing, Uncle Hugh C. McGuire, of the Long Creek community in Oconee County, SC. He fell near St. Lo, France, on 15 July 1944. I was privileged to visit his grave while I was stationed in Germany during the Cold War.
God bless you Gene, thank you for serving! as general Patton said, praise God that such men lived! ✝️♥️
Gene , we from Georgia north Georgia, Dawson and lumpkin counties
God Bless those that gave all so that we could be free. God Bless Granny, Ms Cindy and the rest of your family.