topic Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE.... in Community Chat

IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

Oznell — Mon, 27 May 2024 12:30:45 GMT

I just re-read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Brief and beautiful. In such few words, the magificent wartime President expressed the full weight of appreciation for those who sacrificed and perished in the great cause of the Civil War.

"....But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here....."

Of course, despite the sense of loss, he then ended on a note of hope.

For me, Childe Hassam's flag paintings never fail to inspire.

Grateful to remember all those who have sacrificed with their precious lives.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

vermint — Mon, 27 May 2024 12:50:07 GMT

@Oznell Thank you for posting this...just beautiful. We must never forget those who died defending our country!

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

Skyegirl21 — Mon, 27 May 2024 12:56:08 GMT

Thank you for the beautiful post @Oznell .
Yes, today we respect, remember, honor and give thanks- 💝🙏

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

nelc — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:33:53 GMT

Beautiful
I got emotional reading Lincoln’s words.
Thank you for posting and reminding us what today is really about.

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drizzellla — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:36:05 GMT

@Oznell I still remember in 7th grade we had to memorize the Gettsburg Address.

Today we are going to Washington Crossing National Cemetery to visit our friend's grave.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

Nonametoday — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:41:48 GMT

@Oznell

Thank you so much. I always know that you will post something worthy and indeed, you did. Thank you so much for the post and honoring our fallen via this post and the beautiful flags are indeed special.

A friend whose husband is a great musician played the medley of the anthem for the various branches of services yesterday and sent it to me via Email for my DH to see. It made him feel great to know that a man who did not serve would yet honor the servicemen who served and those who died with such a nice medley.

His grandparents were survivors of Auschwitz so his family has an appreciation for our servicemen as well as those, like my husband and me, who served. And, yes. The wives and children serve in their own way and many sleepless nights out of fear that flag is going to be delivered to our door.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

PamfromCT — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:05:42 GMT

@Oznell, Thank you so much for your beautiful and very touching post. Such a fitting tribute to those who sacrificed for our freedom, so many at a very young age. And to their families, who still endure a loss.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

pateacher — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:17:50 GMT

@Oznell Thanks so much for reminding us of Lincoln's meaningful words, accompanied by the patriotism-lifting image.

The remind us of the essence of this national holiday.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

DSD2 — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:21:42 GMT

A beautiful, touching and poignant posting @Oznell

Lincoln's speech transcends time and space...

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

skatting44 — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:35:45 GMT

Often we think of families loosing one family member during military service, but I just read abt the Sullivan family in WWII .

"
The Sullivan family motto: We stick together. The five Sullivan brothers—Albert, Madison, Joseph, Francis and George—all decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy after they received a report about the death of their friend, Bill Ball, aboard the battleship Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. "

" The Sullivans lost five sons, known as the Sullivan Brothers, in naval action in World War II. "

" They were on the same ship when it was sunk in the Pacific. The law provided that members of an immediate family would not be placed together in harm's way. While this is not automatic, because it would be impossible to keep track of who belongs to whom, a family member can request transfer to a non-combat area. "

edited to add :

" The Sole Survivor Policy was enacted in 1948 as a result of the deaths of the Sullivan brothers during World War II. What was unusual about their deaths is that they all died together, as they were all serving aboard the USS Juneau. The ship was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. "

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

PamfromCT — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:42:42 GMT

@skatting44, Thank you for this post about the Sullivan brothers. I knew nothing about this and cannot imagine the pain their parents suffered.

Am I correct that there was a limit on the loss a family would endure? That after a certain loss has happened in a family, a remaining member would be removed from a conflict situation? Hence, "Saving Private Ryan"? I saw the movie once and will never be able to see it again.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

Nonametoday — Mon, 27 May 2024 14:47:36 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
Often we think of families loosing one family member during military service, but I just read abt the Sullivan family in WWII .

"
The Sullivan family motto: We stick together. The five Sullivan brothers—Albert, Madison, Joseph, Francis and George—all decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy after they received a report about the death of their friend, Bill Ball, aboard the battleship Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. "

" The Sullivans lost five sons, known as the Sullivan Brothers, in naval action in World War II. "
" They were on the same ship when it was sunk in the Pacific. The law provided that members of an immediate family would not be placed together in harm's way. While this is not automatic, because it would be impossible to keep track of who belongs to whom, a family member can request transfer to a non-combat area. "

edited to add :
" The Sole Survivor Policy was enacted in 1948 as a result of the deaths of the Sullivan brothers during World War II. What was unusual about their deaths is that they all died together, as they were all serving aboard the USS Juneau. The ship was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. "

@skatting44

I recall my grandparents talking about that. They were patriots and they grieved every serviceman they ever heard of passing. My grandmother made biscuits, eggs and sausage/bacon (similar to what you get at McD's nowadays) every Sunday morning (restaurant was closed on Sundays for business) for "soldiers" marching from one base to the other, which was about 125 miles but they had to "march" and she made sure they had breakfast when they passed our way.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

cimeranrose — Mon, 27 May 2024 15:42:24 GMT

Thank you for this wonderful post @Oznell and the inspiring pictures. ..."Lest we forget"

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NYCLatinaMe — Mon, 27 May 2024 15:53:26 GMT

Remembering our heroes...

This is a photo of the funeral service of Sgt. Kennedy Sanders this past February, who was KIA in a drone attack on a U.S. outpost in Jordan. Her unit is supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, a mission to combat the Islamic State, which has claimed the lives of 113 U.S. service members since the Operation began in August 2014, according to the latest Defense Department casualty report. Army Specialist Shaunteria Taylor stood next to the flag-draped casket at the funeral service.

At graveside, an officer handed a flag to Sgt. Sanders father, a former Marine.

Photos are by Kenny Holston, a NY Times photojournalist and former Air Force photographer.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

lynnie61 — Mon, 27 May 2024 16:08:21 GMT

@Oznell As always, a wonderful post, thank you for posting.

When I was in grade school, a friend of mine lost her older brother in Vietnam. The family never seemed to fully recover. He was the only son, and 4 daughters. It was so sad......and I always remember those tragic sad days they endured.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

Oznell — Mon, 27 May 2024 17:15:04 GMT

What thoughtful comments and stirring real life stories you all have shared-- thanks for contributing that!

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drizzellla — Mon, 27 May 2024 18:07:35 GMT

I remember watching the movie "The Fighting Sullivans" about the 5 Sullivan brothers.

Wasn't a movie that you forgot after watching it.

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Nonametoday — Mon, 27 May 2024 21:09:15 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I remember watching the movie "The Fighting Sullivans" about the 5 Sullivan brothers.

Wasn't a movie that you forgot after watching it.

@Oznell

Saving Private Ryan was a sweet movie as the whole unit went for a son whose other brothers had given all and they had to go behind enemy lines (after the invasion of Normandy). Sweet movie about how our great servicepeople will try to save all they can. No man left behind.

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2sisters — Mon, 27 May 2024 21:32:31 GMT

Thank you so much @Oznell for sharing such a beautiful tribute.
@NYCLatinaMe I got tears reading your post and looking at the pictures.

My heart hurts for the families of our fallen men and women who sacrificed their lives for us.

Re: IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE....

skatting44 — Mon, 27 May 2024 21:53:38 GMT

@ PamFromCT Yes,

The Sole Survivor Policy was enacted in 1948 as a result of the deaths of the Sullivan brothers during World War II .

@drizzellla

Thanks, had heard or seen parts of that movie abt 50 yrs ago.