Pap raised my brothers and me 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. I pray for their families.
A quick search will turn up all manner of heartwarming stories from soldiers.
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 today brings.
A few other songs that come to mind.
I Died for the Red, White, and Blue
Last night’s video: Planting our Tomatoes and Peppers.
Tipper
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Saying prayer for the souls, and the families and friends, of all those who gave their lives so my family and I can have the freedoms we enjoy each day. God Bless all those who are still serving.
Tipper, I just checked my little garden patch and your namesakes are starting to climb.
Yay 🙂
I had heard that Memorial Day started because Confederate war widows decided that a way to “bind up the nation’s wounds” was for all Gold Stars to decorate the graves of ALL soldiers, whether Union or Confederate, on a particular given day, every year from then on. They asked if the Union war widows would please do the same, as they would be much obliged if those women would do so.
I’ve always understood that immediately after the ending of the War the US government began decorating the graves of the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. I understand that since the Confederate government was dissolved, widows of the fallen soldiers started Decoration Day so that their loved ones would have a day of recognition too.
Present day Decoration Day, where it even exists, is radically different from its beginnings. Now you decorate the graves of your ancestors and loved ones regardless of how they lived or died. In many places the practice has faded into oblivion but here in Southern Appalachia it is still hanging on.
Praying for Papaw Tony!
Holding all in thought & prayer !
Memorial Day is very personal for me. Freedom isn’t free. While at the Florida Center every Memorial Day I would give the same message. Three friends if mine gave their all. Desiree was a clerk typist in the NHANG but wanted to become a boom operator on a KC135 which our unit flew. In order to do this she had to take strengthen classes to improve the amount of weight she could lift over her head. She qualified for boomer school. Boomers are the persons who control the boom that is lowered from our KC135 to another plane to refuel. Her dream had come true. On a training mission the plane she was on had problems and blew up killing all on board. Heidi was another clerk typist in my clinic and she wanted to become a pilot in the Air Force. She had many hurdles to jump through to be admitted to flight school but she passed them all. She graduated top of the class and was asked to become an instructor pilot. She accepted. She visited us before she became a instructor pilot. She wad so happy and proud to have accomplished her dream. Several months later we learned that on a training flight with a student her plane developed engine problems and the plane wad going to crash. She had the student eject from the plane while she stayed with the plane until it was past base housing. Heidi finally ejected from the jet but it was too late. She died saving her student pilot. Jim was a friend of mine in grade and high school and joined the NHANG at the same time as me. After being in the NHANG for 15 years he came to the clinic for a physical. He looked terrible. He told me that he had had a terrible cough for several months before going to the doctors. Jim never went to the doctors because he was always in perfect health. He worked in a small office with four other workers who smoked. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and was given only months to live. Jim was married with two daughters. His biggest concern was for them. Another concern wss his being discharged from the NHANG. He was proud of his many years of service. His discharge did not go through before he passed. He died a member of the NHANG. Three friends of mine who were proud to wear the Air Force uniform. Three who gave their all for the country they lived. Memorial Day is very important to me. Freedom isn’t free.
Good morning Tipper and family and all fellow acorns. I’m not going to say Happy Memorial Day, but pray that everyone reflects on this day for what it means while enjoying having the day off. Many never lived to make it back home to their families to enjoy the liberties of our great country. I had uncles that served, and also my father in law who served in WW2 and Korea. My youngest son survived a deployment to Afghanistan and to Kuwait. Agonizing time for this mama. We recognize Memorial and Veterans Day for what they mean; Days of remembrance. One of mama’s 1st cousins died in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. I was 9 years old in 1969 and I remember the terrible grief in our family and friends/neighbors to this day. I watch the National Memorial Day concert on PBS every year; and last night I was moved again to tears while watching it. We need to become a nation again overall to reflect on our freedom , not taking it for granted. So many don’t have a clue. I pray yall are getting some of this wonderful GOD water up your way. I imagine the beach goers down our way are disappointed, but maybe they will take this time to remember why. It’s always a quiet day for my family.
Gone but not forgotten. God bless all who fought, for the ones that made it back home and the ones that did not. May God be with all of the families today as we remember.
