Lets All Remember Those Who Gave Their All!!
The Arizona Memorial
My husband and I were very blessed to be able to go to Honolulu a few years ago, and while we were there we when to Pearl Harbor. I was raised to know what Memorial Day stands for, but after visiting the Arizona Memorial I have a whole new perspective about this day, this day that was intended for us to remember and honor those that gave their ALL for us. So we can live in a country were we have freedoms that we don't even think about, that we often abuse and don't appreciate, and almost always take for granted.
Arlington National Cemetery 
I think back to those who fought for our freedom from; England, France, Spain, and then the freedom for all Americans during the Civil War, for all the lives that were lost during two World Wars, two wars that were never declared war, but were called conflicts Korea and Vietnam, the first war with Iraq, and now another war with Iraq, and Afghanistan. I wouldn't begin to know how many have died through all these wars, and how many more will. But I do know one thing that they died for one reason they believed that freedom isn't free. It costs more than gas, than food, or anything else you can put a dollar sign on.
Twin Towers
Our freedom should be cherished; everyday even when we want to point fingers and complain, (and I'm not saying that we don't have things to complain about) but we should stop and decide what is really important. My mom used to say "If it won't matter a year from now, it is probably not that important." With the economy slow, gas prices ridiculously high, our dollar weak, a president, I won't go there, and candidates that are, well I won't go there either. We still have the best country in the world, a country worth fighting for. We should all be praying for our country and our leaders, even if we don't like their policies.
When I think of America, I think of Americans; not Italian Americans, or African Americans or Irish American... just Americans. Unless you are an American born Indian your ancestry came from somewhere else. The thing that has always made us a strong country was our unity! I fear we are losing that, I fear we are becoming the rich and the poor, the domestic and the foreign, those that think they should be able to do whatever they want to with no accountability, and those with no compassion.
I hope this Memorial Day we all stop and thank a veteran, pray for the families that have lost a veteran, and pray for our wonderful country. Pray that we become united and strong in purpose, that we know how blessed we really are and we appreciate our freedoms. I hope everyone will take a moment from your day and remember those that gave their ALL!!!!!
Donna Dosch, Broker Associate, ePRO, RECS
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Donna,
Thanks for your observations. Here is something you might appreciate as well.
The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood..
Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach , Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.
He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly.
At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you."
Then the old soldier began to cry.
"That really got to me," Bierstock says.
Cut to today.
Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.
"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them."
The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from vete rans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren.
"It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss " the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio , Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach . "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."
Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web . They've sent the song to Sen. John Mc Cain and others in Washington . Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.
GOD BLESS every veteran...and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this !
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:
http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYG