Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Memorial Day

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our veterans past, present and future for their sacrifices to our country.

Their isn't a day that goes by in my life that I don't think about their service, so I and my family can enjoy the freedoms most Americans take for granted every day.

Yes,
Avoiding the computer and TV all weekend..and all the "Memorial day sale" B.S., allows for moments of true reflection on the sacrifices made in our name.

Not understanding what Memorial Day is pisses of many Veterans, you might want to work on that.

RANDY
VERY NICE, SPENT THE MORNING WITH SOME VETS ETC. IT WAS NICE.
Here, Here to all That they Have Done

OK, I guess what you are getting at is this is Memorial Day, not Veterans Day. Memorial Day started in 1868 as Decoration Day. It was a day to decorate the graves of those that died while in the armed services. Not sure when they changed it to Memorial Day, I guess when they made it a Federal Holiday. My Dad, Uncle and Brother are all vets, they are also all dead. I don't know if they get upset when someone honors the living on a day meant to honor the dead. I know while thinking of them, my family members and other deceased vets, I still give thanks to the living, for keeping us free, Joe.

Amen Joe. My sentiments exactly.

I'm thankful for their service on Memorial day and Veteran's day and every other day.

You want to split hairs and get pissed off, that is your problem, not mine.



Thanks to all you other veterans.

Thank you.

And Thank you Jeff for your years of service to our country.

You are very welcome

Its interesting. I sometimes also participate in the forums on the CMP website and found that those guys are amazingly oblivious to honoring those who died in military service on Memorial Day and to those who served on Veteran's Day. At least that goes for the bolt gun guys. A couple years ago I posted a similar thread on Veteran's Day and barely got any replies. Sadly, I think these national days of remembrance have just become little more than excuses for a long weekend. Considering how so many wrap themselves in history over at the CMP site I can't for the life of me reconcile their ironic attitude towards these holidays.

As a kid, Memorial Day found our teachers selling little paper poppies for like 10¢ and we all bought them and wore them proudly. The money, as I recall, went toward buying little flags and flowers to put on fallen soldier's graves. Everybody around town had one pinned on for a day or two. The day itself was always marked by we scouts, vet organizations, civic groups, etc. parading through town to the cemetery for a somber ceremony and then the putting out of the flags and wreaths. Afterwards in the afternoon came the picnics, sure, but they weren't times of wild revelry for the event in the morning caused a lot of introspection.

"In Flanders Fields a poppy grows..."

Every year our Scout Troop helps fill, place and light over 23,000 luminaries for the soldiers killed at Antietam. Google "Pictures of luminaries at Antietam". For those within driving distance it's something to see. This year the event is on Dec. 5th. Anyone interested in going, I'm all for it, Joe.

Been to it many times, Joe. It takes your breath away. Even little kids sit still in the car and watch with awe.

Being from the west coast I have only been to Antietam once. I spent the better part of a day there walking the battle ground and trying in my small and insignificant way to put my mind into it. The luminaries sound breath taking and an amazing way to express the terrible toll that political differences can wrack upon the people.

PS - just did some fast research on the CMP site. The M1 carbine guys mentioned Memorial Day, but got tangled up in the same Veterans Day confusion. The M1 Garand guys spent their thread coveting 1903s and M1s that were observed in an honor guard. Everyone else was a now show.