Memorial Day - Thanks to our military!

**Mark Walker** · May-25-2009, 12:00pm

My late Grandfather served on the USS Nevada and was on board when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 1941. His stories and insight during my formative years gave me a tremendous appreciation for those who sacrificed all so that we might enjoy the freedoms we do.
Take a moment today to play America the Beautiful or the Star Spangled Banner on your mandolin (or any instrument) and remember those who have gone before us in service to our great nation.

And blessings to all who are serving at this moment and who might be reading this on Memorial Day, 2009.

- Mark

**floyd floar** · May-25-2009, 1:23pm

Thank you to all who made the valiant and supreme sacrifice. Thank you to all who are standing guard in my stead, and thank you all Cafe members who did your stint.

**onassis** · May-25-2009, 1:38pm

Amen!

**CES** · May-25-2009, 1:45pm

Amen!

**Soupy1957** · May-25-2009, 2:17pm

It's still processing, as I type this, but here's a link to a slideshow from today's parade.

One of the slides, showing the soldiers marching, includes our son-in-law who will be shipping out for Iraq in November of this year.

Thanks to all those who served, whether they made it through or not. And thanks to those who are WILLING to go, when others are not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnnA9JbeTmM

**Charley wild** · May-25-2009, 2:54pm

Yes, thanks! My Dad was a wounded veteran of WW1 and I served. I'm not looking for a pat on the back and I KNOW my Dad wouldn't be. But I was proud to serve and I know he was! My thanks go to all the people serving today and in the past. Especially to those who made the supreme sacrifice! They all are the reason America is here today and will be tomorrow!

**Jim Kirkland** · May-25-2009, 4:19pm

My daughter is on the way to Iraq now, I am a retired military guy. I SALUTE all that served or is serving and the ones that support the military personnel.

**Chris Keth** · May-25-2009, 4:24pm

Many thanks to any veterans that may read this thread!

I especially think about a kid, Ross McGinnis, I went to school with. He was in a personnel carrier in Iraq when a grenade was thrown in. It rolled back behind some equipment and they couldn't throw it back out. Ross dove on top of it and was killed, saving the other men in the vehicle. It made pretty big news back home for "one of us" to do something so big and to be awarded a posthumous medal of honor for it.

**Andrew DeMarco** · May-25-2009, 4:33pm

Thank you all for protecting my freedom!

**Plectrosaurus** · May-25-2009, 5:21pm

A picture of Ross' cross was on a the cover of a recent edition of an Army magazine. A true hero to those he saved. My son has recently returned from trip #2 (Iraq). He is home safe. I'll remember the daughter and son-in-law mentioned in this thread. May God's hand be on them.

Originally Posted by Chris Keth

Many thanks to any veterans that may read this thread!

I especially think about a kid, Ross McGinnis, I went to school with. He was in a personnel carrier in Iraq when a grenade was thrown in. It rolled back behind some equipment and they couldn't throw it back out. Ross dove on top of it and was killed, saving the other men in the vehicle. It made pretty big news back home for "one of us" to do something so big and to be awarded a posthumous medal of honor for it.

**Chris Keth** · May-25-2009, 5:33pm

Originally Posted by Plectrosaurus

A picture of Ross' cross was on a the cover of a recent edition of an Army magazine. A true hero to those he saved.

We never really hung out in school. I was (and am) a bit of a nerd and he wasn't really into school very much. He really seemed to like the military and I'm glad he found his calling and made a difference, at least to the guys in that vehicle.

**Plectrosaurus** · May-25-2009, 9:33pm

Originally Posted by Chris Keth

We never really hung out in school. I was (and am) a bit of a nerd and he wasn't really into school very much. He really seemed to like the military and I'm glad he found his calling and made a difference, at least to the guys in that vehicle.

I'm sure he made a difference to many more that just his buddies in that vehicle.