Remember the Fallen

This worn, weathered, 6yr old torn piece of paper means a lot to our 27yr old son Joe, Jr who is a Marine Veteran that did several tours during his 8yrs of duty and I'll let his words tell you how he feels.....

I know this is a Memorial Day article. But I have carried this with me since 2008. It means a lot to me and just lets you know how many people have died for this country. And just to think many people don't care and just do what the f**k ever they want and will never understand why they are able to.


Attachment 64047

For those who are having a problem reading it...
"The United States is almost 232 years old, the world's greatest and oldest experiment in freedom and democracy.

"In that short history, Americans have paid for that freedom - and increasingly over the past centruy, for the freedom of untold others - in the blood and noble sacrifice of those who heard the call to service and gave their lives to the cause.

"Some 4,435 died for their new country in the American Revolution. 2,260 in the War of 1812. 13,283 in the Mexican War. 529,511 - probably more, but records are incomplete - in the American Civil War. 2,446 in the Spanish-American War. 116,516 in World War I. 405,399 in World War II. 36,574 in the Korean War. 58,209 in the Vietnam War. 19 in Grenada for Operation Urgent Fury. 383 in the Persian Gulf War. 23 in Panama for Operation Just Cause. 43 in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. 496 in Operation Enduring Freedom and 4,069 in Operation Iraqi Freedom - and counting.

"That's 1,173,666 in all.

"Hundreds, perhaps thousands, more have died in service to our country on virtually every continent on the globe in conflicts we either don't recall or won't acknowledge.

"This Memorial Day, take a moment to remember them."

We did, and on Independence Day, 4 July, in a relatively quiet way.

There were two parties in South Orange County, California on the fourth and the fifth that we were supposed to be present at; I didn't make them because my "dragons" laid me low, but Mrs. Rr did - they were to celebrate "The Fourth", of course, and to fete our oldest Grandson Kathan, 18, for his going away party. Early this morning, 8 July 2015, he reported to MEPS Los Angeles for processing and transfer to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Army Basic Training and AIT; he will be gone almost six months, then he is supposed to go back to school and finish college before going to Officer training. This is one "Pa" who is going to be on pins and needles for a while. I am so proud I "am like to bust", as my Grandma would say.

.

Hooah!

Tell him congrats from me: keep his head down, and take care of his Joes.