Good morning Tipper and Acorns. Or Fred was killed at Fort Hood, TX (SPC Fredric Z. Greene). He was shot 8 times and died inches away from the doorway where the shooter stood. Ie was unarmed and prepared to stop this killer with his bare hands. This tragic day was November 5, 2009 was my 51st birthday. We had welcomed Fred into our lives in the early 1990’s when my son, Ed, met him at school. Fred was 3 years older than Ed. Fred had been born a twin. The tiny babies were born with a heart defect and Fred’s twin died shortly after birth. Fred was a fighter and lived to be able to have heart surgery. His mother was not able to care for him so she left him with her parents on Copperhead Road. He grew up there and became my son and my son’s brother after his grandparents passed away and his aunt threw him out of the house so she could fix it up and move in. We loved having him with us. He taught Ed to drive. And they had loads of fun. Fred’s cousin Jessie also came to live with us. His parents were in prison on drug charges. He is legally blind. Today Jessie working as an independent sound engineer and actor in several films and stage productions. I have many family members that have served in the military, one uncle died and remains at Pearl Harbor, Private Charles Waters. Daddy served many years of my childhood in Korea and Vietnam. He also served in Germany/Africa for 3 years. I spent almost 8 of my first 14 years without my Daddy. All of my uncles served in the military, having been drafted but Daddy didn’t wait, he volunteered. He was only 17 when he enlisted. He served 3 months before they found out and sent him home but the day he turned 18 he went back. Agent Orange robbed him of his health in his 60’s and killed him 10 yrs later. He was proud to serve, and I am so proud of all he put himself thru to help make ours a safe place to live.
Beautiful song Tipper. Reminds me of my parents they are from Kentucky and my Granma lived in a holler and us kids would love going to vist every clear. She had a spring she would get her water from and us kids lived getting it for her. When growing up they would sing songs and my grandparents too that sound just like this. Thanks to all that served our Country for our Freedom. God Bless you and Matt and the girls and grand boys. Love watching your show it is so relaxing and we learn alot from you. ❤️
The title of the song is enough to make me wait until a less emotional day to listen to Pay sing it. As I drove through the veteran’s section of the local cemetery, I had to stop and reflect on the life and war stories that are buried with each soldier that lies under the thousands of flags that were blowing in the wind. Some made it back alive, while some like my ex-husband never talked about the sacrifices he made in that foreign country that eventually took his life after he returned home. God bless all the men and women who fought and are still fighting to keep us free.
As with many others here, I also grew up learning freedom was not free and that many paid with their lives for it. I also have family who were in WW11, the Vietnam war and in Afghanistan. Some came home alive; some came home broken in body and some came home with broken minds – causing one to commit suicide. Peace comes at a great price to everyone. We must always remember them – those who paid, as well as remember and praying for those who are still in the battle and paying, for it seems there is always a war going on.
I was raised the same. My father was in WWll along with 4 brothers. I have thought about and cried so many times thinking about what my grandma went through having 5 boys fighting over there at the same time. So many families suffered. My family was so blessed that all the brothers came back home, but they all carried some kind of scars for the rest of their lives. Thank you to all the veterans❤️
Tipper, my heart is deeply touched by this post. I thank you so much for reminding us to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and to pray for our military. God bless you, Tipper! Granny and Pap raised you so well. ❤️
As I reflect on the last 48 hours, during which, I was able to freely visit my 3 grands and great granddaughter and take my grandson out to eat & shopping for his upcoming birthday, it hit hard as I read your post. I am so incredibly grateful and forever indebted to those who fought for our freedom. Bless you and your families for the ultimate sacrifice ♡ Bless and watch over those who are continuing to serve to keep us free.
I use talk to text, when I comment here, and if you’ll notice it does not work well for me, often times when I say God, it prints the word dog, please know that I’m praying to God, and saying God bless you and not dog bless you, thank you French and God bless you very much, if it was not for talk to text, I could not leave a message, thank you and God bless you
God bless you Randy, I got two cousins that died in the civil war, one uncle and one great uncle that served in world war II but they survived, dog comfort all those that have lost loved ones in the war , comfort them in Jesus name
Thank You For Today song Paul, I’ll be sharing it on my YouTube channel, God bless Matt’s father Tony, God bless your whole family, thank you for letting me be a part of your channel, and thank you for all the prayers that you’ve prayed for me, please continue to do so, I’m trying to see an abdominal ultrasound, to keep from taking CT scans that cause cancer, thank you everyone, thank you for praying and God bless you very much in Jesus name
several of my family members served in the war, world war II, Uncle Carl after 37 months he made it home, from Italy, it took him a month to get home after the war was over, my father and the rest of the family thought he was dead, but praise God he showed up one day dancing and singing on the porch, he had to ride a slow boat home, didn’t get to fly home on an airplane like some of the soldiers did, but I feel the pain and suffering of those that have lost loved ones in the war, I do have two different cousins buried in Cochran family cemetery, Cochran falls, they were in the civil war, one of them got killed, and the other one spent four months bringing him back home, don’t you know that’s a long time to spend for the body, a dead body, but that’s what love is when it’s your brother, his father mother was probably waiting on word from him, my father told me this story when I was a child, and I have been to the cemetery and I know it’s true, their father also served in the war of 1812 I don’t know any more history on him, but I do know the other brother was also killed in the war I don’t know how he got home, but my hats off, I salute you, we’re paying for my freedom, and anybody that’s lost a loved one, to the war, God comfort you in Jesus name
Yesterday I looked up that phrase “all gave some, some gave all”. It tugs at me. First, there is the anonymity; no name but recognition still; ” all” and “some”. Second, there is “gave”, not taken but given as an act of will. As soldiers, they had no choice about being there. But in the end they had a choice about what they did there. All did duty. But some by their own choice went above and beyond for the sake of others. We cannot deserve that, or earn it, because it is grace, that which is freely given and unmerited. Lamentations 3:20 says it well “My soul hath them still in rememberance and is humbled in me.” Though Jeremiah’s “them” was about his own troubles and to us it is persons, yet it fits Memorial Day. And we know that in a larger sense it fits every day because the Lord gave himself by His own choice to surrender His own will. No greater love.
