MEMORIAL DAY

[klondike]

Hollis, thank you from the core of my heart for speaking so admirably on our mutual behalf.
I wish I could speak as eloquently as you have on this subject, but even after 36 years, I find that it still whips the rear-view of my mind into a maelstrom of churning memory, and quakes my heart so deeply that it seems to seal my lips from speaking (even via a keyboard).
When I view news coverage from "the Iraqi conflict", I can usually put it into some kind of perspective . . other times, I can find no place inside to contain my sense of outrage . . as a citizen, as a father, as a one-time soldier, as a human being . .
But this thread is neither the time nor the place.
Thank you again, Hollis . . thank you all, for all of your expressions of pride & appreciation & gratitude.
I too am grateful to all the Americans, and all our Allies, who risked everything to safeguard our essential freedoms.
And to all those who paid the Big Price . . sleep well, we shall never forget.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Memorial Day is a national holiday, a day of remembrance, a day to give thanks that we can speak thoughts that spring from our hearts without retribution, without fascism or communism or some other "ism." Thanks to Hollis and all SSO veterans, someone to whom we can express our gratitude, and thanks to all soldiers who died to protect us, who died because they were fighting to preserve our homes and our loved ones and our way of existing in this world as a collective.

Vote, as if it is your last ballot to cast.
Thank, as if you might never ever get another chance.
Embrace, as if it is your last hug before disembarking for the front.
Weep, as if it is the last tear we will ever have to shed over someone who
died in war defending our country.
Pledge to the American flag, as if it were the first time you said
those inspiring words with the gratefulness of a brand new citizen.
Inspire, as if liberty had to be won from oppression every day.


God bless you all.

[silentscreen]

While I was in the airport in SLC recently, I saw a man thank a young man in uniform. I did the same right after and he said, "You're welcome, no problem." That's truly the way most of our soldiers feel, and it brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. We can't thank those who serve to make us free enough!

[Hollis]

Mr Klondike my friend,

I couldn't help but bear you in mind while I wrote what I did. The whole time I was thinking, "Why can't I put words together the way Klondike does?" You have a quickness of wit and presence of mind that I could only hope to aspire to. As a Ranger, I know you had it much tougher than I could ever imagine. All I did was try to get the guys out that couldn't do it for themselves. My exposure wasn't nearly what yours was and in all honesty,I don't know that I could have done your job. I don't know that I would have had it in me. The one thing we all had in common though was that we tried to do the best we could all the while praying that we'd all live to see another day. The irony of it all is that it took the better part of 35 years for most people to see through the fog and finally show an appreciation for the sacrifices we made and especially for those who wouldn't be there to receive their thanks. Like you, I simply can't fathom what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. Men and women are dying needlessly and those lucky enough to have come home have had their lives altered forever. That's the real tragedy of this whole thing. It's time to say that enough is enough.

Hollis

[klondike]

Mr Klondike my friend,
As a Ranger, I know you had it much tougher than I could ever imagine. All I did was try to get the guys out that couldn't do it for themselves. My exposure wasn't nearly what yours was and in all honesty,I don't know that I could have done your job. I don't know that I would have had it in me. The one thing we all had in common though was that we tried to do the best we could all the while praying that we'd all live to see another day.
Hollis

Hollis, I know this is Sunday & all, but I'm afraid I have no choice but to "see you, & raise":
Every time the storm clouds roll in over Mt. Kilburn, and the thunder echoes along the foaming tumult of the Falls, I feel the five copper screws inside my right ankle start to vibrate, and the scar tissue spanning my left elbow & below my right shoulder blade start to throb in ozonic sympathy, and once again, I can smell the tiger grass, and hear the chopper blades, and I thank all the Gods in Heaven & Earth that I lived to come Home, and I never forget those anonymous med-evac servicemen who risked their very lives to rescue my rapidly dying bahookie.
I and the men in my airborne Company thought of ourselves simply as soldiers . . and I only ever heard the term "heroes" used when referring to the med-evac crews that so often meant the difference between life & death for us.
I recall discussing that once with a Navy CPO acquaintance of mine while on layover in Tokyo, comparing Med-Evacs to "the closest we ever had to angels"; my CPO pal nodded slowly, then remarked: "Yeah . . but did y'ever hear of angels who spent so much time flying into the mouth of Hell?"
He was right of course; that's the kind of courage that makes Saints shudder.
Hollis, I've raised more'n a few Guinness in your name, but today, you get a full dress Salute.
Carry on.

[movieman1957]

Bless you both.

[Hollis]

See what I mean? If you meant to take the breath from me, mission accomplished. I'm no angel by any stretch of the imagination. I'm only glad that there was someone there for you. And remember just one thing, not a one of us ever did it alone. It was the definition of a team effort. As a Packer fan, you know what Mr Lombardi thought of the team. He put it above all else, and no one member was more important than the next. In the end that's the only thing that matters. Thanks for calling me your friend.

