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Remember Them. They Picked Up The Check!

By Brian Morgenweck

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Power Realty Group, LLC Bergen County, NJ

May 30, 2011 02:23 AM

Remember them. They picked up the check!

It’s the eve of Memorial Day 2011. It’s been a quiet, relaxing weekend for me, which gives me time to think about what this holiday weekend is about.

Fun at the beach for the launch of Summer?... Grilled steaks, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, ribs, and all the fixin’s? A couple days extra away from work?

All fine... All good...

We’re all aware, I’m sure, of the significance of Memorial Day. But, do we take time to contemplate and appreciate what it’s really all about?

Do we get it that we really are “The land of the free because of the brave”?

As I’m poking around the Internet, I clicked on the site for the Wounded Warrior Project and the header on the site’s home page slammed on my brakes and stopped me in my tracks...

Remember Them. They Picked Up The Check!

“The greatest casualty is being forgotten.”

(Good spot to pause for a moment and consider that)

What of all those souls who selflessly laid down their LIVES over the last couple-plus centuries to establish, protect, and maintain the myriad of freedoms we all enjoy. Are we aware (more than once a year) of the GIFT they’ve given us? Do we take it (and their sacrifices) for granted? Or, do we cherish Them and Their gift?

And if push ever came to shove, would we give the same gift?

Tough questions, absolutely... But, certainly worthy of much contemplation.

Without a doubt, one of the worst atrocities of war is the death of so many of the best of us...How many more have come home from distant places with unspeakable “souvenirs”? Being forgotten? That can’t happen.

As a little kid in the 60’s and early 70’s, I was glued to the black & white every day at 6:00 as Mom made dinner. Body counts and film clips were broadcast daily from Vietnam. Like I said, I was a kid. But, I knew what time it was enough to know that so many of the heroes who actually made it home didn’t deserve the “welcome” they received. God help us if we ever repeat that brand of “appreciation” again! Seemingly, we’ve gotten our collective, societal head back on straight since then.

Some quotes have always resonated with me...

“All gave some. Some gave all.” and “Freedom isn’t free.”

I simply want to remind myself and anyone who might happen upon this post that...

When we sit down at the feast of freedoms we all enjoy, be ever grateful for the best of us.

They set the beautiful table...

They prepared the sumptuous feast we partake of every day...

They’ve kept us safe while we’ve enjoyed the feast...

They cleaned up so that we didn’t have to...

and please

Remember Them. They Picked Up The Check!

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Joni Bailey

101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX

Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Land of the free.... Let us not forget those who have paid, and are paying, the price.

May 29, 2011 04:55 PM

Brian Morgenweck

Power Realty Group, LLC Bergen County, NJ - Hackensack, NJ

Broker/Owner, GRI, CRS, ABR, SRS

Hear, Hear...

May 29, 2011 04:57 PM

Chuck Carstensen

RE/MAX Results - Elk River, MN

Minnesota/Wisconsin Real Estate Expert

Wonderful post that I am going to reblog so my readers get a chance to see it.

May 30, 2011 02:24 AM

Scott Godzyk

Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH

One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Brian very well said. I make it point to remember every time is see a soldier to thank them for all they do and have done.

May 30, 2011 02:28 AM

Thank you, Chuck. I hope it resonates with them, as well.

Scott-God bless! I do as well & the response is always the same. They're always very humble...no matter what era They're from. They're also usually somewhat surprised that someone is thanking them...which doesn't say a lot for the rest of us. Amazing how verbalizing gratitude changes things, isn't it?

May 30, 2011 02:43 AM

Sandy Acevedo

951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA

RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

This is a beautiful post for today and everyday. Well said.

May 30, 2011 04:11 AM

Anonymous

Al Solarino

Amen! And let's not forget the family,friends & loved ones whose sorrow never ends. What price Freedom.

May 30, 2011 05:20 AM

Ken J. Solarino Sr.

Brian,

Ona day when they tell us to thank a Veteran for his/her service to our great country, and for the sacrifices Veterans have made during their time of service, today as an older Vietnam Veteran now, I THANK YOU, for this well said Blog. I appreciate the time, effort, and thougt you gave, that went into writing, "Reember them, they picked up the check." It is funny, not really, that just yesterday I was watching a movie related to thew Vietnam war, and Carol asked me, "how can you watch movies about Vietnam, doesn't it bring back bad memories?" I said to her, "I know this is only a movie, with actors playing roles, and nobody is really hurt or killed, this is only make believe." Just then, a commercial came on, and it was of soldiers returning home from Afghanistan, and their families, friends, and non related people at the airports welcoming them home from the horrors of war and death, with applause, thank you's, hugs and kisses from wives, children, girlfriends, and mothers and fathers. As i watched this, I said to Carol, "watching this commercial of actual soldiers returning home to the love and respect they deserve, hurts 100 times more than watching a make beleive movie of war. When my generation of soldiers returned home from war, what was waiting for us at the airports, and how we wree treated, was altogether different ffrom what yousee here in this commercial." As I could feel my emotion building in my chest and throat, I cleared my throat and said, "that hurt has never gone away, and probably never will for most of us." She then had to get up and get finished getting ready for work, and I was able to hold the tear until that moment. Who knew 43 years ago, that a young soldier, and a whole generation of soldiers who fought for each others lives, the people of South Vietnam, and the USA, would be forever effected by how these young men/boys where treated, when we returned home, if they returned home.

So, as one of those who did return home, I THANK YOU today, for remembering, and putting into such eloquent words, what so many of us feel inour hearts, but whose time of protest has past, and have even forgiven, mostly.

Thank you Brian, my ole' friend, we appreciate it.

May 30, 2011 06:12 AM

Thank you, Sandi. ("today and everyday", I agree.)

Absolutely, Al. Folks could never really understand those losses unless they experienced them. The responsibility of repriprocating and paying it forward lies with the rest of us. We have to make it known to those who lost loved ones that they are a part of a bigger "Family"...or else, what kind of family are we?

May 30, 2011 06:16 AM

Kenny,

Much heartfelt respect, admiration, and gratitude to you, my friend!

There's much I can say about your being an inspiration & loved by so many for many reasons... But I'll just say that, if I'd ever had the pleasure of having a son, I'd have been thrilled if he grew up with half the qualities you possess. (But, don't tell anybody I said that! ;) )

May 30, 2011 06:42 AM

Remember Them. They Picked Up The Check!

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