Thankful for all men and women who fought for freedom around the world. My parents taught me and my siblings the same, freedom isn’t free. I tried to carry that same message on to my daughter and granddaughter. Sadly, the schools now days seem to teach things differently, maybe not every where, but it seems like some don’t even bother to teach kids what really happened in history, much less teach them to honor those who taught for freedom. It’s very important more so than ever for parents, grandparents, great grandparents and other family members who know and fully understand the history of the fight for freedom. My family has a long line of men who fought for freedom; my grandfathers and a great uncle in WW1, my dad and one of his brothers in WW2, my brother in Vietnam, and my nephew in Dessert Storm. We were blessed that they all were able to return home and physically intact, however, the stress, loss of friends, mental and emotional distress took a toll on their health conditions later in life. Freedom in this fallen world is not free. The only freedom one can ever actually experience is the spiritual freedom that only Jesus the Christ can give. If it hadn’t been for the salvation through accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior while living, then the men in my family and many others, would have never survived the hardships of war. Thankful to our Heavenly Father for true freedom in His one and only Son, Jesus.
I pray that I nation will turn back to God before it is too late. When people will not stand for our flag and honor our soldiers for the sacrifices they made to keep us safe really makes me sad. Our graveyards are full of their fallen bodies and families fill them full of their tears. From the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU. Each and every one for serving. God bless you all.
Thank you Lord for your tender mercy and for those that paid fir our freedom with their lives.
There are over 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, these are Americans that didn’t make it Home. They were either KIA or still MIA, They are known only to a few. On Panel 7E Line 76 is the Name of My Childhood Acquaintance John Walter Teague. He was KIA 17 May 1966 in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam. The following message I found on a memorial page that was left to honor him on his Birthday:
Though You are gone You will never be forgotten! You and men like You, are the reason we are free today! I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the sacrifices that You made! I hold You and those like You in the highest regard and You deserve nothing less! I love You all, You were and always will be HEROES to me! I promise never to take for granted the freedoms I have, which You paid the ultimate price for! Happy Birthday!
I Will Remember All of You!
I try to share this every Memorial Day not only to honor John but to honor all those that paid the ultimate – not just in Vietnam but in all the wars. It’s a simple message but I tear up every time I read it.
Thomas, Broadus Alfred Whitt Panel 46E Line 25. One of the finest Christian young man you could ever know. He was only over there 4-5 weeks. As far as any of the family know, my POW uncle never told ANYONE what he went through, all I know is he never saw his daughter until she was 4 years old and you did not “bad mouth” General Patton and let him hear you.
Many thanks for those that gave their lives so that I and everyone in America today. can enjoy our freedom. Many thanks for all that have served and are serving today. Prayers for the family and friends of those who gave all.
Thank you to all of you that have served this great country, prayers for those who lost their lives keeping us free and for their families. Have a blessed Memorial Day today!
Thank you, Tipper, for this post and for reminding me that the price of freedom is not free. My grandfather, Elijah Keller, served this country in France in World War I in 1918. I remember many tales he told of the war there and as a result developed an interest in the country of France. In total, I have spent a year of my life there. On June 6, 1982, I visited the D-Day Beaches in Normandy. It was the fortieth anniversary of the invasion. There were many American troops who had participated in the invasion in the cemetery that day. They were on their knees weeping among the 10,000 graves of their fellow soldiers who did not make it home at the end of World War II. What a sobering sight it was! We, here in America, have much for which to be thankful. We, like those soldiers, should drop to our knees and thank almighty God that we live in a country like America, and we should never forget that FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!!! It has been bought with the blood and the sacrifice of many precious lives. Thank you again, Tipper, for giving me the opportunity to vent. Please continue to pray for me as I continue to pray for you and yours. I so enjoy reading your blogs and watching your videos on YouTube.
I was taught by my parents that the freedom that I enjoy did not come free, there were others that had paid for it. Two uncles in WW11, one a German POW, another uncle in Korea and a cousin that was killed in Vietnam. I want to thank everyone that has served in the military.
Amen, Randy. I couldn’t agree with you more. Many precious lives have been lost giving us the freedom we have today, and I’m afraid many people don’t realize that. I hope you have a great day.