Hollis

[klondike]

A final little anecdote from me to all of you, on this lovely Memorial Day; I found myself remembering this as I sat on my porch this morning just 2 doors south (& 1 storey up) from where it happened, back when JFK was “the new president”, and the only veteran I knew was the first Hollis in my life, my Mom’s big brother, who, for all his post-war life, signed his name as Cpl. Hollis Wilber; people reading that would ask “Are you in the Army, Sir?”, and he’d reply: “Not any longer, but it’s where I did my best work . . and don’t call me Sir!”
Anyway, on that particular Summer Saturday, back when I was 8, or 9 maybe, my Uncle Hollis came visiting and volunteered to take me out for a walk down to the Dari-Joy for an ice cream; en route, we passed the Public Library here in Bellows Falls, just as it was locking up for the weekend, so the old caretaker (himself likely a WWI vet), was out-front lowering the flag. So intent was I in anticipation of a giant black raspberry twist, I hadn’t noticed Uncle Hollis had stopped walking beside me . . but I sure noticed when he sprinted up behind me, hoisted me off my feet by my shirt collar, and dumped me back down facing the library flagpole, where I watched in dutiful silence as that ancient caretaker finished lowering the Stars & Stripes, unclipped her, folded her reverentially and then carried her inside, all the while acutely aware of my uncle’s left hand still clutching the back of my shirt-collar, as his right hand (minus 2/3 of the thumb, since Omaha Beach) was busy saluting the descending flag. When he heard the custodian’s key turn in the lock, Uncle Hollis turned me gently around to face him and looked down into my eyes.
“Boy,” he advised me softly, “you come into manhood, you’re gonna have your times, running wild and makin’ your tracks, but you mark these words: I don’t care if you egg the preacher’s car, kick the mayor’s shin, spark-up every farmgirl in Windham County, and run the cops ragged, but don’t you never neglect to honor the American flag, least when she’s raisin’ or lowerin’, ‘cause Mister, without her, we’d all have nothin’!”
I was still thinking about what he’d said a half-hour later, when I was finishing up my cone, sitting outside one of the many saloons in B.F., while my Uncle was inside, enjoying his afternoon reward . . and damn if I’m not still thinkin’ about it now.
I never imagined on that long-ago July afternoon, that one day I’d wear a uniform, or “go to war”, or order beers in that same saloon, or buy the house nextdoor to the library . . . or that there’d ever be a day when my Uncle Hollis, and my own folks, wouldn’t be around anymore . .
I guess one day, my sons, and my nephews, and my grandkids will think of me in that way . .
The big wheel keeps right on turnin’, don’t it?

[charliechaplinfan]

Hollis and Klondike, I'm in awe of your stories of war. You're very brave and rightfully proud of the service you did for your country. I can't fathom what life must have been like for a soldier during the Vietnam conflict, you've given me some idea. Thank you very much for sharing your stories.

Cheers to that motor car dealer, is there any feast/holy day or memorial day that commercialism doesn't want to claim?

[knitwit45]

I wanted to bump this back up to the top, to say thank you, and "We Will Never Forget". God Bless all our vets, for giving me the privilege of saying God Bless.

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[Birdy]

Nancy - Thanks for moving this up. I read the entire thread and was moved to remember what Memorial day is about in the midst of my personal crises. My great grandmother's 'Decoration Day' roses are blooming and they smell better than anything you can buy today. We will take some to all the grandparents and soldiers graves in our family.

Thanks from the bottom of my puny heart to all those who have served and made it possible for me to enjoy those roses and pass them on to the next generation.

Birdy

[Mr. Arkadin]

Another thanks to all who have served.

[JackFavell]

I find that there are no words adequate enough to thank you for your service to all of us and to this country.

So I will just say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[Hollis]

Hi Nancy,

And thanks for bringing Kate Smith and her signature song back to us. It was one of the most popular songs during WWII. It was so inspiring that the Philadelphia Flyers adopted not only her song, but her as well. She blessed the Spectrum in South Philadelphia more than a few times and for several years the Flyers (my hometown NHL team) never lost when Kate sang after the National Anthem had been played. When she passed away, the Flyers honored her by playing a taped version of "God Bless America". I don't think I ever heard a louder round of applause in my life. I'm glad that she was able to pass the torch to another generation. Thanks again.

As always,

Hollis

[knitwit45]

Have a safe Weekend, all. Take just a moment or two to remember those who have given their all for our country, our homes and hearths.


I have just been reading the previous posts here, and was so touched by Hollis' and Klondike's posts.....miss them both, hope Hollis knows how much we miss him, and Klonnie, hope your life is going well.